Swarkestone

Today's Canal : Trent and Mersey

By contrast with yesterday, today was sunny and brought blue skies. It was also correspondingly hotter. Yesterday we moored well beyond the service block - the mooring was occupied at the time we came by and we were keen to secure a spot as close to the shop as we could manage. By tis morning we needed a 'full service' but it was quite narrow between boats moored on both sides. Reversing that far would be possible by tricky and a risk that we might touch one of the more precious boats! However we noticed that it is possible to wind (turn) at the entrance to Mercia Marina - about 10 minutes away - as well as at the service wharf. 

We cast off at 9 and were back at the start by 9:30. The water tank was rather low so it took well over half an hour to complete our service, by which time two other boats were waiting patiently on the opposite side. The first was might pleased when we indicated that we were just on the move again!

Before long we were passing under the same railway bridge (with a train passing overhead)

and then the marina entrance where we winded earlier.

Willington Power Station, along with many others along the River Trent, has provided a prominent landmark since the end of the 1950s. There were two distinct coal fired units on site but with the combination of a mood to end fossil fuel generation, a prolonged and bitter miners stroke and privatisation that largely aimed to shift the problems off the government's to-do list, led to the eventual closure of the electricity generation at Willington by 1999. 

The private company that at that time owned the site (there have been others since!) initially tried to get planning permission to demolish and replace with a large housing development - most of the generating plant was removed at that time. However. local opposition and concern about proximity to the Trent flood plain, led to the plan being rejected. Next, in 2011, planning permission was given to construct Willington 'C' but the company's bid in an ill fated contract auction called a halt to all further work on site. Little has happened since then but the present owners still maintain that generation is their aim and local opinion seems very much to favour this rather than more housing (always the same with commuter belt rural villages!) Hence there is no money to demolish the towers which still continue as a landmark. Alas, we did not find a better sight line from the canal.

As we neared the marina at Stenson, alongside the eponymous lock, we had a reminder that from Burton-on-Trent to Shardlow the canal was built to take wide boats. However, at that time they did not moor online and it is often the case that they stopover in the narrower places.

We then had to wait a while as another wide beam was on the move and there was no room for anyone but them between the moored boats.

Stenson is the first (or last of you take the lock numbers) of the wide locks which are almost equally deep. A boat was just leaving below with one waiting to come up. The couple with that boat seemed to take for ever, debating every step over hand held radios! The man was operating the lock but could not really hear what his steerer was saying so she resorted to shouting into the radio! Eventually, eventually they were on their way.

A young family were enjoying the weather as they sat alongside the canal and a small girl was delighted to be able to assist with the gates and paddles. She also had a 'go' yesterday so was now getting the hang of it!

The next pound runs very close to a country road as well as a railway line - this one seems to be used mainly for freight traffic. The road is narrow and is well used a a short cut, not doubt encouraged by SatNav routing. Unfortunately it also crosses the canal at sharp bends across one of several old accommodation bridges. The effects of vehicles that did not quite make can all to often still be seen.

This one is probably down to a tractor as a farm track turns equally sharply off the road. Although the repair to the right hand wing wall looks recent,  it is at least 11 years ago since the incident happened, according go out library of pictures!

It was almost lunchtime as we neared the next lock at Swarkestone when we spotted a good mooring with plenty of shade. So we opted to call a #halt for the day and sit out the strongest of the heat.

Early evening by the water's edge! (The sun's direction was not helpful but they just would not pose in a better place)

6.0 Miles - 2 Locks