Long Eaton

 Today's Navigations - Trent and Mersey, River Trent, Sawley Cut, Erewash

As forecast, the day started slightly warmer an with a hint of sunshine at times. Conditions were quite pleasant for cruising if not for taking photos. Alas, after lunch - without much warning and against the current forecast - drizzle arrived which gradually turned even wetter.

Just after setting off we dropped down Aston Lock last last of the notorious locks below Burton. Although heavy to work - as are most broad locks - there were no particular problems here. We recalled that in the past this one had a tendency for the bottom gates to drift open when empty but none of that today.     re was a steady stream of walkers, crossing the fields from the nearby village of Aston, mostly taking their dogs for a walk.boat for living in. 

Along the next section we encountered several moving boats - nice to see some activity. We w    re passed by a canal-based blacksmith. It seems that his workshop is in a pusher tug which is tightly coupled to the boat on which he lives.

Shortly before Shardlow we caught up with a boat that was out for a short trip from its mooring in Chapel Farm Marina, before setting off to head up the River Soar. We shared the Shardlow Lock with them but they pulled onto the water point below whilst we carried on.

Whilst Shardlow still features many old canal buildings, a reminder of the time when this was an important inland port, it is surprising that there are no boater facilities here other than a single water point.

Alongside the Malt Shovel pub used to be a popular visitor mooring but at the moment there are extensive repairs underway, putting in place piling with a concrete cap. Let's hope they remember the mooring rings!

Alongside Sharlow Flood gates two men were creating something from a row of pollarded trees. They were fixing a metal framework but its purpose completely escaped us!

Now that is taking  the concept of a wide beam canal boat to an extreme!

Presumably it lowered its wheelhouse to get under the nearby bridge between the marina and the Trent.

And so down Derwent Mouth Lock, the last (or first) on the long Trent and Mersey Canal. A couple of chaps walking by took an interest which proved rather helpful when the offside bottom gate decided to open itself just as Christine was about to board the boat. Thanks folk! 

Our chance to open up the throttle on a wide open river did not last long - about ten minutes.

Soon we passed the Sawley Weir and entered into Sawley Cut.

Just above the main Sawley Locks we paused to use the services. It is more often the case that we bemoan a slow filling tap but in this case we suffered from one too strong! After attacking the hose (one of the flexible expanding type) Mike noticed that the water was flowing  very fast and that it could soon fill up but then the hose started to shrink again, meaning much less pressure. On inspection is seems that it was so strong that it burst the pipe! At least we keep two. So much for buying a cheap spare . . .

After the usual disposals - supplemented this time by Christine dumping the old front fender into the bin - we moved into  the lock. This one is not only mechanised but also, today, staffed with three volunteers who cheerfully and speedily saw us through. They were clearly disappointed that we were only the fourth boat they had seen today.

The Ratcliffe coal fired power station was built in 1965 and, unlike almost all the other Trent power stations, still stands. However, is scheduled to close in four years' time and there is talk of the site being used for a ground breaking fusion generation plant. We shall have to wait and see whether its skyline will be as iconic.

We met a line of three boats going upstream en route from the Soar as we approached the entrance to the Erewash Canal so negotiating the entry was more complicated than usual as went around them just before making the turn. Trent Lock follows immediately after.

Above the lock we moored up for lunch. As we started off again, the drizzle arrived. Shortly after we passed the long-established Mills Boatyard with its dry docks.

The area around Long Eaton lock was at one time filled with a range of lace factories and mills. That business was for a period highly successful and led to the development of rows of housing for the workers. Gradually the trade dwindled and the looms fell silent. The buildings were very substantially built and so a number survived and are now being put to various uses. Whilst there are some housing projects,. most look as if they are home to a range of small industrial workshops and offices. This one was producing furniture on the ground floor.

Britannia Mills, built in 1906, however have not survived and, after demolition following a fire in 2009, permission was given to develop the site for 100 houses. Work has just started although, at present, the view from the canal is largely hidden behind large ugly security boarding.

Shortly after, with the rain persisting, we made an early stop for the night.

7.4 Miles - 7 Locks