Mon
12th Sept Nottingham to Trent Lock
Today
was hot – much too hot for September. There was a warm wind coming from
southern Europe with a lot of humidity.
We
visited Sainsbury’s for some Shropshire Red from their deli, among other
things. This is the most wonderful cheese, and you can only get it at
Sainsbury’s.
We
departed soon after, on what is left of the Nottingham Canal, heading past the
Nottingham Castle Marina and the sealed off junction with the derelict part of
the Nottingham Canal, onto what is known as the Beeston Cut. Just past here are two interesting displays
of loos!
Nottingham Castle
Marina
Nottingham Canal
junction
Loos
Loos
We
followed the Beeston Cut past the headquarters of Boots where it seems they
have sold off some of their land and are building a second bridge over the
canal to the new development.
New bridge at Boots
.
We
stopped at Beeston Lock to empty cassettes and rubbish, tying up on an awkward
corner. A couple in a white cruiser were
coming up through the lock here, and somehow they both got off the boat and
neither had a rope. The cruiser drifted to the back of the lock where they
could not reach it. James went to fetch our boat hook, and they were able to
pull it forward level with a ladder.
Awkward angles at
Beeston Lock
Cruiser adrift in the
lock
After
the lock we were out on the Trent once more, past Beeston Weir and the
Attenborough Nature Reserve. A visitor
mooring pontoon would be useful here, so we could go twitching round in the
bushes at dawn.
Looking back at
Beeston Weir
Cruising past the
Attenborough Nature Reserve
Cranfleet
Lock was next, and like Beeston, you don’t need a windlass, as some have been
welded to the paddle mechanisms. Cranfleet Cut came next, where we were hoping
to moor but the only spaces available were next to the railway bridge.
Railway Bridge and
Flood Lock at Cranfleet Cut
We
moored by Trent Lock in the end, opposite the sailing club. We had a visit from Charles of Mrs Noah, who
used to be a member of BCF. We had some good discussions, as he had left BCF,
left the Anglican Church, and joined the Catholic Church.
Our mooring by Cranfleet Cut
Although
the mooring was mostly peaceful, we had trains rumbling over Thrumpton Weir,
rowers making a lot of noise and wash, and yappy dogs in the cratch of the boat
next door. They barked at everyone on the towpath and at us whenever we
appeared. Hugo went in and out a lot, to wind them up!
Ratcliffe on Soar
Power Station
2
locks, 8 miles
Tue
13th Sept Trent Lock to Shardlow
Early morning at
Cranfleet Cut
We
decided to use the facilities on the Erewash Canal as it was so handy, so we
trundled the cassettes along the path.
At the rubbish point there were no bins, so the rubbish was piling up in
bags.
Entrance to the
Erewash Canal
There
was a water point available without going through Trent Lock, so we filled our
tank before setting off on another river section for a mile to Sawley.
When
we arrived there, we saw a man on a boat called Tickey, who waved us into the lock, where one gate was open. We
went in and moved across, and James climbed up the ladder, while the man
eventually brought his boat in beside us.
James operated the lock, and when it was time to open the top gates,
only one gate worked. Both boats were out of the lock before James discovered
that there was a second set of buttons for the second gate, which he duly
opened for a white cruiser that was waiting to come down.
After
Sawley Marina there is a flood lock in Sawley Cut, leading to another wide
river section, where we overtook Tickey,
before reaching Derwent Mouth, where the River Derwent joins the Trent and the
Trent and Mersey Canal starts.
Flood Lock at Sawley
Here
there used to be a footbridge on the left called the Long Horse Bridge. This
crossed the Trent opposite the Derwent to connect Sawley Cut with the Trent and
Mersey Canal. It was in place when we first came past here in 2002, but was
closed and demolished soon after due to concrete decay.
There
is now a wider, modern bridge, installed in 2011, further upstream, to restore
the connection.
