24th July 2011 - Did the Mayans get it wrong?

I wake up to the most incredible noise, sort of roaring & rumbling. I glance at the time, it's 0600, then in my half awake state wonder in the Mayans messed up and that weird bloke in the States had a point after all! I look out of the window expecting fire, brimstone (anyone know what brimstone is?) earthquake & tsunami and see a fine looking morning. I'm puzzled, then wake up a bit more and realise it's an aircraft taking off, I should recognise that noise having worked at Heathrow for long enough. I remember that East Midlands airport is very near, and having just checked, I'm moored about 2 kilometers from the end of the runway. I'm left wondering as to why I didn't notice this yesterday! Anyway life's too short!! I trundle the mile to Kegworth deep lock, apparently it's called this because it is a lock that's deep! Who'd a thought it? Both bottom gates are open and the paddles up, still, that's the way of things on river navigations. It takes about three weeks to fill and I carefully lock the boat down, they're not joking, it's deep, I can hardly see the boat from the top! I exit through one gate, leaving it open and the paddles down.

Looking back to Kegworth Deep Lock:

Yet another kingfisher is spotted in this section of river. Another boater I heard was bemoaning the lack of kingfishers, well I've seen a couple of dozen during this trip, most of them on the Thames. There are also a lot of canaltime / ex canaltime narrowboats about, I suspect there's still a large number of them resident at Sawley.

Canaltime / Ex Canaltime boat:

Everpresent in the near distance is the enormous Ratcliffe on Soar power station:

And I pass through yet another of these great locks:

All too soon the journey down the Soar is over and we join the mighty Trent at Thrumpton. This is a four way (five if you count Thrumpton weir!) junction. The Soar from Leicester, Cranfleet cut to Nottingham, Erewash canal and Trent to Shardlow.

Erewash Canal entrance:

I turn left and left to head up the Trent towards the Trent & Mersey canal. There is a lock keeper on duty at the 'double' Sawley Locks, which makes life a lot easier (apart from him making me use two rope as there's a big white fender in the lock) I let the fender go first and look at the millions of boats.

The millions of boats:

Then by the marina entrance, during a phone call to Penny, the fender starts being blown all over the place (it's very windy!) A dutch barges exits the marina and turns round and a couple of narrowboats decide to set off, I love it! I navigate carefully through the chaos and pass through the floodlock, a canaltime boat very wisely waiting for the way through to become clear! Under the M1, not so busy at this time of day on a Sunday and into the Trent and Mersey canal. Derwent mouth lock appears and I'm in luck as two boats are just coming out. In I go, and life is even easier as there are more waiting to come down. I stand there holding the boat, the gates are closed for me, and that's it! Ok, I'll go and lift the paddles myself then, and proceed to do so, one of the waiters catches on and does the other side. Up we go and tickover past all the moored boats through Shardlow, one of my favourite canal villages.

Shardlow:

There's a spare mooring, but I decide to carry on for a bit (I'll only end up in the pub!) So I carry on to Aston lock and share it with another boat. Discussions reveal that they are rushing to get through Burton ASAP to avoid the nasty boat rally! My suggestion that they went through Leicester wasn't received too well! I left them to 'rush' on and tied up just past the top of the lock. I notice it's still very busy boat wise, it's still the weekend and start of holiday season I guess! A bit strange though after all those days with seeing less than ten boats actually on the move! I decide to head for Willington tomorrow, there's pump-out, diesel, water, Midland Chandlers, a Coop and oh yes, an Indian restaurant!!

Today:     8.5 miles -   10 locks -  4.5 hours
So Far: 574.5 miles - 459 locks - 292 hours