bassplayer Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barge Maria Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 I very often find on long stretches of Belgian canal that I feel I'm going slightly uphill. Weird isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FadeToScarlet Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 The four mile long Queen Adelaide straight feels like going uphill. In both directions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 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!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Star Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 It's an optical illusion, as in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Brae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabcat Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 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". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
by'eck Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Anyone been to Electric Brae (hill) in Scotland - hard to believe apparently freewheeling uphill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Everything is uphill when cycling. Not only that the wind changes into your face too when you turn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 I always feel that I'm going up-hill in the Harecastle tunnel (in both directions) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magictime Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Brummie Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBiscuits Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 I suppose Wigan flight doesn't count ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bag 'o' bones Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scholar Gypsy Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenataomm Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabcat Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogless Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Of course there are canals that 'go up and down' hill. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montech_water_slope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenataomm Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now