Long Horse Bridge
replacement
On
arrival at the first lock on the Trent and Mersey, someone was just closing the
bottom gates. We assumed that there would be two boats in the lock, otherwise
they would have kept it open for us, but no, there was just one boat. Knowing that Tickey was following, we weren’t
bothered.
When
that boat had gone up, two boats came down, and we went in, sharing with
Tickey, who had eventually arrived, although he stayed back down the lock cut
and took a time to get in the lock. Meanwhile, more boats were stacking up
waiting to come down. We were glad to be through there and into Shardlow.
Chaos below Derwent
Mouth Lock
In
Shardlow we managed to find a mooring in the shade, which was important, as it
was very hot. We went to find a pub
lunch, and discovered that the New Inn and the Malt Shovel both had Rosie’s Pig
cider. We settled on the New Inn, although the photo we took was of the Malt
Shovel. We had what they called chicken stack, which was chicken and bacon in a
stilton sauce – lovely.
We
then had a go at sorting out songs for Yelvertoft in three weeks time. We need two twenty minute sets of boating and
folk songs for the Saturday evening plus some worship songs for the Sunday
church service.
2
locks, 2 miles
Wed
14th Sept Shardlow to Cliff Wood
As
we set off this morning through Shardlow, another boat pulled out ahead of us,
heading for the lock. This was a Springer called Kwa-Heri (Goodbye in Swahili).
The lady had to run back for their centre rope, which they had used for
something else, and left behind. We
shared Shardlow Lock with them.
Old warehouse in
Shardlow
There
is a long line of boats after Shardlow, so it is slow going. We passed under
the A50, which bypasses Shardlow, and we arrived at Aston Lock. The ground paddles here were not in use, so
we had to use the gate paddles very slowly.
The bottom gates had steel bar props to keep them closed. Kwa-Heri had a small dog that could not
be trusted to stay put, so it was carried by the skipper, getting in the way
while he tried to operate the windlass.
Aston Lock
Weston Grange
We
left first, and at Weston Lock there was another boat in front, and we
suggested they share with Kwa-Heri, who
were first at Shardlow Lock, and had further to go than we did. When they got
to the top of the lock, and the gates were open, there were boats waiting to
come down, but they spent some time chatting to the people in the other boat
and showing them their dog.
Then
we were on our own for Weston Lock. Unlike Aston Lock, Weston Lock does not
have the bars to prop the bottom gates shut.
James closed the bottom gates, and went to the top gates. The bottom gates
started to open, so James opened a ground paddle to help to close the bottom
gate, but it swung open fully. James went back to close the gate, and Gabriel was forced forwards by the
surging water. James went back to the
top gates and was trying to shut the paddle. The paddle was so stiff that it
needed two hands to move it, but there was a “safety” device to prevent the
paddle being closed without holding the latch open, leaving just one hand.
Meanwhile a lady from a boat coming down was oblivious to the problem and was
starting to open the paddle on the other gate, causing even more flows. Gabriel was in full reverse to avoid
slamming into the top gates. James
managed to close it with a lot of effort, and the lady stopped opening hers,
and Gabriel was able to get back to
the bottom end of the lock where the flows were manageable.
Email
to C&RT required!
We
found a pleasant mooring not far from Bridge 10, and we went for a stroll up a
footpath to Weston Church, past a Ukrainian settlement. Sadly the church was locked, but the walk was
pleasantly shady in the very hot and humid weather. Unfortunately the mosquitoes also thought
this was a good time to be out and about, and Hazel suffered several bites on
her hands, which swelled up. They prefer her to James.
Weston Church
Back
at the boat we discovered that our vacuum cleaner was not working. It had not
been charging properly and the green light was flashing slowly. We put it back on the charging point hoping
it might restore itself overnight.
3
locks, 4 miles
Thu15th
Sept Cliff Wood to Burton
It
was slightly foggy this morning. Autumn has arrived.
