Eating Out

From Holme Lock it's a short journey down the Trent to Meadow Lane Lock which takes us onto the Nottingham Canal and into the busy city.  For some time Kev has been pondering about buying a tablet so our first stop was Currys.  After discussing our requirements with the helpful staff we emerged with a tablet and a "Mi-Fi" which uses the SIM card from my dongle to create Wi-Fi.  The tablet is useful for the internet and we both already have a favourite game.  

The canal took us back onto the Trent and we moored up on the quiet jetties outside the lock onto the Cranfleet Cut.  The owner of a cruiser came to ask for help because he thought he'd flattened his battery and couldn't start his engine.  Kev fired up the generator but after some time charging the battery the engine still wouldn't start.  The owner decided to leave the boat overnight and arranged a lift home.  Kev said "Don't worry about your boat I'll keep an eye on it."  

Early next morning Kev went out with the dogs and the cruiser looked OK, by the time he came back it was sinking.  The water wasn't deep so the boat didn't completely submerge but it was still a shocking sight.  Kev rang the Canal & River Trust and from the boat's license number they were able to check their records and ring the owners.  As we left they were trying to arrange a recovery.     

The sinking cruiser

The short Cranfleet Cut leads to a junction, the Erewash Canal heads north, the River Soar flows south and we sailed west on the Trent.  At Sawley Locks our journey continued on the Trent & Mersey Canal.  

The busy area around Sawley Locks.  There are two locks, one in the centre of the photo and one to the left, to prevent delays for boats.  The boats in the foreground are British Waterways maintenance craft.  

At Shardlow the canal turns through tight bends and it's renowned wharf buildings line the route.  There were a lot of boats on the move so we took the first available mooring which happened to be opposite two pubs.   After perusal of the menus we had an excellent meal at the New Inn.  

The next day we took another mooring outside a pub.  "The Ragley Boat Stop" has moorings with electric points which are always useful.  A couple of boaters, Les and Lorriane, introduced themselves and after chatting awhile we found we had a lot in common.  We enjoyed a very good meal in the pub with Les and Lorraine and back on the moorings we were joined by another couple for a sociable evening. 

The canal had been busy during the week and on Saturday we saw 8 boats in a queue for a lock.  Luckily we were travelling in the opposite direction.  We were pleased to find space to moor at Willington but some late-comers were not so lucky.  On Sunday we set off early to avoid the water traffic and arrived in Burton on Trent mid-morning.  Unfortunately we were a little too early as no-one had moved on.  Undeterred we tied up opposite the moorings, had a cup of tea and waited until a boat moved off.  

Mural on the wall at Horninglow Basin, Burton on Trent.  On the other side of the barrier is the A38.

       
Our journey from Holme Lock to Burton on Trent