Didn't take long for us to reach Weston lock and with a boat passing us early we had high hopes of it being with us. Not quite though as the bottom gates were being closed as we arrived and a lady starting to raise the top ground paddle. Suddenly a shout was heard from the Captain and loud engine revs as the boat was being vainly put into reverse. Ian had by now walked to the lock just in time to see the lady winding the gate paddle up as well. More shouts from the Captain and she did no more than remove the windlass expecting the paddle to drop. (Huh, what, excuse me!!!!) Ian intervenes as by now the bow of the boat was in the flow of the water cascading through the paddle. All was not lost as the paddle was wound down and the Captain managed to take back control of his boat. If their front cabin doors had been opened...I expect this post heading would have gone a something like....Boat sunk in lock!. Now by reading this, you would assume these boaters to be hirers. No...they were private boat owners who were not newbies to the waterways. The Captain then told Ian that the pound to Aston Lock was very low, so much so that 'beaches appeared' and they nearly got stuck under a bridge. Finding out their draft was the same as FS's we did wonder how we would fare.
Taking it steady was all that was needed and that bridge was fine, not even a scraped bottom!
Five more locks to do, Aston lock which has steel bars to keep the bottom gates shut and water pouring through the top gate paddles (could this be why the pound was low?),
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| Aston Lock |
Shardlow lock where these bars would have been useful because the bottom gates do swing open. It was here that a Canaltime was tied to a bollard on the lock landing. Not at the end but right in the middle so no chance of getting anywhere near a bollard to rope up to. Ian walked and knocked on their cabin side to give them a
piece of his mind advice about not mooring on the landing. Turns out they were waiting for their pals on another canaltime boat which was on its way up and when Ian asked why they didn't share a lock the reply "We didn't think two boats would fit" Even Derwent Mouth lock had been done singly!
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| Shardlow |
Derwent Mouth lock which was ready and waiting with gates wide open,
Hardly any flow to the Trent although crossing the two rivers (Derwent flows across the Trent from left to right) we got swept toward the mouth of the Derwent. Bit of power needed to go straight on.
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| Long Horse bridge across the Derwent |
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| Sawley stop lock |
Sawley lock was being operated by volunteers and this is the last day for the volunteers on all the manned locks. Next year, 30th of March over the Easter weekend will be when they are back.
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| Sawley |
Locked down to join the Trent again and all to soon the junction of the Erewash came into view.
Then a sharp left turn off the river and onto the landing at Trent Lock. Waited for a trip boat to ascend (wide beam so we couldn't share) and finally got moored just after the facilities. Sad to think our trip is nearly over. Tomorrow we make for Sandiacre, will stay until the weekend and then the final leg back to our moorings in Langley Mill.
And wildlife,
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Brambling I think. I have been reliably informed that it is a Stonechat. Thank you, Paul. |
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| And yet another Kingfisher. This time on the river Trent |
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| St Kilda Soay Sheep |
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| Might need the clippers on these. |
2 comments:
Sorry Irene, no points for the Brambling identification. It's a Stonechat. Bramblings are pretty identical to Chaffinches in size and shape, and are often seen in mixed flocks with them. They tend to have more orange tones than Chaffinches, but sometimes the easiest way to tell them is that they have pure white rumps (that is the area just above the base of the tail) as they fly away from you.
Cheers
Paul
Thanks Paul. Glad can rely on you
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