On to Nottingham

Monday 28 September Shardlow to Nottingham 

 At Shardlow, met Linda Tyler and Susie Turner who are canal walking to London. See Facebook.

Liana and Jan walked to Derwentmouth Lock, past the large Meadow Farm Marina. Shardlow is a scenic Victorian inland port, always a pleasure to visit.

A short river passage brought us under the M1 through Sawley Flood Lock to the huge marina and Derby Motor Boat Club moorings. 

One of the two river locks was having new gates. Volunteers operated the other powered lock for us, after which we passed onto the River Trent the mile or so to Trent Lock, the River Soar, Erewash Canal and Cranfleet Cut, our passage to Nottingham.

More volunteers operated this lock, too. We enjoyed the five miles downriver in the sun, with less wind, to Beeston Lock and Canal. On the way, we passed the dredger and tug/dumb barge near Barton Island.

We used the Elsan services here, and followed Delhi the three miles past Boots factory and Trevethick’s Boatyard, where we spotted RWBC member Harry Richardson’s narrowboat Lady Lee.

Reaching Castle Marina, we moored outside Sainsbury’s, as usual. Liana departed to visit her mum, Flo. Jan and Dave shopped. John rested and mended a light. 

Later, we took Annie and Delhi through Castle Lock and the newly developed canal side area after, down to Meadow Lane Lock. 

After Delhi had been watered, we went on to the River Trent, past Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, where I used to go with Liana’s dad Eddie, a true Forest and County fan, then upriver under Trent Bridge to moor on the Wilford side steps beyond the pedestrian suspension bridge, quiet and pretty.

The steps proved to be a pleasant place to moor and chat with passers by.