Enforced Late Start - 2nd May 2018

Trent Lock to B11, Sandiacre
3.75 miles, 3 locks

I seemed to listen to that unmistakable sound of torrential rain hammering down on the metal roof for a lot of the night and it was no better in the morning, so we hibernated and had a slow start.  It was pointless getting wet when the forecast was for no improvement until around midday.  I made good use of the time and shopped around for car insurance and managed to save us £97 from the quote from our current insurer. 

For once the forecast was right and we were able to pull back to the services before heading off along the Erewash Canal - new waters for us and for nb Tentatrice.  It is a broad canal in Derbyshire that is nearly 12 miles long and has 14 broad locks.  The last lock to enter the basin at Langley Mill is part of the Cromford Canal.  Building of the canal was completed in 1779.  It had a long and successful commercial history - the last commercial cargo passage was made in 1952.  The main cargo was always coal.

The first lock at Long Eaton is far from pretty, but someone has tried to cheer things up with a huge mural.

Looking back from the lock is better with large open parkland

Dockholme and Sandiacre locks came and went.  They are all very big and were all against us with no other moving boats to share with.  Each one took a long time and was hard work, especially when one of the Sandiacre lock gates would not stay shut!

We moored briefly in Sandiacre, so I could pop to the Co-op to get the paper and have a quick look round.  There is also a huge Lidl in the opposite direction to the Co-op, but we were not in need for that sort of shop.  Trying to get to the shops was a very lengthy procedure as there were two major roads to cross with very long waits for the 'green man' to appear.

When I eventually made it back to the boat I found that both boats had boat dogs in almost identical positions!  We decided to move on as it was so noisy there, but I wish we had asked if this boat was moving tomorrow and if so, at what time!  Having someone to share locks with would make life a whole lot easier.

Whilst I was away, Chris went down the weed hatch and came up with a shopping bag full of stuff.

 I guess these were some sort of factory buildings at one time and are (I am guessing here) now apartments.  This is the home canal of Ian and Irene from nb FreeSpirit, so I am sure they will correct any errors I make.

We moored just past the first bridge out of Sandiacre, not pretty on the offside, but it is quiet and

there is a walk through from the towpath to the River Erewash not far from our mooring.

We had a quick look, but tired bones required a cuppa and slice of barra brith.  Maybe later or first thing tomorrow.

School Outings - 1st May

Bridge 10 Trent and Mersey to lock 60 on The Erewash Canal
7.25 miles, 7 locks

What a difference a day makes.  The sun was shining, the sky was mostly blue and the birds were singing happily, high in the trees.  There was still a wind, but the temperature was a lot warmer - no hat, coat or gloves today.

Before we could head off we did have a cleaning job to do - something (we think squirrels) had been using our roof as a latrine!  We have suffered bird donations a plenty, but never anything like these droppings left behind overnight.

Monty and I headed off to the first lock - you can just see Tentatrice in the far distance about to leave our rather lovely mooring.

Looking through the hedge I was rewarded with a view of the River Trent.

 Then across the cut a blanket of bluebells

Before long we were at the first lock of the day - Weston Lock which was fairly full, so it was not long before we were able to get in and close the gates behind us.  Then across the bridge at the bottom of the lock came a group of primary school children - 9 and 10 year olds, so I guess they were year 5.  So here was I with a large audience spread out across the bridge and to my dismay the paddle gear was almost impossible to shift.  I heaved, strained and struggled, but did eventually win the day.  Lock mechanism was explained and the name 'gongoozler' explained to the teachers. I was told they were out looking for sounds as they are writing a sound poem.  We certainly gave them a lot of rushing water, the paddle gear going up and down and possibly a few grunts and groans from me.  I was offered some help with the gates, which I readily accepted and three of them were appointed as 'lock gate movers'.  I asked if they had had a good breakfast and had lots of muscles - one told me she had had 4 weetabix!  They certainly did the job and the gate was opened and closed without effort.  If you look closely at the lock bridge you can just see the tail end of the group heading off to their next destination.

Three youngsters doing what the young do - just gamboling around because they can.

And so to the next lock (Aston) with me in fear and trepidation that I would be doing battle with paddle gear again, but thankfully this proved not to be the case and no lock today gave me the trouble Weston Lock had when I had an audience.

 Shardlow lock came and went and onto

Shardlow - it is obvious that this was a very busy port in times gone by.  The buildings all have new purpose and are mostly well and considerately restored.

