Three Waterways in one day

Monday, 06 September 2010 20:32

Not bad going for us!

I worked three locks today too, so I am a little tired. So, dear readers, you are lucky tonight, as for once I shall try to be short and sweet!

We had a fishing trip below Pastures Lock - just one more try to see if John could find the satellite dish, or more importantly the pole that we used to fix it to! But no luck, nothing for the magnet to pick up!

Nothing down there

At Long Eaton, John went to fetch my prescription from the chemist,

 and saw this lovely building,

while Epiphany and Petroc sat in the lock (with crews) waiting for him.

Two Cornish narrowboats in Long Eaton Lock

The water level today was normal, so we were not dragging the bottom for debris! In fact, it was flowing over the top gates in some locks and the bywashes were fierce too.

It was rather windy and gusty, so we stopped above Trent Lock for lunch, to see if the wind would die down a little. Our intrepid explorers Geoff and Barney walked the Trent path to Sawley Locks and reported that it would be OK to go down onto the river as it was calmer there.

Through Bridge 1 below Trent Lock, onto the river

Looking east and west along the River Trent

east

west

The Lock Keeper was on duty at Sawley Locks and the left lock was open and ready for us. Narrowboat Petroc caught us up and then followed us along Sawley Cut.

Petroc leaving Sawley Lock

In Sawley Cut we passed narrowboat Bounty - the side proclaims the owners occupation! It was Tom Crossley from Narrowboatworld - John hailed him as he knew him from SOW meetings!

Narrowboat Bounty

At Derwent Mouth Junction, the River Trent flows off southwards towards its "head of navigation". We decided not to go up as we wanted to get onto the Trent and Mersey to moor in good time at Shardlow. The unnavigable River Derwent flows northwards; the Trent and Mersey Canal is ahead.

Derwent Mouth Junction and clouds promising rain soon

The T and M seemed narrow after the river and pretty soon we encountered our first hire boat as it left Derwent Mouth Lock. We were helped by a couple of BW guys who were inspecting the bottom gates after a boat "strike".

Our "gate closers"

Marinas and a set of flood gates herald one's arrival in the Shardlow area - a popular place for boaters to stop, with its two pubs and historic buildings. We moored on the visitor moorings after the pubs and once we were settled watched the "traffic". More boats passed us than we had seen for a number of days. I suspect not all of them found an easy mooring by the time late afternoon arrived.

The rain has set in now - hopefully it will pass by morning, as we have more cruising to do along a section we did about 6 years ago.

Moored at Shardlow

OK folks - so this was more "sweet" than short! I did only say I would try!

Erewash Canal, Pasture Lock to Trent Lock,

River Trent to Derwent Moutn Junction,

Trent and Mersey Canal to Shardlow

4 hours 45 minutes, 7.69 miles, 7 locks