Will it go any higher?

 8th Feb. Day 23

We have been religiously following the Gov.org website on Shardlow river levels since we first arrived over three weeks ago, watching the river going up and down it never quite got down far enough for us to leave. But a window of opportunity arose on the 5th when a boat arrived off the river. With levels at 1.47m to see a boat heading our way was unexpected, so Ian dashed out to have a word, mainly to see if the levels had dropped. He was told they had left Sheet Stores on the Erewash that morning, travelled down to Trent lock fully expecting to wait for the river to drop, and then realised the gauge was actually in the amber. Only just, mind, but they decided to attempt passage to Derwent Mouth. On arrival, having struggled against the currant, they were amazed to see the gauge still in red! So we now had a decision to make. Do we also attempt the river crossing to Sawley, or wait? Ian was all for going, I was a bit more cautious, it's one thing to push against the flow...another to go with it! I wasn't prepared to risk that, so persuaded Ian to wait until the morning. Well I should have known rain was once more forecasted and that night it was torrential and continual. Come the morning, the river was already rising and had reached nearly 1.70. Damn....missed our chance because I hesitated, although Ian, bless him, said it wasn't just his decision to make. We were a team, after all.

Today, the levels have been at its highest. At 3.03m we walked to Derwent Mouth to see just how high the river was.

This was a first for us, Floodgates closed!

 

 

I noticed a pump had started opposite. Not sure where the water was coming from, it certainly wasn't going into the canal, so there must have been a large pipe under the canal bed, The water appeared to  come out from under a fence into a ditch near where we stood. The pump only ran for about 3 minutes before closing down. Anyone have ideas?

Gauge marker just visible under the water.

Path and lock landing completely underwater.

Steps going up from the wall and the cruiser on the visitor moorings

Normally you can't see the main river from Derwent Mouth lock.

This cruiser has been moored here since we arrived mid-January. I think it has been abandoned but is now in danger of sinking if the river comes up any more. Ropes are already tight and has started tipping the boat.