We all have an opinion but sometimes it's best kept to oneself!

But the one in the Decembers Towpath Talk by a Mr R Webber has effectively done nothing to enhance the reputation of the Erewash. His heading was-  What a shame - vandalism on the Erewash. He states that he was dismayed to see anti vandal locks on every lock and how his wife was unable to operate these locks. As his wife could not manage his cruiser, this therefore had effectively made him into a single hander. He talks about the mechanisms being jammed, how the length of the canal is a magnet to vandals and how he felt very unsafe when it came to finding a mooring, he calls the canal a weed infested ditch and tells how his outboard motor couldn't cope. His words were its like driving a ride-on lawn mower through a jungle.
He then says he wished he'd listen to another boater who said the Erewash canal was not worth the effort. Well THANK YOU Mr R Webber!!!! I hope you are pleased with yourself as I doubt anyone reading your article will want to travel up this canal now! As to the points you raised,

• We are not the only canal with Anti Vandal locks, otherwise correctly known as water conservation locks, so why intimate that it is something unusual.
• The mechanisms are not all jammed. Admittedly there are some but there are probably more that are broken, awaiting C&RT to repair them, and therefore extremely easy to open. Now, here is a thought for you; Is it not more probable that the locks have actually been jammed by other boaters not understanding how they worked and not, as you quote, the local morons.
• We have yet to experience any local youths causing a problem and have moored without any reason to be worried along the whole length of the canal.
• Yes the weed has been a problem this year, but most narrow boats cope very well and therefore, because you have a cruiser with an outboard engine that couldn't cope, shouldn't tar every one with the same brush! We have cruised many well used waterways and still found weed. This is not the only canal to suffer with it!
• And lastly. The Erewash has a lot to offer. It is fairly rural along its length and at Sandiace there is a restored Lock cottage looked after by the ECP&DA (well worth a look at their website as it shows many photos along its route) and usually open on the third Sunday of every month. Trent Lock, where the canal joins the River Trent is not only a major waterways crossroads, but also a pretty picnic spot. Further north, you will discover Nutbrook Junction and Trowell Marsh, areas of nature reserve along the canal. The rich mixture of woodland, grassland and swamp makes this a great place to spot wildlife. Once you reach Langley Mill you are then on the junction of the disused Nottingham canal (great for walking) and the Cromford canal which is in the process of being restored. And you can purchase an End of Navigation plaque!

So to everyone that has read this and are thinking 'maybe we wont bother', please think again. We need the boat traffic to keep this lovely canal open, and although like all broad canals the locks could be a bit heavy, the benefits of traveling along this waterway outweighs the bad.

Sandiacre cottage

View looking from the lock

And finally:-