Should we or shouldn't we go onto the River Trent?

This wasn't in the equation! Ice and -5 deg! 

Gosh this shows just how much heat is lost around the windows!

 Another gate refusing to open properly. Not the ice behind it because that was too thin to be an issue. Must have something stuck, or could it be another warped gate!

More maintenance work to be done by CRT. This would cause some damage to the hull when trying to come onto the lock landing.

Got to Shardlow and the good thing was Shardlow lock was full, made a change from filling every lock! Just Derwent Mouth lock to do and it was onto the river towards Sawley.

But there was a fly in the ointment as we approached Shardlow flood gates.  CRT river conditions light was showing red which meant strong stream conditions and travel unadvisable.

Both of us were stunned by this, no rain has fallen for several days so in our opinion, levels should be falling. We decided to continue to Derwent Mouth and assess the situation.

Stopping just before those idiots who had moored on the lock landing, first a look at the river gauge. How can that red light be on when the depth gauge by the lock was showing amber?

We decided to walk to Sawley and see what the situation was like there. First though, Ian rang the number shown on the river warning board. Guess what??? It no longer exists! How blooming useless is that! The walk to where the river Derwent enters the Trent was about 1/4 mile. Oh yes the river was up, and yes there was a strongish flow but nothing that we haven't coped with before.

I happened to mention that phoning head office of CRT might be an idea and a good job we did. The lady on the other end had no knowledge of a problem with the river levels but said she would phone the relevant people and let us know, in the meantime we continued on our walk toward Sawley.

Never having walked this route before I was amazed to see rubbing strakes on that pipe bridge across the Trent. These rollers are on a lot of canal bridges and they stopped the horse-drawn tow ropes wearing grooves on the corners of bridge arches. Never gave it a thought that horse-drawn boats would also be used on the rivers. I mean of course they would. What was I thinking of! Anyway I know now, don't I.

Having got past the pipe bridge, the phone call comes in from head office. The Trent is safe for travel and said the board by Shardlow stop lock is actually the environment agency who has control of the lights. They had obviously not turned it off!

Getting back to FS we did no more than untie and set off. Into the lock passing those boats on the landing and descended to the river.  It was so much easier for Ian to get back on board today because with the level much higher he could almost step straight back onto the deck instead of the normal climbing down a ladder. 

As you leave the safety of the cut, the Trent's flow suddenly comes in from the right, as well as the Derwent flowing in from the left. Where they meet the flow is increased. It does mean that the boat starts to head left but with a bit of power, and steering to the right, re joining the Trent was no problem.

The pipe bridge

Hmm. I think CRT need to cut those branches back. When in full leaf how could you see the warning sign?

River Trent weir.

The flood locks were closed. The River Trent was about a foot higher than Sawley cut.

Life jackets were worn. Seemed sensible considering the flow.

 

Sawley’s moorings were now available for winter moorers, but there were a few spaces toward the lock. We debated whether to stay the night but as it was not even midday, it was agreed then, that we may as well get to Trent lock.

These locks are no longer manned during the winter months, but it's all very easy to operate as a press of one button on the control box does it all for you.

Note green to proceed.

Finally, a photo of me. Rosy cheeks from the cold.

The exit onto the river was a bit hairy. I picked Ian up at the ladder. We could have gone to the steps but I was pretty sure they would be underwater. Where the river flows from the left to where you rejoin it a whirlpool occurs. Never normally a concern, well today it almost spun FS around! Lots of power needed to get the bow pointing in the right direction. I think maybe I should have stayed to the right when leaving the safety of the cutting instead of toward the center, it was not as violent there.

Quite a difficult turn into the Erewash when the flow is strong. Should I go toward Cranfleet, spin FS around and then come at the entrance going upstream? Nah...I was determined to have a go and with lots of power, turned FS toward the lock and shot into the entrance having then to immediately deploy reverse so I wouldn't hit the gate. Job done, got Ian off and we ascended up onto the Erewash.

You can see by the debris on the steps how high the river had been.

Phew, made our destination with three days to spare. We stopped to water up just as the snow/sleet started. In front was one of those huge widebeams. They were winding, goodness knows where they will be going to. There is only one place that I can think of and that's by Sheetstores. We will see when we go past there tomorrow.

They left and we took that mooring.

And more of the wildlife yesterday,