Cows and cooling towers

We continued our journey north on the River Soar, on our own again through Mountsorrel Lock. When we got to Barrow-upon-Soar, however, a man called out to us as we approached the Deep Lock and asked if he could share the lock with us. Of course, we said.

Peter was single handing his boat, Odyssey, and was having engine problems. He had also managed to hurt his leg and had broken a step on his boat, so things were not going well. Peter was stopping by Loughborough Station to meet someone so we went past. We stopped ourselves just after the sharp right where Loughborough Basin is just to the left - and went to Lidl and Tesco. As we were having lunch Odyssey came past, so we said we'd come down more locks with him.

This northern end of the Soar is certainly the prettiest. Here's the classic view of the church at Normanton-on-Soar.

Just beyond the church was a riverside house for sale. Hopefully the upside-down Union flag indicates nothing worse than that the owners are sad to be leaving.

At one of the locks Peter asked if he could borrow an iPhone charging cable as he had broken his. As I said, things were not going too well for him. We were able to lend him the right cable and he was able to recharge his phone. This is us in Kegworth New (Deep) Lock.

I think this is my favourite photo from today at Ratcliffe on Soar: cows and cooling towers. (Strictly speaking I think they are heiffers, but the alliteration would fail.)

At Ratcliffe Lock Peter returned my cable and we headed onto the Trent. We wanted to get water, so we squeezed in by the approach to Trent Lock and used the water point on the corner. Thanks to Waterway Routes we knew exactly where to aim for which made it easier.

While the tank was filling I recced the three-day pontoon moorings just the other side of Trent Junction: good, there was one space left. I was just disconnecting the hose when a boat went past upstream, i.e. the direction we were going. Was he heading for the pontoon mooring? Yes. Oh well. There was a space between two boats just back from the water point I thought we might just fit in. We battled the wind and tried - but we were a fender too long. More battle with the wind, and we carried on upstream towards Sawley.

With Sawley Lock negotiated we tied up finally opposite Sawley Bridge Marina and were serenaded by a song thrush.

BCF friend Angie, who lives nearby, came for a chat and some apple pie and custard. It was good to see you, Angie, and thanks for the wine and choccies!

We got us a convoy ...

We left Willington at 0900 and continued our way down to the Trent. We managed to share all the remaining locks, initially with our friends Alan and Glenda on Tranquility and then with Keiwa. On the way I touched up paintwork on the wooden front doors.

On the Trent I was looking forward to opening up the throttle but there was a slow boat in front of the boat in front of us.

He waved us on after we'd passed through Sawley Flood Lock.

We almost flew between Sawley Lock and Trent Lock - and suddenly we were on the Erewash Canal. There were two volunteer lockies at Trent Lock. The older one evidently hadn't operated wide locks before. He raised the ground paddle on the opposite side to the boat, causing the bow to swing over across the lock. The younger volockie gently instructed the older one how to do it, and we ascended the lock with no further problems.

A boat was tied up at the water point meaning we had to use our long hose. It had been there all day, apparently, and the volockie phoned CRT to ask if they could move it out of the way. There will be a large number of boats wanting to top up there over the next few days on their way to the IWA festival at Ilkeston. The message came back to move it, so the volockies and another boater did so. I was staying well out of it.

At Long Eaton Lock I saw an iPhone abandoned on a bench. There was no-one around, so I took it. At the next bridge I cycled to the police station in order to hand it in, but the police station was shut. Outside was a yellow phone for contacting them, so I tried but there was no reply. As I was hanging on the iPhone rang. On the other end was the owner. We arranged a rendezvous; a few minutes later he turned up and was reunited with his phone. He was understandably grateful.

We made slow progress along the pound above Long Eaton Lock. At the next lock I removed a large amount of plastic sheeting and a fair amount of weed from the propeller. This made an appreciable difference to our speed.

Sandiacre Lock

We tied up in Sandiacre and I cycled back to Swarkestone to get the car. Tomorrow's leg is very short, we should be at the festival site with the car shuffle complete by lunchtime.

