Feb 4th
Today we left the moorings above Shardlow lock, and today we hoped we might be able to leave for home. Levels had dropped to below 1.53, lower than it had been since we arrived over two weeks ago. While I went to the water point below the lock, Ian walked down to see what the state of the river was according to the floodgate light, a phone call came back to say it was still on red! I had a feeling it would be, as a comment from Pip Nb Oleanna said they had to wait for the levels to come down to 1.25 before it went into the amber. Anyway not wanting to reverse back above lock again, Ian had mentioned the moorings by the Malt Shovel was free. Not sure how much longer we will have to stay but being by a pub...well I can think of worse places to be!
We did walk to Derwent Mouth lock, really to see for ourselves what the gauge showed and yes, about a good 2/3 inches to go before it went into the amber. A boater at the lock had the top gate paddles raised. We had a long conversation with him and turned out he too moored on the Erewash, at Hallam Fields, about halfway along the canal. Like us, he was getting fed up with having to wait and was in two minds whether to just go for it. His anchor was at the bow ready 'just in case', but I think we managed to persuaded him to stay, stating the insurance would be null and void if anything happened. We left him pondering and wished him good luck if he did leave.
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| Expecting high canal levels perhaps? |
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