Today's Navigations : River Trent, River Soar

We travelled up from home yesterday. Although there was plenty of traffic about, we only had one delay, coming through Stow-on-the-Wold where the narrow town centre can never cope with what is asked of it, not helped by being a pretty, tourist place with lots of visitors.

Once through Stow and Moreton-in-Marsh we made better progress but on the motorway it was amazing just how many trucks and caravans/campervans were in the move, almost nose-to-tail in the slow lane. Apart from an unplanned comfort break in Stow (took longer than it should as a result of misleading road signs!) we arrived at Swanley quite close to the time predicted at the outset. This means that any delays were the usual suspects.

This marina provides good trolleys, allocated to specific jetties so easy to locate. This meant that only three trolley trips were needed to unload plus the new shopping trolley, which travelled full of assorted items.

Mid afternoon we went to Long Eaton - firstly to hook up to an EV charger, the same one used last time, and secondly across the road to Tesco Extra. Easier to stock up on arrival than have to find space in an already loaded car.

As we had been moved from one mooring to another (admin confusion in the office and the engineers who did some work whilst we were away, including a new bathroom towel radiator which sprang a leak towards the end of the last trip) we were without electricity. The staff in the office were quite happy to transfer the balance over  - the previous mooring was still unoccupied - but the system they have seems rather archaic as they cannot correlate electric outlets to moorings and we had to find out a serial number from a small brass plate! In the end we were able to create hot water with the immersion heater!

This morning brought light rain as we awoke but by the time we had completed breakfast it dried up and the day was pleasantly warm, albeit with grey, cloudy skies.

Before casting off Mike moved the car to the main car park so that we did not take up space close to the moorings which gets very busy at the end of each day. It will also be a bit easier when it comes to the next car shuffle.

We negotiated our way around the marina - not a straight route - and on the way spotted another Alchemy, perhaps slightly more senior to ours!

Finally we could pass through the comparatively narrow entrance and out onto the Sawley Cut, a short section that bypasses a weir on the River Trent with a pair of mechanised locks.

Operating the locks today were two very pleasant and helpful volunteers. 

We had expected to find a water point just above the locks which we have used many times in the past. But the spot was obstructed by a half sunken cruiser. By now we were in the lock and the vollies suggested that we turn around just after the bottom of the lock to a service pontoon just below.

Making the turn, now on the river proper, was interesting but we came alongside the pontoon with no problem. We discovered that there are actually three water points here but all are up high on the ground above the mooring, accessed up a steep ramp. The water pressure was excellent and our near empty tank was soon full (we had not done it from the mooring as we were moored the wrong way round for it to be an easy task!)

Whilst waiting we spotted this delightful old Bedford bus.

There was also a sign which explained what has happened to the services - perhaps it allows CaRT to let a couple more long term moorings on the Sawley Cut - they seem quite popular.

Just below the lock and the pontoon is a railway bridge (we had to come under it after leaving the lock) and boaters are strongly advised to leave and go upstream a short distance to a marker buoy so that they have plenty of time to line up with the correct bridge arch in good time.

You can just see the buoy is we zoom in on the previous picture.

Although the recent rain (such as it is) seems to have put a bit of life into the river flow, we did not have any problems today, but making the u-turn is interesting - we mainly made it around with the flow which is stronger in the middle than towards the bank.

On now to the complex junction at Trent Lock. First come the entrance into the Erewash Canal and Trent Lock itself.

Immediately after and straight ahead is Beeston Cut and the route into Nottingham, with one of the sailing clubs in a prominent position to the right.

Finally, with the ominous weir on our left, we turned sharp right onto the Soar, now of course, changing from down to up stream. Concentrating on the turn (with a sailing marker buoy just where we ought to turn!) we failed to get a decent photo of the weir - just imaging it for yourself!

Soon after the junction is Redhill Lock. This is a flood lock, only closed when the water level is really high but today it was no surprise that we cruised straight through.

Ratcliffe Power Station was switched off last year and a two year decommissioning phase began. Once that is complete, demolition can be started. (It had an unplanned short reprieve when there was an especially cold winter) When we last came this way in 2021, the plan seemed to be to use the site for a nuclear fusion power plant but that idea seems to have been scrapped. It seems that instead it may be used for a waste incineration plant (presumably being next to a railway line which once supplied the coal means that the waste can be brought in some distance without causing problems with local roads.

