Reversing onto a fast flowing river, one brave lady.

 Things unexpectedly happens every now and then and last night was no exception. For us to get a mooring yesterday, we had to wait for a blue boat to vacate a space. Our arrival made them realise the Trent was open for travel again. It was to Cranfleet they wanted to go, so they quickly untied and headed off. Sounds simple, but it really wasn't because the one big problem they had was the way they were facing, and it wasn't toward the lock! With a winding hole a good mile further up the Erewash, they did no more than reverse into the lock, descend and back out onto a fast flowing river. The lady at the helm coped wonderfully and even though the current took the stern the wrong way, she calmly pushed the tiller over until the boat came around and started off toward Cranfleet.

Now, that was not the end of the story.  A while later we were having signal problems with the TV, the ariel was too low and needed raising, so Ian went out to do the deed. He came back inside with news that the blue boat was back and moored on the water point! Gosh now we really wanted to know what had happened to make them return. It wasn't until the next morning that we found out. CRT, having released those 6 boats from Cranfleet yesterday, only went and locked the gates again! In fact, the lady on the blue boat turned up just as they were about to walk away. When she asked to be allowed through, their reply, it was much too dangerous for her to travel that section of the river. Strange then when it was CRTs website that said it was now safe for boats to proceed. With them refusing to open up, all she could do was to return to the Erewash, but I could tell she was fuming because she would have to do that reverse all over again! 

So this time we vacated so they could reclaim that mooring, we wanted water, so we changed positions. Having filled the tank, it was head off toward Long Eaton Lock. Joining us on this part of the journey was Richard and Maxine on their new boat, The Tardis. They, too, moor up in the Great Northern Basin, and it was lucky for us that they arrived at Trent lock at the same time, we could share the locks.

That's the blue boat with pram top.

The ECP&DA Friday work party arrived just as we left. Pentland had been brought back to Trent lock a week ago from Shardlow and was in an ideal place for the workparty to dump all the hedge trimmings.  It's one job less for CRT to have to do.

Long Eaton lock was where I picked up something large on the prop. I managed to get into the lock but as for controlling FS when the paddles were lifted, nop, wasn't going to happen. Ian had to grab the centre rope to stop me going forward into the top gate. Soon found out why I had no reverse or forward gear. 

At Sandiacre lock, we said farewell to our locking friends. They wanted to continue to Gallows Inn, we had to stay, so Ian could take our car to Langley Mill and catch the bus back. That sunken cruiser was still there. It really is time for its removal, especially as it's on the landing. Will it still be there next year when we continue our watery travels? Anyway, for now, we have but one day left, for tomorrow it's back to the Mill for the winter.