Summit and Napton

Monday

We set off as usual, just after nine, with the long summit pound ahead of us. The scenery was fresh and interesting as it is always changing.

Before long we were passing through the section called 'The Tunnel' - once it really was a tunnel but at one stage it was opened out. Now it is a narrow cutting with the old turnover bridge in the middle (a modern concrete bridge carries the road over close by). The first part of the section is only wide enough for one boat, made worse by the amount of overhanging vegetation. The traffic from the other direction was quite busy and knowledge of 'working turns' at such places seemed sadly absent!

The long summit pound gave Mike a chance to work on the dividing door by the main bedroom - the new shelves meant that it could not close. Not really a difficult task but the inability to open fully meant that it was not possible to unscrew the hinges until some of modification had been done in situ!

By the time we arrived at Marston Doles, ready for the Napton Locks, it was definitely lunch time - the smell of Christine's new lamb soup (using the bones from yesterday's joint, curtesy Russell at Duttons Butchers!) had been tempting us for a little while!

The continuing flow of boats coming up meant some waits as their crews emptied locks in front of us, but mainly they were set ready and the passage through the flight was straightforward. Along the way we saw a field of buffalo.At the bottom we called at the shop and filled with water etc.

It was a short distance then to Napton Junction where we turned onto the Grand Union. In the field below the famous windmill were some attractive ponies.

The wider and deeper cut meant that the speed over the ground was somewhat faster, still well below the offical 4 mph speed limit! The three Calcutt Locks are the start of the 'multi-wind' paddles - not difficult but take a lot of turning. Time also to remember how to work through wide locks.

A mile or so beyond the locks and we found a suitable mooring spot for the night. Still no internet copnnection - although we did briefly manage to access emails first thing this morning. The blog will have to wait to tomorrow when hopefully we can upload two days' worth!