Ratcliffe Lock is the first (or last depending on which we you are travelling!) real lock on the Soar. Although it joins at a rather sharp angle, it is not difficult to make the turn from the lock landing.

This view is shortly after leaving Ratcliffe Lock - as well as the cooling towers, it also shows the spire of Ratcliffe Church, one the five so-called A453 Churches.

We called at Kegworth Marine to pick up a new gas bottle - one ran out last night just as we were making our last hot drink of the day! At least it is not too difficult to turn one off and the other one on whilst in the dark.

We then paused for lunch on the lock landing for Kegworth Shallow Lock - as can be seen this is also  open straight through although a sign suggests that it is normally operated conventionally in the winter months more for water management than flood alleviation.

And so to Kegworth New Lock better once names as Kegworth Deep Lock at just over 10 ft rise. Just as we were ready to start filling the lock two other boats arrived below and some of their crew came to assist. They are on a schedule as they want to get through the flights above Leicester before they are expected to close for lack of water. We had hoped to go that way but did not think that our usual rate of progress would allow us enough time.

This distinctive sign warns about boats getting hung up on the cill - it is a not uncommon incident at this lock. However, boats do not hang up when ascending, only when descending. To be fair, there is a similar sign above the lock.

The lock took a very long time to fill. Initially this was because one of the bottom gate paddles was not fully closed (it felt that it would go no further down but we then opened it right up and something must have cleared as we could then wind the paddle right down. But still the lock would not quite fill, staying just a couple of bricks below full.

At this point the third member if the waiting crew came up and asked whether the ground paddle was not working! The three of us already there had missed it completely - there is not one on the opposite side and the lock below and the next above do not have any at all. Look very closely and you will see the ground paddle on the right, just in front of the two crew members. We could try to build a case of mitigating factors but actually, Mike just missed seeing it! Ooops!

We were now under the flight path into East Midlands Airport  and for a while there was a steady stream of Tui and Ryan Air flights arriving. We think that this one was Tui.

We now had about 35 minutes of  level cruising on quite pleasant waters through typical farming landscapes.

Eventually we reached our planned destination for the day, a bit later than estimated, at Zouch Lock. This marks one end of a short canalised bypass of the river and a sizeable weir. We came up quite efficiently this time but were delayed because the bottom gates leaked enough to prevent the lock staying full with just the paddles on one side (no ground paddles here!) Mike opened up both sides and checked on the off side that the lock was full by opening the gate a small crack. He then, as usual, close the paddles and crossed back to the where the boat was. By then the level had dropped and no way was the gate going to cooperate. Nothing for it but to go back across and open all paddles, come back and let the boat out. Then further crossings to shut down both sets of paddles - ay least Christine was kind enough to bring the stern of the boat across to the opposite side to reduce the trips by one!

We have moored above the lock before and a couple of boats were already there. There is a remarkably long line of bollards, normally denoting a lock landing but here they are intended for visitor mooring. We could see that the space the far side of these boats had some room but it looked as it it was only enough for one, whilst before there was clearly enough for two - we knew that the following boats that we had held up earlier wanted to stop here. So, we went as far forward as we could, leaving the longer space for them. However when they arrived they decided to pop one boat in the rather short space just behind us (kissing buttons) - well they do have bow thrusters to deploy. And then the other boat insisted on mooring alongside them (aka breasting up). Well, wide beam boats could moor here and two narrowboats are no wider. In the end, there were no more boats passing before nightfall anyway.

7.5 Miles - 4 Locks

Car Shuffle and Cleaning Day

Still in Sawley Marina

Mike had sorted a travel plan to get him back to Trinity Marina in Hinkley, courtesy of Google Maps and Directions. He left the boat at 10 am and walked out of the marina - no short step - and then to the main road where there is a nearby bus stop. He arrived with about 5 minutes to spare. The Skylink route goes through Long Eaton, with a stop about 100m from the rail station. Unfortunately there were emergency road works and 3 way traffic lights not on Mike's schedule! He alighted form the bus with over five minutes knocked off the transfer time allowance.

Unusually, `Mike had not bought his  but there was a tickets in advance but there was a friendly ticket office who efficiently produce his ticket. Alas, Mike was not as efficient as his phone, with Wallet on it, did not connect with the card machine (he later dis covered why) So he has to resort to the old fashioned method of plastic card! Of course, he could not remember the PIN so had to go through the rigmarole of unearthing it from its secret cache. Then the booking clerk told him that the train was two minutes late - still, he made his way quickly (or what passes for quickly today) up the steep ramp to the platform. The train was now six minutes late.

