On the Trent & Mersey Canal to Stenson Lock

An enjoyable but long day's cruising in sunny weather.

A pipe bridge carrying large water pipes over the Trent 

Densie (second from left) moored in Shardlow

The morning was bright, and sunny but cool when we left Sawley just before 9am.  Throuigh Sawley flood locks onto the River Trent where we passed under the M1 and then to Derwent Mouth Lock where we joined the Trent & Mersey Canal.  We had a 20 minutes stop in the next village of Shardlow whilst we waited for our friend, John, to join us.  Then, in increasingly warm weather,  steadily up the deep and wide Shardlow, Aston, Weston, Swarkestsone (where John left us) and Stenson Locks, accompanied for most of the journey by Narrowboat "Lapwing".  Sharing the big locks with another boat makes things easier and faster, especially when ascending.

We moored just after Stenson Lock at 3pm tired from our 11 mile journey.

On our way home

We left Nottingham this morning after an enjoyable weekend.  Yesterday's tourist trip was to the castle, sadly not the one of Robin Hood fame as that was demolished after the Civil War, but rather a 17th century mansion now used as a museum and for exhibitions,  Also included was a tour of the caves possibly constructed in the 13th century as a secret way in and out of  he castle.

After very calm and easy trip up the Trent we moored at Sawley Marina just after 1pm and will stay the night here.

In Nottingham until Monday

Nothing new to say until Monday.  Here is a picture from yesterday.

Cruising down the Trent

Nottingham

Left our mooring at Sawley at 9am in breezy cool grey weather.  We filled up with water and then descended Sawley Lock down to the River Trent which which was flowing quite slowly.  The weather improved as the wind ceased and the skies turned blue and we had a good trip through to Beeston and then on the Nottingham Canal to reach our moorings next to Sainsbury's at 12:30.

Sawley

We awoke to a grey morning, but the boat was warm as the fire had stayed alight all night again.  We set off just after 9am passing down Weston, Aston, Shardlow, and Derwent Mouth locks with a hireboat returning to base.  At Derwent Mouth where the canal joins the River Trent for a short while, we noted that the river level was well below the bottom of the  indicator board, as low as we have ever seen it.  Very different to when we were here in the Spring.

We left the Trent through Sawley Flood Lock to moor opposite the marina just after mid-day.  We will stay here until we travel the final leg of our trip to Nottingham in the morning.