Thursday 19 October Swarkestone
to Shardlow then down the River Trent (5 locks, 6.5 miles)
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Annie moored above Swarkestone Lock with Derby Canal opposite
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Drizzly
and overcast, we descended the wide Swarkestone, Aston and Shardlow
Locks, John placed the back cover over him to repel the rain, but
still gradually got wet as the rain came down harder. At Shardlow, we
both got wet at the lock, but decided to press on through Derwent
Lock down the Trent through Sawley.
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| joining the Trent at Derwentmouth below Shardlow |
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| down the Trent to Sawley |
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| Sawley Cut in the rain |
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| Liana in Sawley Locks |
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| John leaving sawley |
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| Trent Lock and Cranfleet Cut |
We came downstream with NB Vixen,
with Heather and David Fox, a founder member of the Chesterfield
Canal Trust, who know our friends Jan & Dave Warsop and John &
Barbara Lower from Retford & Worksop Boat Club. We all ascended
Trent Lock onto the Erewash Canal, where we winded and moored near
the Steamboat Inn. John was impressed by Vixen's paint job, done by
Kingfisher Boats (who blacked Annie;s hull) here at Trent Lock. Will
we be stuck here for weeks by Trent floods and lock closures, like
two years ago? Hopefully not!
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Annie and Vixen about to lock up onto the Erewash Canal at Trent Lock
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Wednesday 18 October down the
Trent and Mersey Canal from Branston to above Swarkestone Lock (3
locks, 12.5 miles)
We
slept in, blaming aches and pains to our shoulders, the gale and long
day yesterday. John soon wore his thick yellow coat, and later socks
on his hands (gloves are still stored under the bed!), as fine
drizzle came down. Liana fitted the polished brass banded chimney for
the first time and lit the fire. John left the back doors open and
fitted the waterproof cover over our semi-trad stern, apart from the
corner where he stands/sits. By shutting the back doors, too, warm
air from inside the boat kept his legs warm …. ah!
We
could see the start of massive housing development by Branston Lock.
The view across the vale to the hills beyond will be spoiled, sadly.
Through Burton, the noisy A38 is never far away. Liana dashed into
the shop at Shobnall Marina for milk, opposite Marston's Brewery,
makers of John favoured ruby beer, Hobgoblin ….. ah, again!
Past
beginner hireboaters wondering how to turn at Horninglow Wharf, Annie
travelled damply by the gravel pits and farmland to Willington,
Mercia Marina to Stenson, where we waited for two . This first wide
lock is over 12 feet deep, with heavy gates. After nearly four more
damp miles, we called it a day above Swarkestone Lock, near services
and Derby Canal junction, getting warm and enjoying potato gratin
with duck and hoi sin sauce, yum! Tomorrow we may cover 6.5 miles and
5 locks to the River Trent at Shardlow; then downstream to the cut at
Sawley Marina; and maybe a mile down river to Trent Lock and a
mooring on the Erewash Canal near the Steamboat Inn.
Tuesday 17 October Hopwas to
Fradley and onto Branston Water Park (9 locks, 13.5 miles)
Land & Water staff arrived with a chain saw and made short work
of the Willow tree trunk resting on poor Annie's roof overnight.
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| Liana gave the tree a fluorescent jacket for safety! |
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| Land & Water contractor chain sawing tree |
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| tree going |
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| Tree gone with a splash |
The
gale had finished, we swept the roof as they made logs, then set off
in cool but dry weather on the long pound to Fradley Junction.
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| cutting up the tree |
New
housing borders the canal more now, and the old airfield is less
evident. Opening the swing bridge, a work boat emerged from the top
lock below the Swan Inn, so we popped into it and moored below. The
new owners made pie and chips or mash, which were ok, although not
home made, like the Irish landlord used to provide.
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| Lichfield Cruising Club at Huddlesford junction |
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| Huddlesford Jumction, left for Ogley Junction, maybe one day! |
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| Streethay Wharf |
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| Liana operating Fradley swing bridge |
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| work boat turning at Fradley |
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| The Swan at Fradley Junction |
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| locking down at Fradley |
The good, if cool, weather temp[ted us to continue through pretty
Alrewas village and across the River Trent, hrough the watermeadows
with their sitches, weirs and sluices, to Wychnor Lock.