After chatting to a cheerful fellow waiting passenger he suddenly thought to check something unrelated  in his wallet. At  that, point to his horror, he spotted that his credit card was missing. It must be still at the ticket office. He quickly assessed that it would be better to miss the train and catch the next one compared with the fuss over replacing the card. A quick dash down the slope was rewarded with relief at seeing the card still in the machine - it was out of sight of the clerk who has not been alerted to it. Guess what, back up that slope again.

The train did not lose any more time on its run to Leicester but Mike made a speedy transfer across the bridge to Platform 1, where the train was already waiting as it starts from here. About 20 minutes later he was sorting out which was was to town from Hinkley station.

It was a little more uphill than he had realised but he followed the signs to the bus station where a 158 was ready and waiting (again it starts from here) As soon as he had sorted his ticket (well, recorded his bus pass) the driver set off. It was about twelve minutes to the marina.

After a quick visit to the marina office to return the fob that we had kept in case we needed access out of hours, across to the car, set u the satnav and fire off a text to Christine to report progress, and then he was on his way back to the boat.

The journey from marina entrance to marina entrance was about 45 minutes. But Mike was not yet finished. He continued into Long Eaton to an InstaVolt EV charger he had already located into he satnav. The car still had 75% charge but to tomorrow's journey back home his estimated to be around 150 miles so we wanted to be as full as possible. It was speedy as promised and Mike was eventually back on the boat before 2 pm.

Meanwhile, Christine had been doing the usual round of cleaning and packing - almost complete by the time Mike was back. Just the clean duvet cove to put on - we usually manage this as a two person job.

In the afternoon, Mike also tackled a job he has been wanting to do for some while - sorting out the jumble of cable behind our tv. Early in the days of Alchemy we initially used a satellite dish and satview together with a library of films on a small disc. A little later we added a ROKU device so that we could stream from one of our mobile phones. In the last couple of years this method has largely displaced the alternatives and so quite a few cables and plugs in the cupboard under the screen. 

As well as being a little simpler to turn on, it is less likely to have a failure. Still not perfect as on the canals we cannot always find a signal on either phone (they are on different networks, alas soon to become one) That's what our good stock of library books is for - our local library is very accommodating with our longer spells away and the number we can take out at one time. Good staff at Devizes!

Finally, we managed to transport most of the stuff to go in the car this evening. rather than leaving it to the morning. At this marina the car is only a very short distance from our mooring.

0 Miles - 0 Locks

Sawley Marina

Today's Navigations : Trent and Mersey, River Trent, Sawley Cut

Today began very much cooler than the past few days (some relief!) but also very overcast. It remained that way until the afternoon, by which time we were tucked up in the marina.

It was not far from our overnight stop to Shardlow - but a bit slow as there is a long line of long term moorings to pass before the lock itself. A much smaller fall than most of the wide locks from Burton but still a bit of an effort. It was set against us so first we had to fill it. When we came to leave Mike shut both bottom gates but still had the. off side paddle to shut. Crossing these locks needs a bit of concentration as the way across at either end is over the top of the balance beams. There are good hand rails (when they are not wobbly!) but the upstand on the top of the central end of each gate complicates life for those of lesser mobility (LTRU) However, by the time Mike had made it to the middle, both gates had started to open themselves. Each time he managed to pull them closed the same response! Mike then chickened out and let some water in at the top to try and keep the bottom shut. Even so, by the time he was ready to come back across for the last time, the lock had leaked empty and the opening recommenced!

The former lock cottage on the towpath side was actively having a lot of refurbishment. In particular a semi cellar was being reclaimed to give even more room. One of the contractors, a specialist in home cinemas, was busy at work - he told us that they were installing a replacement cinema which entailed first removing what seemed to be an endless load of cushions. The work is only supposed to take today! I doubt anyone will be relaxing in front of the screen for a while - the walls were just being replastered!

Below the lock we passed the iconic former warehouse. At one time, Shardlow was an important inland port and a significant amount of trade passed through here by water.

There are still many old transportation-related buildings all the way through Shardlow. This one looks as if it is ready for a bit of TLC.

