So low on the Stort

Thursday, 08 September 2011 15:01

We like the Stort Navigation - it is a cross between canal and river. Bits remind us of the River Derwent in Yorkshire; other bits remind us of a narrow  upper Thames. Finally, we compare it to the Lee Navigation ...and prefer the Stort.

Shady off-line moorings for some below Sawbridgeworth

We only wish we were seeing it with blue skies and sun ......

It got better too when our second lock (and subsequent ones) was set for us!

Sheering Mill Lock after dropping John off

George Duckett, owner of the Stort Navigation, had left his "mark" here too on the lock cottage set back on the road by the lock. Only, this one is dated 1799, the first George's era.

Sheering Lock Cottage

Plaque on cottage

Sawbridgeworth Lock has the attractive mill below it, surrounded by a small courtyard of other clapboarded houses. The lock itself has a terrace of cottages beside it.

Sawbridgeworth Mill

Above Sawbridgeworth (what a mouthful - I wonder what the locals call it - "Sawbo"?), boaters are warned of a very low railway bridge. In fact, many of the bridges on the Stort Navigation are low, so we presumed this one was extra low. So far we had been OK and passed under them without taking anything off our roof. We took our solar lights off in preparation for the low rail bridge, as they are the highest points on Epiphany.

Hmm - as you can see it looks low

Kecksy's Farm footbridge was first

Kecksy's Rail Bridge, we just made it  

Talking low bridges - the one at the entrance to Spellbrook Lock is even lower than Kecksy's Rail Bridge - I had a minor panic as I began to go under it. It touched my highest marigold, but I was very close as the top box went under. Phew - it was a close call, not my favourite type of boating!

We decided to moor up before reaching Bishop's Stortford, as we had promised ourselves a shorter day. After admiring the lovely willow trees as they danced in the wind, we found an open clearing to rough moor against. Planes and trains pass by, but so far no boats.

Wind in the willows 

Stort Navigation, Harlow Mill Bridge to below Matchstick Footbridge
2 hours 44 minutes, 4.58 miles, 5 locks