Nottingham

We were not expecting to move any time soon so, after a slowish start, Mike decided to walk across to the chandlery for the longer screw he needed to complete the shower, and also to walk up to the village store for a paper.

However, as he passed another of the boats moored waiting for the river to open, he heard that the river was now open, which was also confirmed by a hire boat coming upstream.

Derwent Mouth Lock

So, abandoning the paper walk after picking up the screw, we set off down to Derwent Mouth. Surprisingly there was no queue and we dropped down along with another boat. the river level was just into the amber region but the flood lock warning light was turned off and as many of the boats coming up were hire boats, we felt confident.

Amber just showing!

M1 Motorway Bridge

 As we came out into the river stream we accelerated sharply, soon passing under the M1 motorway bridge. It was not far down to Sawley Flood Lock, still in operation but with only about 300mm drop to Sawley Cut. A couple of BW staff were supervising the lock and a continuous stream were emerging, having been penned up for several days!

Sawley Flood Lock

Sawley Locks Control Centre

 We were urgently in need of a sani-station which we found just above the main Sawley Locks. To Christine's surprise, these locks are mechanised so dropping down to the river once more was quite straightforward but, as we needed to close the gates, it did mean picking up Christine from a ladder down from the landing pier.

Below Sawley Locks

Entrance to Erewash Canal

 We were cruising along at quite a pace and before long we passed the entrance to the Erewash canal - which we visited last spring. In the distance was the Ratcliffe Power Station - which we recall being new when we lived in Loughborough in the late Sixties! It must be one of the few Trent power stations to survive. Willington was definitely closed and further down, Marnham had also shut when we last came this way in 2007.

Trent Mouth - Ratcliffe Power Station

 Cranfleet Cut is protected by flood gates so they are impassable unless open with a level and had been closed since Friday.

Cranfleet Flood Gates

River Trent

At then end of the Cut came Cranfleet Lock which returned us to the river and back to the high speed transit to Beeston Cut which will take us through Nottingham. The lock is very close to the weir and Mike found a very strong tow off-line as he lined up for the lock landing. With considerable extra 'welly' he made it into the landing area but even there strong eddies made it unusually difficult to line up for the lock.

BeestonWeir

Although we were descending, the gates stood well above the water level - presumably the act as a flood barrier when needed.

Beeston Lock

Shortly after the lock we found a mooring spot and stopped for lunch - more of Christine's famous warming soup - definitely needed on a chilly and grey day.

Lenton Chain

After lunch we continued along Beeston Cut, passing then huge Boots site - not clear how much is used for what these days. The scenery gradually became more urban. Lenton Chain marks the point where the northern part of the Nottingham canal once joined in - only noticeable if you know what to look for - but the section has long since been abandoned and built over.

Although there is a good towpath all along this Cut, it has been tarmaced right out to the coping stones so there are few places to moor.

We planned to moor near to Sainsbury's and pulled in alongside the marina. Only after we had spent some time tying up and locking the boat to go shopping did we see a notice that this section is owned by the marina and that they charge for using it! So we quickly moved the boat onto the real visitor moorings just the other side of the road bridge. Not a lot of space and Mike had to squeeze in to a gap only a couple of feet longer than the boat!

Christine was rather taken by a mural on the end of one of the houses opposite the marina.

We made a good trip to Sainsbury and, after taking the supplies back to the boat, walked across to the other side of the canal where we had spotted a Majestic Wine store. Although somewhat overwhelmed by the choice we were helped by the chance to taste a few Australian wines being featured. This helped us pick one pair of bottles. The deal these days is for a minimum of six bottles - all we could carry - and the price displayed is for at least two. At least that meant that we only had to pick three different ones!

Back at the boat and time to relax and plan where to head for tomorrow night. We think we can reach Torksey but may opt to overnight at Newark if there is a good mooring.

10.6 miles - 5 locks