Langley Mill to Shardlow

Wednesday 10th June 2015

We left Great Northern Basin, Langley Mill, sharing locks with Gabriel.

At Hallam Fields we had a very enjoyable meal on board Gabriel - thanks, Hazel and James - before walking to Ilkeston Rugby Club for a folk evening. We were down to be the first act after the interval; meanwhile we enjoyed some talented musicians playing the guitar and singing.

The guitarist above played some intricate stuff very well; the man in the photo below played some mean rock 'n' roll on his slide guitar.

Thursday 11th June 2015

There are some lovely views from the Erewash Canal; this is Sandiacre with St. Giles Church on the hillside.

After emptying/refilling at Trent Lock we popped out onto the Trent. Ah - depth at last! That's Gabriel in front.

We had lent Gabriel our jerry can with diesel in it as they were concerned that they were low on fuel. They stopped to refill at Sawley Marina while we continued to Shardlow.

Here we tied up on the 48 hour moorings and met Ally and Ben who had come to drive us back to their house for a couple of days of gardening!

Carrots roll as we cross the Trent

I don't think I have boated in such high winds before. Today has been mostly sunny, but with a strong southerly wind and frequent fierce gusts. But first I need to say a few words about yesterday.

We set off from the Hope and Anchor at 0730 in benign conditions but with rain forecast for the afternoon. We hoped we would make it to Loughborough before getting too wet. The Soar makes its way through countryside with only the occasional town or village for extra interest. Near Junction Lock the River Wreake joins the Soar's waters, and the navigation is called the River Wreake for a short distance.

Junction Lock

The wind was getting up as we made the left turn under Chain Bridge to go to Loughborough Basin, and it caught the bow pushing it against the sticking out concrete edge. This took paint off the edge of the gunnel at the bow, it also slightly damaged the front edge of the cabin.

After using the services we reversed onto a pontoon. As soon as we had tied up it started raining heavily. Phew!

We looked round the town and got some supplies from Tesco, then wondered how much more of the buffeting from the wind we could stand. The pontoons in Loughborough Basin are only about 30' long, making it impossible to use the front rope. In the wind the boat rocked around, cups on hooks constantly crashing against the side and the centre line creaking and straining. In the end we could take no more, and powered out of the basin in the rain. We tied up outside the Anchor pub past Chain Bridge and waited for my brother to arrive.

David is with us for a couple of days.

This morning the wind was possibly not quite as strong as yesterday, but it increased through the day making for quite interesting lock approaches. At Ratcliffe Lock we decided to sit it out for a bit and wait for the wind to abate before the last section of the Soar and the crossing of the Trent. I used some of the time to prepare and prime the damaged paintwork.

Eventually, with another narrowboat approaching the lock, I decided the time had come to go for it. We shared the lock with Eos, a boat we had seen several times on our way down the Leicester Line.

This is my favourite photo of the day; Ratcliffe Power Station.

At last, we came to the junction with the River Trent. Now the wind was strong and completely unhindered as it came at us across the watery expanse, this time from a more westerly direction. As we turned into the wind to head for the entrance of the Erewash Canal the boat leaned over somewhat; enough for four carrots which Jan was preparing in the galley to roll off the worktop onto the floor. I kept the power on as we shot between the masonry bridge supports into the Trent Lock approach, then stopped with a sense of relief as David went to prepare the lock.

Another "Phew"!

Incidentally, I'm really glad that we weren't trying to go up the Soar today. Against the flow would have been bad enough, not that it was particularly strong, but against the wind would have been a test of engine and steerer's stamina.

I've stowed the anchor again; we'll be on the Erewash for the next few days.

A Chance meeting and curry with Nev

We set off at 0830 from Willington, knowing that we would cross paths with Chance between here and Branston. Before we did so, we pulled in to Shobnall Wharf, the beginning of the former Bond End Canal, for diesel.

This was a delightful spot, and I'm pleased to say I made the tight turn without so much as a touch of the masonry.

The chandlery looked to have a huge range of stuff, only I couldn't think of anything we needed at the time.

