A fine but short cruise

Not much to report today. We stayed at Shobnall Fields yesterday, then this morning set off, heading towards Willington with no intention of going all the way there.

Bright and breezy as we leave Shobnall Fields

Just around the corner is the last narrow lock on the canal going in this direction. From here the navigation was built to accommodate barges coming up from the Trent to Burton Upon Trent, with wide bridges and broad locks.

Dallow Lane Lock
The lock is shallow, only 3’10”, in marked contrast to the 12’6” deep and broad Stenson Lock seven miles down the navigation.

After the lock there’s a long almost straight section passing Horninglow to Stretton.
It looks pleasantly rural, but there are housing estates behind the trees to the right and traffic buzzes by continuously on the A38 to the left.

The canal and main road flirt with each other along here, sometimes close together, then pulling apart a little. At one of the trial separations they both cross the River Dove as it heads down to join the Trent.

Over the River Dove
The old road bridge has been made redundant by a new concrete one.

A little further along we pulled in. The hum from the main road isn’t intrusive and it’s a pleasant grassy towpath here.


Locks 1, miles 3½