Off the Trent & Mersey Canal, moored on the River Trent

 

Morred at Aston Lock waiting for the rain to stop

Shardlow

We woke up to a dismal day, with heavy rain and grey clouds.    The weather was forecast to improve and by 12o'clock the rain had changed to a murky drizzle.  So we set off down Aston Lock through the canal centre village of Shardlow, once a major transhipment port, to Derwent Lock, the end of the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Two boats leaving Derwent Lock

Pipe bridge on River Trent below Shardlow

M1 bridge below Shardlow

This lock descends to the River Trent close to its junction with the Derwent.  Although the water level was still at green there was a fair flow in the river helping Densie to increase speed to about 5mph.  The river took us below a large pipe bridge and then below the M1.  The river then turned left down a weir whilst the navigation veered right to take us towards the canal centre and marina around Sawley Lock.  Unusually the flood lock at the entrance to Sawley was closed although the difference in levels was small.

Leaving Sawley, the powered Sawley locks were operated by a CRT volunteer so we quickly descended back to river level, which was now at amber.  When we met the main river flow the boat was momentarily pushed sideways and soon treached 6mph, but there were no problems.   We have moored just out of the main flow at the Trent Lock Junction where the Erewash Canal and the River Soar meet the Trent.  Our shortest jorney this trip, but we were tired after the efforts of te past few days.  Tomorrow, river levels permitting, we hope to continue down the Trent to moor near the centre of Nottingham.

Today: 4.83 miles, 5 locks, 2.5 hours