A little later, when I was thinking "it must be coffee time", we saw the distinctive blue of nb Chance approaching. I waved madly whilst pulling in to the convenient piling - with rings - and then James saw the loonie was me and pulled in too.

Doug and James came on board for coffee, which turned into lunch. Fortunately we had a quantity of cold meats left over from last night's barbecue, and we had sufficient salad materials.

I set up my camera for a self-timed photo of us all - I haven't worked out how to lighten the image, Doug, I'm afraid you're a little in the dark. Sorry.

It was really good to see you both, and thanks for the wine. We talked non-stop, but eventually it was time to go our different ways.

It's nice to be back on a narrow canal again. This is Tatenhill Lock.

After a brief reprise of the Trent at Wychnor we arrived in Alrewas, where we tied up convenient for the curry house, seeming called merely "Alrewas".

We had arranged that Nev of nb Percy would join us. After a lemonade on Jubilee (yes, really) we walked over to the Indian restaurant. Jan was hoping for a "fruity Darjeeling" which she so enjoyed last time we were here, in Easter last year; we were dismayed to find that the place had seemingly changed hands since then. But they said they could make one, which they did, and it got the thumbs up.

It was excellent seeing you again, Nev - we had a really enjoyable evening. I'm looking forward to a look round Percy some time.

Here's the inevitable group shot (on a 1" exposure).

Now I'll see if I can get some sleep. We're moored under an oak tree which keeps dropping acorns with a "crack" on the boat. Hmm.

All the way to the head of navigation on the Trent

Phew! We're back in the cosy comfortable world of canals. Not that the Trent hasn't been lovely, it's just that, well, I prefer canals.

Having said that, I chose to do an "extra" bit of the Trent this morning. After leaving Sawley Cut, instead of going straight on at Derwent Mouth onto the T&M, we turned left to continue on the river for another mile, passing under this new-looking steel bridge.

The Trent here looks and feels much the same as before, but perhaps slightly narrower. It has been getting almost imperceptibly narrower all the way from Keadby.

The head of navigation is shown on Nicholson as Cavendish Bridge. I didn't feel inclined to test it, so I winded here, by the entrance to a marina. Besides which, I could see the gravel on the river bed!

It was only when trying to turn that I really noticed the current. I put the tiller over and gave it some throttle; the boat started heading sideways back down the river. A bit of astern and a bit more power and we were round and pointing the right way again. There was still plenty of width, so there were no worries.

Soon we were at the new bridge again, lit better this time, and then the left turn up to Derwent Mouth Lock.

At the first opportunity I put this lot away. Like the life jackets it was something we had to have, but hoped never to have to put to the test.

We had a barbecue this evening where we tied up in Willington. It's been like summer again today!

Now someone is using a chain saw. At 2310!

Rough water at Holme Pierrepont

We wanted to crack on today, so we left Gunthorpe, Notts at 0830 to continue our journey up the Trent. The river so far has been very kind to us: not too much water and not too little. There's been no flooding and we haven't hit any shallows.

Bridges are rare over the lower Trent owing to the river's width and its propensity to flood. The railway viaduct at Radcliffe has a large number of arches carrying the tracks over the flood plain.

Holme Lock was probably the most violent large Trent lock we have encountered. Even with the paddles raised just a little the water - and the boat - bounced around.

It wasn't as choppy as the water beside the lock, though. The National Watersports Centre takes advantage of the Trent needing to drop 12 feet or so, and we saw canoeists tackle the slalom course.

Not far beyond this we came to Nottingham, and the first lock where I could actually wind paddle gear. Until now the windlasses have been used as paperweights on the slide. Bridge 1 on the Nottingham and Beeston Canal looked like - and was/is - a normal canal bridge of normal canal proportions. Hooray!

We stopped in Nottingham to have a look round the city which was full of people. As you'd expect, really. We found the "oldest pub in England", Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, where we had a cup of tea (it was that time of day).

And Jan successfully prevented Robin Hood loosing off his arrow.

