It's been an interesting few days sitting it out at Sandiacre. One of the reasons for staying was for Ian to PAT Test the electrical appliances at the lock cottage. On entry to the cottage a worrying discovery was made. Someone had tried to break in! Chisel marks were very evident around the door locks, rear and front, thankfully this place is almost bombproof so whoever it was gave up as a bad job. Of course, it meant the police had to be involved, they never came out to see us but gave a crime number instead. Then we get a message from the victim contact scheme asking if we had been traumatised by it! Really!!!! Anyway the Chairman of ECP&DA was contacted and as a matter of urgency, security is to be put in place pronto.
So finally today we left, pins were pulled and we headed down Sandiacre lock. This really is a pleasant part of the canal with houses and their pretty gardens to admire. It's most unusual for us to travel mid-summer so it made a lovely change to see all the lovely colours along the route. Also that huge willow tree has been cut back. You may remember me moaning about it. It was so overgrown as to obscure the view and no way could we know if another boat was coming. All I can say it's about blooming time!
By the collage at Long Eaton park I had the biggest shock when a dog leapt out right in front of FS. Crikey I went into reverse pretty quick as it disappeared from sight. Oh, God, had I gone over it? Then out it popped carrying a stick completely oblivious that a huge beast of a boat was baring down on it. Behind a bush was its owner, he had no view in either direction of the canal. If only he realised just how close his dog had been to getting hit!
And heading towards Trent lock, not one of these boats displayed a currant licence!
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| Trent lock facilities mooring |
The river was low, flow minimal, a joy to travel upstream.
Sawley lock has two lock chambers side by side. I dropped Ian off by the steps on the port side and then realised a volunteer lockie was in attendance. Not knowing which lock I was to use I hedged my bets and stayed in the middle. Turns out the left one was to be the one. Ian was in conversation with the lockie as I entered. He didn't look too happy, turned to me and dropped a bombshell. We could go no further as Derwent Mouth lock had been closed due to lack of water on the T&M.
My concern was finding a mooring. Sawley is a very popular place but we struck lucky. A gap between a narrow boat and cruiser seemed impossible to get into but we decided to give it a go so I slowly steered towards the gap. Ian was up front to tell me when our button was just free of the cruisers, and as I could just see daylight between our stern and the bow of the narrow boat behind, deduced with a bit of breathing in could just about manage to squeeze in. I had help from the wind. It was almost like having a bow thruster front and rear, FS just siddled in sideways and nestled nicely against the bank. So here we stay until CRT give us the nod. Hopefully that will be tomorrow but I can think of worse places to stay. Lovely and open, fishing is great, internet good as is the TV. What more can anyone want.
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