Finally on the Trent and Mersey!

We left Sawley Cut this morning under grey skies and with a fresh westerly in our faces. First stop was the flood lock at the western end of the cut, designed to protect the marina and moorings from flood water. Normally open, it’s been closed for the last week or so as the river rose.

Heading up Sawley Cut
 

I’d had a look yesterday, and was dismayed to see the amount of rubbish accumulated above the top gates, pushed down on the wind. But this morning it was worse. A contractors boat had gone up in the afternoon and left the top gates open, so all that rubbish was now in the lock chamber!

I closed the gates and started to empty the lock of the 7” difference in level, only to have a large lump of timber trapped between them. So I had to refill it, open the gates to release the obstruction, then empty it again.

I just got the bottom gates open when a lockie turned up, and between us we sent most of the debris out of the lock and floating merrily off towards Sawley Locks, where it will finish up on the bywash weir.

Leaving the flood lock, with Mr and Mrs lockie getting the remains of the flotsam into the lock before flushing it off downstream.

The large but well-protected weir carries the river around Sawley Cut.

There’s a half-mile of open river to travel to Derwent Mouth and the entrance to the Trent and Mersey Canal, passing under the concrete bridge carrying the M1, then the fine steel bowstring bridge supporting the water mains between Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
The river forms the county boundary for several miles.

Derwent Mouth, with the River Derwent coming in from the right, The Trent from the left and dead ahead the calm waters of the canal.

When there’s been recent rainfall and the rivers are up the junction can have some very strong cross-currents as the two river flows collide. Not too bad today though now the levels have dropped.

Derwent Mouth Lock, Lock 1 of the Trent and Mersey Canal.




We’d intended to be here four or five months ago, but our enforced stay up in Yorkshire but the mockers on that plan. Still, better late than never. Just like that Scottish bloke said – “ The best-laid plans of mice and men…”. And boaters!

These first five locks, up to Burton Upon Trent, are wide, built to accommodate barges and to compete with the much earlier Trent Navigation. The navigation company were not amused and tried unsuccessfully to have James Brindley terminate the T&M at Burton, so traffic would still have to use the river.

We moored just above the lock, intending to stay here for the weekend. I’ve spoken to CRT and the repairs to Aston Lock are still scheduled for completion on Sunday afternoon. We’ll set off on Monday, aiming to stop at Swarkestone.

Locks 2, miles 1¼