A bit of a knock-back

I’ve just picked up a notification from CRT that the repairs to Aston Lock, Lock 3 on the Trent and Mersey, are not likely to be completed before the 24th of March. They’d already been put back, it appears there’s more remedial work required than originally anticipated. So that’s put the mockers on our plans for the coming week.

The Trent is up, but going down again and with rain forecast over the weekend it’ll probably hover around where it is now, about 18” higher than when we moored here on the pontoon the other day. Although the flood gates at Cranfleet and Sawley are both closed the river is manageable up to Sawley Cut, so we were intending to head there on Monday, then up on to the T&M to Shardlow as soon as possible to be ready to head west when Swarkestone Lock’s repair were completed on the 15th. Not going to happen now, we’ve another 10 days to wait.

It’s not like we’re on a schedule or anything, but the last 8 months seem to have been nothing but hanging around, apart from our trip up the Trent from Yorkshire. It would be good to set off and continue in one direction again for a while!

Not sure what we’ll be doing to fill the time, but meanwhile it’s not a bad spot where we’re at.

You’ll probably need to click on the image the read the information board…

Lock 60, bottom lock of the Erewash Canal.

Pontoon moorings at Trent Lock.


There was one boat here when we arrived, Loki, and another turned up on Wednesday and moored opposite us, but he’s gone again, heading up the Erewash.

The river is gurgling past at around 3 mph, a little slower than yesterday. And the wind has dropped today. But according to the forecast we’ve not seen the end of the blowy weather. Remember the old saying? “March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb”? Seems to be accurate so far…

Locks 0, miles 0