Others, by contrast, found new purposes some time ago and have well matured into their new environment.

In between, Dobsons Boatyard is still in operation. We could tell that via our ears - very much metal bashing work in progress.

A little further and this outdoor trainset come complete with a house - guess which will feature as a headline in any future estate agent's blurb!

Shardlow Flood Lock (not part of the original canal design) now protects the centre of the village from high waters - we saw it in action some years back when we were stuck here for a few days waiting for the level to drop. No need for its protection today . . . Neither light, one for the Trent and one for the Soar, needed to be lit.

And so to Derwent Mouth Lock, the last one on the Trent and Mersey. Its fall varies according to the river level but even with limited flow it was not a huge drop. The lock was already full from recent boat coming off the river but with three more waiting to use it we had plenty of help and we were invited to stay on board.

And so the rivers - both the Derwent, from the left, and the Trent, from the right, join together here. Quite often, when emerging from the quiet canal water the river flows push the boat in one direction from the one in which we need to go. It was so gentle today that no course correction was needed.

Looking back, this is the entrance to the canal if coming upstream. Follow the sign if tempted to take either right or left.

After passing under a large pipe bridge the M6 is equally unmissable (but much noisier!)

The navigation now continues as Sawley Cut with the river passing over a weir. Phew! We managed to miss it . . . 

The start of the cut is protected by a flood lock but today we could motor straight through. A pair of locks at the other end return boats back to the river and onwards to the Soar or Nottingham. Sawley Bridge Marina is just after the flood lock. Their diesel point is alongside the cut so we pulled in there before moving on towards the proper entrance to the marina. The fuel delivery is via a rather ancient self service system. After having first to collect a special card from the reception office we then went through a lengthy series of inputs only for the system to crash and take us back to the start! A very helpful lass from the office came to help but could not make it deliver so went back to the office to ask for advice. She came back and turned it off and on but still nothing. Tried again and this time left the power off for much longer and eventually it went into a reboot screen that took for ages to appear to be doing  anything. Finally, after entering all the details once more we were able to fill up our tank.

And so to our mooring. We had been given general directions and the number of our mooring but when we were in the vicinity of where we thought we should be there were no numbers on the pontoons to be seen. They are actually shown on the other end and we had to ask a friendly passing mooring to identify which was which - there were quite a few empty slots.

As we were coming into the marina, Mike spotted some Black Swan staff at their base (they also operate from Cropredy and had done some bits of maintenance for us early in the year). From our m mooring it was just a short distance so Mike thought it would be a good idea to see if they could some more items for us whilst we are back home. Alas, the way involves passing through a gate, the only one on site that uses a key, but it would not unlock. Two other moorers tried, confident that their keys would open the gate, but they had no better luck than Mike. So as well as looking for Black Swan, we now needed to report the problem. Alas, proud claim by Aquavista that this is the largest canal marina in the country started to wear a trifle thin when faced very nearly a kilometre walk all around the outer perimeter. Each way!

Apparently, Maintenance are aware of the problem and will fix it as soon as . . . However, Mike did see the very helpful  Black Swan people and they promised to call at our boat this afternoon. In fact, Chris was already there by the time Mike had walked all around the marina once more. He had come across in their outboard powered dinghy! He quickly diagnosed the most pressing of the issues but would I call at their office to make a formal booking for some time when we are away back at home.

Lunch was now well overdue but as soon as that was out of the way Mike walked the long trek. When he arrived at the office it was closed. However, James and Chris (the two met earlier) were both around and had already agreed that James would do the work, hopefully early next week. One of the tasks will involve having to replace the towel rail radiator in the bathroom as it has sprung a leak.

 Christine then has to sort out electricity as we had not been told what to do when we checked in (the problems with the diesel pump overshadowed a full briefing!) At least in the process we learned that Maintenance had fixed the gate so Christine was able to go the office (needed to activate the electricity) taking the short route!

By mid afternoon, sunny weather had returned by mid afternoon, but we have been so distanced by events that we have not really noticed. The one item of DIY planned for this time has had to be postponed. Now to fill the water tank . . .

2.7 Miles - 2 Locks (3 if you count Sawley Flood Lock, but we don't)

Shardlow

Today's Canal : Trent and Mersey

Today began very overcast but still exceptionally hot for the time of year and now the air was also quite still. As a result we felt at least as overwhelmed by the heat as yesterday.

