As forecast, we did actually have a shower if rain during the morning, enough to don waterproofs and hats, but it did not last for long, leaving the rest of the day largely dry.
Just before Cow Pasture Bridge we saw this splendid house - Weston Grange, at one time part of a large farm but now has no agricultural connection. We have not been able to find much about it so far but one source does say This may be the site of a medieval grange of Chester Abbey. The house is at the south corner of a farmyard, which it was separated from in 1980 (see)
A little later we passed this moored boat with an outsize radio mast. In addition it had two find wires lone forward and one aft, tethered about two boat lengths away in each direction. It did not appear to intend moving any time today! Spies on the Cut?
Across the field from Weston Church (which we pictured on the way down) we could see what is today on the maps as Weston House but on the OS map from 1900s it is simply labelled as the Rectory.
We had three rather deep locks today - the first two are 3.3 metres rise, the second was Swarkestone where we shared with another boat and were very well helped by a volunteer lock keeper who ensure that we came up very smoothly.
Just after Swarkestone Lock we paused at the water point where there is a narrowing for what was Swarkestone Stop, presumably a significant toll house as the junction with the now abandoned Derby Canal joined the Trent and Mersey. The wharf crane was restored by volunteers. Sadly, the refuse disposal point has recently been closed, the nearest alternatives are at Shardlow or Willington, quite a travel. We are not sure whether this is in the light of the new Facilities Policy, which is seeing a number being closed if they are not needed to comply with the travel times in this policy, or whether there may have been access problems. The collection truck will have had to come along the narrow track beside the canal from the nearby lock which itself is served by a minor road. We spoke with a delivery chap who had walked along from the lock to the CaRT buildings at the Stop. He was surprised to find that the gate at the start of the track is now locked, something he had not encountered here before.
The third lock was Stenson and, at 3.3 metres rise, too deep for Mike to catch the bow rope with his long boat hook. As a result he had to raise paddles very carefully and was able to avoid the boat being thrown about by the water filling the lock. The view from below the lock as another boat crew were just emptying it as we arrived gives, even in a still photo, some idea of the turbulence that can be caused with the deeper locks. we had moored for lunch about 800 metres below the lock and still felt quite clearly the sudden rush of water when the lock was emptied.
Now above the lock and the waters now stilled, the effects are hidden.
By the time we came under the footbridge by the entrance to Mercia Marina, the clouds are largely cleared, plenty of blue sky, wind had dropped and we felt much warmer. (we still do need the rain!) The blue boat to the right is the one that we shared with earlier.
We were now approaching Willington. A towpath walker shouted helpfully to us "you never park that down there". This was not a surprise as we knew that this is a honey-pot site and moorings are at a premium closer to the village and at this time of day. We noted, as a fall back plan, that there was room at the start of the line of moored boats and we could, as on the way down, turn at the services winding hole and come back, to turn again at the marina entrance. This would not be ideal as the walk to the village shop (which we really wanted to be able visit) was quite a walk from the first mooring.
However, we continued down to the services, we wanted both elsan and rubbish disposals. Suddenly, just as we were about to make the turn, Christine spotted that a smaller boat was about to set off just a boat length ahead, right outside the pub and the short route to the shop! They had left a space that was longer than they were but was it enough? We slowly moved forward and checked the length and, really much to our surprise, we fitted in.
Whilst Mike was mooring (the rings were not ideally placed for us so he had to take out two spare ropes from a locker and use these a springs to make sure that we did not move about too much) Christine checked out the menu at The Dragon. Mike then remembered that we had a meal here way back when Alice and Jess were staying on board in May 2015. On our return from the Co-Op we booke=d a table for 7:30 and agreed to have tonight's planned meal on Sunday!
9.4 Miles - 3 Locks
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