Canal going downhill

[bassplayer]

Sometimes the landscape gives you the illusion that you are going downhill whilst cruising along a pound. The South Oxford heading towards Banbury just after Bridge 125 has that effect. Anyone else come across other stretches like that?

[Barge Maria]

I very often find on long stretches of Belgian canal that I feel I'm going slightly uphill. Weird isn't it?

[FadeToScarlet]

The four mile long Queen Adelaide straight feels like going uphill. In both directions!

[Nightwatch]

A few times on the South Oxford north of Fenny Compton, I got the illusion that I was going up hill. The boat didn't seem to slow down though!!

[Southern Star]

It's an optical illusion, as in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Brae

[blackrose]

Yes I felt like I was going uphill on certain sections of the Kennet. Mind you, going against the current felt like going uphill as well. I never felt this on the Thames so I think the narrower waterways enhance the illusion.

[Sabcat]

It's an optical illusion, as in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Brae

 

You reckon the canal isn't really going up or down hill then?

[Jerra]

Yes I felt like I was going uphill on certain sections of the Kennet. Mind you, going against the current felt like going uphill

Going against the current you are going up hill! Unless water runs up hill down there on the bit of the map marked "here be Dragons".

[by'eck]

Anyone been to Electric Brae (hill) in Scotland - hard to believe apparently freewheeling uphill!

[mark99]

Everything is uphill when cycling. Not only that the wind changes into your face too when you turn.

[Jerra]

Anyone been to Electric Brae (hill) in Scotland - hard to believe apparently freewheeling uphill!

Yes and you do feel as if you are freewheeling up hill.

[Alan de Enfield]

I always feel that I'm going up-hill in the Harecastle tunnel (in both directions)

[magictime]

I always get the feeling that I'm going downhill when going through a tunnel. Not sure how much this is a purely optical illusion and how much it might be about my brain trying to process/interpret what's happening as being a descent into a dark underground space. I think I've experienced the effect out in the open too, maybe to a lesser extent, but I couldn't say where.

[gazza]

The four mile long Queen Adelaide straight feels like going uphill. In both directions!

It's ok at 6MPH, feet up, watching the world go by

[Ex Brummie]

At Oswaldtwistle on the L&L, we were cruising with friends who were15 mins ahead of us, and sighting them 1/2 mile ahead they looked 10ft below us. There are many places on the Shroppie where the cuttings give the same effect, noticeably Little Onn.

[TheBiscuits]

I suppose Wigan flight doesn't count ;D

[bag 'o' bones]

There's a length on the upper stretches of the Llangollen where I first saw the illusion. About half mile out of Trevor. Felt like were going down hill - was really weird having the boats in front seemingly below us!.

[Scholar Gypsy]

The four mile long Queen Adelaide straight feels like going uphill. In both directions!

It's ok at 6MPH, feet up, watching the world go by

 

And there is a bend half way along as well, about 5 degrees according to my doodles on Google Earth. ...

Edited February 4, 2016 by Scholar Gypsy

[zenataomm]

Thank you everybody, I've been experiencing this all my boating life and always thought it was just me.

I have added you all to my will.

[Sabcat]

Anyone been to Electric Brae (hill) in Scotland - hard to believe apparently freewheeling uphill!

 

Yes. I've been there and it's nowhere near as dramatic as it sounds because the slope really isn't very steep at all. If you drive it without stopping there's a vague sense the engine isn't labouring as you'd expect.

[dogless]

Thank you everybody, I've been experiencing this all my boating life and always thought it was just me.

I have added you all to my will.

Oh no !

I'm sure I read an Agatha Christie where everyone got horribly murdered cos a will had been set up like this.

Or was it a Midsummer Murders.

Rog

[Guest]

Of course there are canals that 'go up and down' hill.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montech_water_slope

[zenataomm]

Oh no !

I'm sure I read an Agatha Christie where everyone got horribly murdered cos a will had been set up like this.

Or was it a Midsummer Murders.

Rog

 

Mwoahahahahaha!

[Jerra]

Oh no !

I'm sure I read an Agatha Christie where everyone got horribly murdered cos a will had been set up like this.

Or was it a Midsummer Murders.

Rog

Called "And then there were none!" based loosely around the not PC rhyme Ten Little N***** Boys.

[blackrose]

Going against the current you are going up hill!

No, a river may be flowing downhill but the surface of the water between locks is level and doesn't have a gradient - at least not the noticeable gradient that the illusion creates.

Edited February 4, 2016 by blackrose