A post in two parts. Speeding and consequences

Friday 25th Oct

Ridiculous! Why oh why did we have to get away by 7 am? Well for one, beat the rain and try and get onto Erewash before the River Trent rose. And two, Saturday would be a 'no cruise' day because of the Rugby. England v New Zealand, not a game Ian was prepared to miss. So we were fully dressed including hats, scarves, gloves and boots ready for the off.  Popped the back hatch open and of course, it was still dark! Okay, headlight it was to be then, so tiller on and engine started.

 Arghhh....No, no, no.... this was downright stupid. Decision made to wait and have another cup of tea first.

7.30am and enough light for us to finally get away.

 Too early when we passed Mercia to call into Midland Chandlers. Discovered yesterday that we only had a small amount of 'Blue loo' left. Never mind, a trip by car will be the way to go when we get back to the Mill

Mercia Marina entrance.

  Stenson lock, very deep and was empty. Took nearly 10 minutes to fill and nearly, but not quite, as long to empty!

The rain started just as we had another lock to fill, Swarkstone. If and when the Derby and Sandiacre ever open the Derby canal, this is where it will join the T&M from the Erewash.

Rain getting heavier now and what a lovely sight to see a boat ascending. But oh, only one ground paddle raised and as Ian turned up then and only then, did they raise the gate paddle. Consequently, it took forever for them to come up, and all the time, holding the centre rope, I was getting wetter and wetter. 

Ian, the daft beggar, only had a thick shirt on. Dripping he was when he got back on board after FS had descended.

 Nearly at Shardlow, me at the helm, Ian drying out inside and a sudden reverse as I came across this.
 Ian comes running, on went his waterproof coat and goes to sort it out.

We had passed two boats on the way to Weston lock and can only assume one was a speeder. See...that's what happens when a boat on pins gets one ripped out by a boater who doesn't know what tickover is!

Anyway, we did make it to Shardlow, pulled into a space by the New Inn and debated whether to continue to the River.

Another boater who thinks the lock landing is for mooring on!

 To be continued......

And wildlife,