The first broad beam we have met this trip, but thankfully not at a blind corner.

On through Derwent Mouth Lock and suddenly you are on large waterway

  

With a field full of swans and few Canada geese.

This is looking back at the Trent and Mersey Canal

Sawley flood lock is often open, but not today

The red paddles (one at each end) have to be left open when you leave.

Past Sawley Marina which is huge - we stopped here four years ago and had real trouble finding our pontoons (we were with nb Cleddau) as none of the pontoons were numbered as you approach by boat!

The entrance to the marina

This broad beam work boat did not make the approach to Sawley lock particularly easy.  That lock is operated for you - two lock keepers on duty today.  They were both very friendly and chatty.

And so we are off and onto the River Trent

Just for a short time as we were heading for the Erewash Canal (on the left where the small boat is also heading for).  It is a very sharp left turn which with wind and flow could have been interesting

particularly when there is a large notice on the bridge to keep right as the wall on the left has been badly damaged.

The small boat was not going up the lock, but he very kindly got his windlass and helped me work the lock.  As we were leaving school outing number two came along - secondary school this time.  We did not get a chance to chat, so have no idea what they were there to learn.

New lock mechanisms to us to be found on this canal that requires 'water conservation keys' (anti vandal).

Just a short distance from the lock we moored up as we want to pull back and use the facilities in the morning.

We arrived in time for a late lunch, so headed to the pub - first The Steamboat Inn, but we were too late and they had run out of food.  The Navigation Inn came to our rescue - they don't do sandwiches, so we had a starter each and shared some triple cooked chips.  The starters were good, but we think they forgot at least one if not two of the 'triple cooks' when it came to the chips.  It was all in the interests of research. When we are here again next week there will be seven of us needing dinner.  I made a booking at The Navigation Inn as the Steamboat do not take bookings as a mater of course.  Next weekend is a Bank Holiday so a booked table is probably essential.

Brrrrrrrrr - Monday 30th April

Willington to B10 on the Trent and Mersey
7 miles, 2 locks

Today was just one of those very frustrating days that just seemed to go on and on and on.  The wind was fierce and bitingly cold - the long sleeved thermal base layer came out again and was definitely needed along with the serious winter hats.  First job was to move over to the services to fill up and empty as required.  The water flow was good, so this did not take too long.

We needed gas and coal so Mercia Marina was our next stopping place.  In we went through the narrow gap, the water widens and then narrows again and we finally emerged to find a new boat shell just being lowered into the water on our right.

We sailed on and on - the marina is huge, but because it goes round a lot of corners with little islands here and there it does not seem as large as it obviously is.

There was nowhere obvious to get coal or gas, so we winded (turned round) and went back to the moorings for Midland Chandlers customers.  Somewhere one cannot go past without a visit which Chris duly did coming back with a few bits and bobs and information on where he was to go to get the coal and gas.  A DIY job, so he had to trolley first the gas and then two bags of coal. As we were leaving they had already started to add ballast to the new shell.

 It all seemed to take forever.  It was in fact 1 hour 20 minutes and that was without stopping to explore the many shops on offer!

On the move again we passed Stenson Marina - a much more compact affair.

Just two locks today, but our first (Stenson Lock) broad lock this year.  Someone was smiling down on us as there was a boat (Knot my Fault - I love the name!) just about to come out, so the lock was ready for us.  Better still there were the best sort of gongoozlers around - the ones that help open and close gates, something that is always appreciated.

Our target for today was Swarkestone, however we only moored up to have lunch as it was noisy (road again) and we just did not fancy staying, so on we went through

Swarkeston Lock which was empty.  You would certainly have to take this steady if going up as the flow is very fierce.  No need to hold back though with no boat in the lock.

Nothing special about this bridge except its name - well it is to one set of our friends - Massey Bridge

So here we are between bridges 10 and 9 with the only boat in sight about 200 yards away.  It is blissfully peaceful, not that we will be sitting outside tonight.  The lady single hander from the boat in the distance was walking past with her dog and told us that the Soar is in flood and the Trent will be soon, so we may not get through Sawley Flood lock tomorrow, so watch this space.

And finally what did Chris buy in Midland Chandlers - well some boring stuff (aqua tablets and tape), but he also came back with a gift for me! 

A collapsible bucket!

So much easier to store than our current one and it is even in boat colours.  No excuse not to clean now.  He certainly knows how to treat a girl!