Sawley Locks, a boat to share with and a lockie to push the buttons.
A good start to the day.
A few boats about on the river.
We turned onto the River Soar in front of the large Thrumpton Weir.
Here the Soar mingles with the Trent to run around Cranfleet Cut and lock.
Redhill Flood Lock with Redhill Marina beyond the bridge.
The lock, as the name implies, is closed during flooding. There are another two flood locks, at Kegworth and just this side of Barrow Upon Soar.
We had just two Soar locks to deal with, the first just up from Redhill, Ratcliffe Lock.
The second was Kegworth Deep Lock, or Kegworth New Lock.
And deep it is, 10½ feet deep.
Both Ratcliffe and Kegworth New Locks were rebuilt during flood defence work in the 1980s, the old chambers, now filled in, lie alongside.
As the lock filled we had a couple of boats arrive to go down. A small cruiser, and a converted Dutch barge, Albert, originally launched in 1921.
A mile and a quarter we pulled in on a pleasant open spot we’ve used before.
The towpath directly above Kegworth Lock is tempting, but can be a little noisy…
Today has been fine, sunny and dry. Cotton-wool clouds drifting by on a gentle breeze.
A good opportunity to sort out some rusty blebs on the roof under where the anchor and warp are kept, and several others caused by chips and knocks.
There were a few more than I’d first thought, enough to make it worthwhile painting the whole panel. But for the time being I applied rust killer and a couple of coats of deck paint where required.I need to get some more paint, then I’ll sand the surface, mask off the grey borders, and use a roller to recoat it.
Rain tomorrow so we’ll be staying put. Then into Loughborough on Tuesday I reckon.
Locks 3, miles 5¾
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