Summit both ways

Wednesday 28th October

We made an early start - there was a three hour stretch to the next locks so Mike set off as soon as he was ready, leaving the other two to get up at a more leisurely pace! It was a wonderful early morning - a blue, cloudless sky and amaxingly warm, difficult to remember that it was almost at the end of October. It remained that way almost all day, apart from a short period in the middle of the day when a few clouds made an appearance, to be shooed away for a spectacular sunset.

The long pound gives a chance to take a close interest in the passing scenery and Alice was esepcially interested today in all the colourful fruits and seeds on the trees and shrubs lining the towpath.

Just before eleven o'clock, Napton top lock came into sight. Alice was especially helpful in working the locks - she managed to open several bottom gates all on her own! Two locks down, at Engine House Arm, we turned around and made our way back up to the summit once more. It was lunch on the run as we needed to get as close to the end of the summit pound before nightfall, although we have not yet agreed Alice-pickup arrangements!

Back at Fenny Compton, Mike and Alice jumped off to take a walk along the towpath. They made it all the way along the straight stretch called The Tunnel - it once was a tunnel! Along the way, Alice spotted some late blackberries - just one or two.

We were just short of Claydon Top Lock as night began to fall and so we found a mooring spot - not easy as the banks are very shallow. Time for Alice to continue with yet more crafts helped by Christine. The things she has made and done during the day are just too numerous to list in detail! Finally, Mike made a probably not successful attempt to fill the leak around the chimney. (Not rain but tar from inside the chimney hat)