Two excursions from Shardlow

Wed 4^th September  Shardlow to Trent Lock and back



Just before Maggie and Clive arrived for a boat trip, Hazel waited by the Malt Shovel rendezvous, while James took the boat to a place where he could turn.



As he was completing the manoeuvre, he suddenly lost the throttle control. There was no reverse gear either, leaving just forward gear on tick over. Thankfully there was a mooring place handy, so he managed to get the boat moored up.  Having no phone signal to contact Hazel, he had to walk back to where she had met up with our guests, to let everyone know what had happened. The next step was to phone RCR, and thankfully, a guy turned up in 30 minutes, armed with a spare throttle cable. We were away after another half hour.

Turning round

RCR visit

We travelled back along the navigation as far as Trent Lock, where we had a drink in the Trent Lock pub, and a turkey salad lunch on board.

Leaving Derwent Mouth Lock

Down the Trent

Sawley Cut

Maggie and Clive

Trent Lock pub

We returned through Sawley Lock, and back into the Trent and Mersey. Heavy rain began, so we put up the hood to keep us dry before we managed to return to our mooring. It stopped after half an hour.

Sawley Lock

Heavy rain

Back on the mooring

We all went for a meal at the Malt Shovel, where they serve just five classic items on a Wednesday evening. The place was packed until they stopped serving, and then it emptied again. The food was excellent, and of course they still had the farmhouse scrumpy cider.

The Clock Warehouse is a well-known feature of Shardlow

4 locks, 6 miles. Dep 1235, arr 1345. Return dep 1545 arr 1705.



Thu 5^th September  Shardlow and the Heights of Abraham



Maggie and Clive arrived in their car, and we all set off for some Derbyshire views. We had decided to go to the Heights of Abraham, as we had all seen the brown signs, but none of had been there. There was more to do than we had realized, so we spent most of the day there. There is a gondola to take people up from the valley floor, and when we arrived at the top, the first stop was the café for some hot drinks with a spectacular view.

Cable cars

The lower station

On the cable car

Maggie and Clive

Passing gondolas

Coffee with a view

We then walked down a lot of steps to visit the Great Rutland Cavern, which was once a lead mine. A guided tour informed us about lead mining and the history of the place.

In the cave

The cave

We had to climb all those steps again to take in some of the other locations such as the Tinkers Mine Shaft. Across the valley was Riber Castle, a dramatic building which was only built in 1862, and apparently has now been converted to apartments.

The view

Ichthyosaur

Fossilised bugs

Woodland path

Mossy Boulders

Tinkers Mine Shaft

Riber Castle 1862

Going back down

We had a meal in the restaurant, above the café, before taking final photos and returning down to the car in the cable car.

Rocky cliffs

Back at the boat, we said our farewells to Maggie and Clive, as we were to move on by boat the next day, and they were going off to explore other areas with their caravan.



No boating today



Next: We have decided to continue along the Trent and Mersey, as we don’t have quite enough time to complete the Leicester Ring before A BCF event at Fazeley on 27^th September. The first stop will be Burton-on-Trent.