After some kerfuffle at Cranfleet Lock, where two smallish cruisers waved us and another narrowboat into the lock before attempting to join us (one failed as it was just too wide) we sailed off into the setting sun towards Sawley Cut.

Heading west, as we were, the low sun was right in my eyes until we changed direction slightly. Steering towards a low sun is tricky as you have the double whammy of the direct sun and its reflection in the water.

Less than half a mile of river to go now; then it's back on the Trent and Mersey as we head to The Taft just beyond Rugeley for a Boaters' Christian Fellowship weekend event. Now, what have we got to bring ...?

Night-time drama in Newark

While staying up too late writing last night's post, and reading on CWDF about Fairstar, a 1939 wooden cruiser - one of the Dunkirk Little Ships - currently sitting on the bottom of the Thames, I was disturbed by a helicopter flying low overhead and not going away. This was at about 0115 (yes, I know). After it hadn't gone away for some time I looked out of the window and saw a lot of flashing blue lights on the other side of the cut.

A police helicopter was illuminating the scene with a searchlight. There was activity in the water at the foot of a ladder set into the wall. I feared the worst, but this evening I read on the Newark Advertiser website that a woman who had apparently fallen in was being rescued.

At a more civilised time in the morning we went to Newark Evangelical Church, then we carried on our way. Just the other side of the bridge is Newark Castle, reaching right down to the water.

Newark Town Lock was surrounded by gongoozlers, and we were joined in the lock by a splendid-looking wooden boat 111 years old. (Another Dunkirk boat.)

Here is Shahjehan bearing down on us preparing to overtake.

Apparently she was once owned by Semprini, the famous musician.

One more shot as she passed:

We tied up for the night against a highish wall just above Gunthorpe Lock. We discovered later that there was space on the floating pontoon moorings just before the bridge, but we managed to get the stern aligned with a ladder so decided to stay put.

After a walk after tea we got chatting to the owners of a cruiser moored in front of us, Papillon Two. Simon and Stella invited us on board for a glass of wine, so we climbed up to the flybridge (I think it's called) and watched the stars come out. We were a bit nearer to hem up there! It did seem like quite a long way down to the water. I think it was the first time I'd been on one of those tall cruisers. Then S+S came for a look round Jubilee.

Nottingham tomorrow.

The persistence of duckweed, and up, down and up Newark Nether Lock

Just a quick update as I've been distracted by Canal World Discussion Forums - and I can't believe the time!

We're now moored at Newark, having had a smooth passage up the rest of the tideway.

I got a big surprise before setting off, though.

After ploughing through acres of duckweed on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal on Thursday I quite expected to see the stuff in the weedhatch, and this is what it looked like.

This morning I lifted the weedhatch - and found it was still there!

This was after miles of fast running between Keadby and Torksey. How could anything stay in there for so long?

I cleared out as much as I could by scooping it with my hand, then I used a cloth to "mop up" most of the rest.

The cruise up to Cromwell Lock was uneventful, and less windy than yesterday. The flood tide wasn't as strong, and we averaged only 4.8 mph. In fact, the tidal bit below Cromwell Lock felt no different from the non-tidal bit above.

I took fewer photos; this one needs a caption.

Soon we were approaching Newark Nether lock, the only other lock we were to do today.

There were more boats around; at Cromwell Lock there were three narrowboats, one widebeam and a cruiser; at Nether Lock we'd lost the widebeam and the cruiser but gained another narrowboat. The lockkeeper was being very gentle - it took ages for the lock to fill. Even when he raised the sluices a bit more to produce more bumpy stuff than any of the tidal waters we were on.

Nicholson's suggests that there's a water point below the lock. In fact it's on the lock side, so we were invited to water up still attached to the cables in the lock wall while the lock emptied and filled again. Interesting!

And this is where we tied up. The place looked busy, so we grabbed the first space we came to.

By the time we'd got ourselves settled, and bought some supplies from Aldi, we'd left it too late to move to the nicer moorings opposite the castle.

We had a good curry at Asha.

Now THAT'S what I call BOATING!

