Most of the day was warm and with sunny spells - although we did have one sharp shower that lasted at least five minutes! Before setting off, Alice and Jess took Mike to see the field and footpath that they had explored yesterday evening. Mike was taken by the tree which, as Alice noticed, was partly dead but new life had sprung out.
The girls were also surprised to find that the crops had already grown taller than they were.
Mike could only find a single poppy.
Back then to the boat and time to set off down Zouch Lock just a few metres on from our overnight mooring.
Most of the morning was then taken up with completing the remainder of the River Soar Navigation, including the very deep Kegworth Lock. This relatively new lock was built as part of enhanced flood protection in the 1980's but the old one can be seen alongside. About the only time when it is safe to jump off the call wall!
The lock is also different from others on this navigation by having risers to help with keeping the boat in place as the water rises or falls.
There did not seem to be much traffic into or out of the East Midlands airport today, but we did see a couple of FlyBe planes coming in to land. Wonder if either had come from Newquay?
Ratcliffe Power Station - which we had seen in the far distance from the top of the Carillon Tower yesterday - gradually began to dominate the scene.
Eventually we reached the end of the River Soar and made a sharp, sweeping turn right to go up the River Trent.
Very soon we passed the entrance to the Cranfleet a Cut and then the start of the Erewash Canal at Trent Lock.
The double locks at Sawley were the next target - the right hand one is mechanised and we shared with a boat that had arrived just a little earlier (we had not seen it on the run up the river).
Time then for lunch as we moored just above the lock so that we could also use the full range of facilties. A nearby field and a gnarly tree provided good distraction.
It was then back out onto the Trent through the flood lock and just a little later at Derwent Mouth we were able to turn off the rivers and back onto the Trent and Mersey Canal.
After mooring at Shardlow Wharf we walked up to the village, well over a kilometre away to the only shop. Apart from a newspaper we also bought ice creams but it was only when we reached the next bus shelter that we could find somewhere to sit and really consume them properly!
Further back we took a look at the church - sadly not open for visitors today. In the churchyard there is a beacon structure - at least a local lady confirmed that this is what it was meant to be although a fire in the brazier would not do the central wooden post much good!
Finally we stopped to visit the small canal museum housed in one of the old warehouses of Shardlow Wharf, once a vitally important inland port.
The lady who told us about the beacon also told us about a small playground not far away and so, before returning to the boat, the girls went with Christine and spent at least 45 minutes there. Meanwhile, Mike went straight back to the boat to set about preparing the evening meal.
9.1 Miles - 7 Locks
No comments:
Post a Comment