We set off much as usual, surprised that we had not yet seen any moving boats. We later passed a few but fewer that we had expected.

After a little while we passed Swarkestone Brick Wharf. From here the Derby Canal ended its journey from the city with a short flight of locks down to the river. These have long since disappeared. Despite the name, it seems that the main trade may well have been timber although coal from south of the river featured in early proposals that were never implemented.

The main Derby Canal junction is about 100m further on and most of it has been lost although there are active efforts' to reinstate as much of it as possible. The other end on the Erewash Canal seems to be the present focus for real action. A short part remains here to be used as long term moorings. Somewhat unusually, the boat club have posted notice stating that the entrance is not to be used for winding.

Swarkeston Lock is just after this junction and is one of the deepest locks. In the past there have been reports of difficulties with operating this lock - with such large bottom gates it is not unexpected- however we found both the gates and the paddles remarkably easy to operate. A boat coming up recognised us from when we were last on the Kennet and Avon (alas, the recall was not symmetric!) At least this meant that we did not have to fill and open the top end of the lock.

The view from below seems to belie the feeling when actually in the lock!

The freight line that runs close to where we moored for both the last two nights crosses the canal here.

Swarkestone Pavilion is all that remains of a large, grand house, built in 1630s, owned by one of the leading families in the country. The Hall was demolished in the late 18C and the Pavilion became derelict until restored in recent times and is now used by the Landmark Trust as holiday accommodation.

Our last photo of Cuttle Wharf from 2014 shows it to be almost derelict and rather overgrown. It is clear that quite a bit of work has been done since then.

A junction on the railway we mentioned above was the start of the Derby and Ashby Railway. Initially its main freight trade was carrying the products from a colliery, brick works and a quarry near Worthington. It did also have a passenger service - especially popular with Derby County fans as one of the stations was very close to the ground where the club then played. During the Second World War, the line was take over by the military for training personnel in railway engineering (and possibly how the blow them up) Two Canadian companies were trained (in a week!) on how to operate a railway. A full scale train set for big boys! At the end of the war it was no longer needed and was handed back to LMS. However, by then, its useful life was over and gradually close down. Today it forms a long distance cycle and walking route.

Weston Church is some distance from the village. It dates in part from 12C but there was extensive restoration and development in 1877. It is now designated as Festival Church which means that it only holds services on special occasions.

A little distance before we reached Weston Lock we passed a boat that was just casting off so we waited to share the water with them. A pleasant liveaboard couple who were planning to reach Redhill boatyard today where they are booked in for some work on the engine. Again a deep lock but with two crews we made light work of it.

That freight line again! After hearing a lot of traffic on the line on the past two days we have been surprised not to see any this morning. Its principal advantage seems to be that it connects the East and West Midlands without having to pass through Derby. Shortly after this bridge near to Castle Donnington, a short branch connects with SEGRO and the East Midlands Gateway Rail Freight Interchange alongside the East Midlands Airport. From here there are around six trains a day to the container port at Felixstowe, but has capacity for up to 16.

Christine is urging Mike to undertake next year a project to photograph  as many wild flowers and such creatures as butterflies connected with the navigations. This might have been prompted by this one landing on the boat next to her where it stayed for some time, waving its wings in the air. It is not easy to take a picture and steer at the same time without running into the bank or another boat! Do let her know if you can identify this one accurately.

And so to Aston Lock, much shallower than the previous two. We had a bit of help from a boater that was moored on the lock landing awaiting help to fix his engine. The other boat went on ahead as we were not expecting to go through Shardlow Lock until the morning, depending on where we can moor - it can get quite busy at Shardlow. The bottom gates used to have a well know feature of not staying closed whilst crew walked to the other end to let water in. At one time there were some handy wooden props, if you recognised what they were for - one still lay in the grass. However, either the problem has been fixed or the gates were today to lazy in the heat to bother annoying boaters!

When the lower lock landing was rebuilt in the recent past it was a nice idea to include the lock name in the brickwork. Sadly there seems to be no resource to maintain it, perhaps highlighting with paint, so it is probably missed by many boaters.

Closing in on Shardlow we passed under the busy A50 - there is no escaping the noise footprint for some time and so when we started to see an increasing number of boast moored, we took the best we could find just after the next bridge, about a kilometre from Shardlow Lock.

5.9 Miles - 3 Locks