We made it! Well, we got from Keadby to Torksey on the tidal Trent. I won't deny that we weren't a little apprehensive of venturing onto the tideway, with no St. Pancras Cruising Club organised convoy nor Indigo Dreamers to hold our hands, so to speak. Oh, there was one other boat, nb Florence, but, well, we'll see what happens to him.

The day started with the phone alarm going off at 0600. I had woken a minute before, in keen anticipation of what lay ahead. Being up at this hour meant I was able to catch the sunrise over Keadby Swingbridge, with keel Spider T.

The lockie knocked on our roof at 0630 to check we were ready and to say that he'd be opening the bridge for us at 0645.

In a very short space of time we were through the bridge and going down the lock, together with mountains of duckweed. And Narrowboat Florence, crewed by Andrew and Howard.

We had been told that we'd see the flood tide start to come in, and that that would be the signal to leave the lock. However, as the gates opened, we could see that the flow was still right to left, i.e. heading downstream towards the Humber and the North Sea.

That didn't deter Florence, who immediately zoomed out of the lock and headed upstream. We stayed in the shelter of the lock, waiting for the direction of the flow to change.

We would have been waiting a long time, had the lockie not appeared above us after two or three minutes giving us the thumbs up. If the lockie says "go" it must be all right, mustn't it?

So we went.

Later we realised that the apparent direction of flow was merely the strong south wind blowing ripples northwards. I say "ripples" - perhaps that should be "waves" (see later).

So we were now under way on the tidal Trent. It was all slightly anticlimactic, really. The water was calm, the sun peeped out from the clouds, and we chugged along quite nicely.

The first thing of note was the King George V bridge, carrying both road and rail, one span of which used to lift to allow high-masted boats through. (Florence is just passing through the centre span - we were told to use the former lifting span.)

Then came the M180 motorway bridge. There were to be no more bridges until Gainsborough, 14 miles further on. Florence is a speck just before the bridge. But we were gaining.

To show that I didn't hog the tiller, here's Jan steering into the headwind.

With our Isuzu doing a steady but not overworked 1300 rpm we overtook Florence, taking lots of photos of them which I have e-mailed to Andrew. As you can see, there was plenty of room for the manoeuvre. And no oncoming boats to worry about.

This shot shows how choppy the water got, with the southerly wind over the tide. Jubilee rode extremely smoothly over the waves, with barely any detectable movement out of the ordinary. And the speed we were going! Yes, we had the tide with us, but we hit 8.2 mph at one point. And that was at engine revs which often don't push the boat more than 3 mph on the usual shallow canals.

One little job which I had been saving up was to put a car-type sat nav on the slide. I actually got round to doing this yesterday, and it was useful in showing where we were on the river. This is the bit where Garmin's mapping of the Trent shows it suddenly narrowing to a thin blue line. I suppose the river banks did get slightly closer, but not quite so dramatically.

The junction with the River Idle (navigable, but you wouldn't know it from Nicholson - and I'm told you have to fork out a hefty fee to the EA to open a sluice) came up on the right ...

... followed closely by West Stockwith Lock, the junction with the Chesterfield Canal.

I took two photos; in the first the man sitting on the balance beam waved ...

... and in the second the CRT man waved.

Here's proof of our speed (over ground) from the Garmin e-trex device.

There are lots of power stations along the Trent. Here's West Burton Power Station:

... and this is Cottam Power Station:

After not much more than four hours we saw the welcome black and white sign announcing Torksey Lock on our left. We didn't need the actual lock, but we turned into the lock cut.

This was where we had planned to stop for the night. We could have gone on to Cromwell, but we were both happy to stick to our original plan. Anyway, the tide was in now, and we might have had to end the trip unnecessarily having to punch the ebb tide.

Winding in the cut before the lock was interesting in the wind, but we made it OK and tied to the floating pontoon.

It has been a fantastic day's boating, and I'm looking forward to getting to Cromwell and beyond tomorrow. We'd actually coped with wind stronger than many boaters would have been happy with. Indeed, some of our neighbours here on the pontoon chose to sit out today's conditions hoping for a calmer day tomorrow.