Norton Harcourt

Not soon after untying we were approaching Saddington Tunnel. It still has the old black warning notices, not the bright CRT blue ones, maybe its because its in a SSSI or something.

By the mouth of the tunnel there are a set of steps cut into the embankment, I am not sure if they are new handrails or old ones fallen over, I mean a set of stair like this need a double steel handrail.

The tunnel it’s self is well known for its bat population, its a reasonably dry, warm tunnel and a couple of bat boxes have been erected in the tunnel where the roof profile changes.

 

I am not sure if this is also some type of bat refuge against the tunnel wall or if its just covering something.

When we emerged from the tunnel we had lots of like white fluff on the roof, the drips we did get were full of minerals and dried quite white.
We were now into wide lock country and a majority of them were against us and needed filling.
The were erecting a large tent at Bridge House Barn as we passed, well they had the floor down and the two doors standing, it will be interesting to see what its like tomorrow.

Spring is definitely here and today I saw my first Cowslip of the season, lots of daffodils and the snowdrops are gone,

Westow has a pretty looking church, I understand its on a pilgrim route and there are several footpaths that lead to it.

Just past here the railway gets very close to the canal, so we thought we would find somewhere a little further away to moor for the night.

We carried on down through Newton Top Lock and Spinney Lock before winding just below Wain Bridge. A swan has started to build her nest between the two locks and there is a notice on the lock beam not to let the swans pass as they are different territories, Maybe they don’t know swans can fly or even walk round the lock if the mode takes them.

Just above Newton Top Lock on the off side is an interesting looking building called Four Seasons, I wonder what sort of discussions they had with the planning department to build what looks like a series of pilled up boxes.

The third mooring up from the lock is slightly further from the railway line and actually has some rings, well one ring and the remains of a couple of others, we hadn’t been moored long when a boat came down the canal and tucked in behind us.
By the way, now its raining. but we are tied up in the dry.

Today’s Journey

 

5¼ miles with 9 locks in 3¾ hours.