Goodbye to the wide locks

Poor internet reception yesterday so the past 2 days have been xombined..;. 

Tuesday 17th June 2025

Today we completed the remaining wide locks in our journey. From our experience of the work and the heat yesterday we knew that we would need to start early before the weather got too hot. We left Aston Lock at 8:40.  Tere was very little other traffic on the canal so we had to work through Weston and Swarkestone locks on our own, each of us emptying and fillng one lock.

Waiting to enter Weston Lock

Then we reached te mighty Stenson Lock.  At 12foot 4 inches it is more than a foot deeper than the other locks in the series with heavier gates and stronger flows of water.  Fortunately the lock was being operated by volunteer lock keepers who ensured that boaters did not get into dangerous situations.  

Waiting to enter Stenson Lock

When we arived the lock needed to be emptied before we could enter.  We were advised to tie the boat tightly  both at the front and rear,  otherwise the flow of water from the lock when it was emptied could send the boat back down the canal.

Inside Stenson Lock

On entering the lock we were instructed to move the boat right back against the bottom gates away from the water that would soon be rushing in from the top gates. Denise ensured that the boat centre rope was securely tied to a bollard to help to prevent the boat moving violently in the lock.  Then the lock-keeper very slowly opened the paddles on the off side so that water entering the lock woul flow against the boat again keeping it in place.  Thus we rose to the top with minimal excitement.  Excitement is not what one wants in a large lock.

We then moored up above the lock and walked back to a cafe overlooking the lock for lunch. After eating we movd on to the chsndlery at Mercia Marinn to find a spare fanbelt and a new antenna for the radio aerial.

That done we mored up a short distance beyond the marina at the village of Willington.

Today's Statistics

Distance: 9.89 miles
Locks: 3

Time: 5 hours

Wednesday 18th June 2025

Again we set off early at 8:40 and moved the boat to the services on the other side of the canal to dump our rubbish and fill up with water.  Thr canal then took us onwards to Burton on Trent and Dallow Lock, the first narrow lock for many days.  

Typical scenery on the Trent & Mersey

Ancient bridge (now unused) crosses the River Dove

Leaving Burton we stopped a short walk from a large Morrison's to fill up with groceries.  After lunch, despite the increasingly hot weather we moved on for 3/4 hour to moor at a water park near the suburb of Branston where the pickle comes from (allegedly)

Moored near Branston

Today's Statistics

Distance: 7.21 miles

Locks: 2

Time: 3 hours 45 minutes