Foggy morning at
Weston
A
boat went past fairly early, going in our direction. Later, when we were almost ready to leave, a
boat called Ragtag went past. We got ready quickly, and followed about 5
minutes behind.
We
passed under Sarson’s Bridge, unusually built of stone instead of brick, and we
could see the old pavilion at Swarkestone across the fields.
Swarkestone
lock two miles away was set against Ragtag
by the first boat, and we caught up with them as they reset the lock.
Just
above Swarkestone Lock is t he junction with the derelict Derby Canal, now used
as moorings by the Swarkestone Boat Club. This junction is marked as a winding
hole in Nicholson but there is a sign saying “no turning in basin
entrance”. If we had wanted to turn
here, we would be very cross at having to go another three miles to Stenson Lock,
go through the lock, turn, and come back again. It would take 2 ½ hours.
Ragtag paused to dispose of
rubbish above Swarkestone Lock, so we went past them
When
we reached Stenson Lock, there was a boat going up in the lock, and two boats waiting
to come down. Ragtag had caught up by
then, so we shared once more. There were no volunteers on duty this time. Last
time there were three.
Ragtag left first and
paused at Willington briefly to empty a cassette. We did likewise and disposed
of rubbish at the same time.
As
we left Willington we spotted a black swan – the second this year. We had a
closer view this time. We then crossed the River Dove on an aqueduct and had a
view of the old road bridge alongside.
Black swan
There
are seven aqueducts here in the space of a mile, and the area is fairly marshy.
We spotted an egret in one of the streams.
The
next lock was Dallow Lane, which is a narrow lock, only taking one boat, so we
said farewell to Ragtag, and they
went on their way.
We
moored at Shobnall Fields, where we have stopped many times before. We went
online to find Dyson spare parts, as the vacuum cleaner had not charged
overnight. We found we could buy a new battery for £60, and / or a new motor
for £70.
In the evening there was a mixture of low sun
and mist over the playing fields.
It
was a very warm evening
3
locks, 12 miles
Fri
16th Sept Burton
We
decided that, before we ordered a battery for the vacuum cleaner, we would go
to PC World at Branston, and try it out with one of theirs. The cleaner came
from them originally. We could also visit Morrison’s which is close by.
James
looked for bus stops on Google Earth, and found one right outside Morrison’s,
with bus services 7, 813, and X12. He
checked the services in Burton and found X12 left from New Street, so we would
have a simple change of buses in Burton.
We set off from the boat, crossed the footbridge, and as we reached the
road a no 3 bus arrived, and waited for us. Good timing! On arriving at New Street we had a little
wait for the next X12, so we went to the very pleasant “Nook and Cranny” cafe
for lunch.
When
we finally boarded the X12, James was following the route on an app on his
phone. We went through Branston village, and then suddenly we were on the A38
heading for Lichfield! We hadn’t been to
the retail park at all. James went to speak to the driver, who said we needed
the 812, but the quickest way now would be to stay on the bus to Lichfield, and
return to Branston Village, and walk through Clay Lane to Morrison’s. Thankfully we were not in a particular hurry.
When
we finally got to Morrison’s, James went to check out the bus stops he had seen
on Google Earth. The lay bys were still there, but the bus stops had been
removed. Staff in Morrison’s pointed to the nearest stops, which were very
close by, but only serviced by the 812.
We
went to PC World, and were told that the new Dyson models don’t have removable
batteries, so we were unable to try out our vacuum cleaner! What a fruitless
day!!
We
caught the 812 back to Burton, and discovered that the last No 3 left at 1702,
and it was now 1720. So we took another bus to the station, visited Lidl, and
walked back to the boat past the Old Cottage Tavern, where tonight’s Folk Club
was to take place.
In
the end we were very tired and James’ voice was suffering from a cold, so we
decided not to go to the folk club after all.
Maybe next time.
No
boating today. Lots of bussing!
Next:
On to Alrewas for church on Sunday, then onto the Coventry Canal.
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