From suevbutler@compuserve.com Mon May 3 18:37:26 1999 Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 17:34:08 -0400 From: susan butler Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: "INTERNET:canals@blacksheep.org" , judy Subject: Trip Report - Jemima D - Day 7 - Long [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] Trip report - Sue and Neil on Jemima D Taking in the GU, the Soar, the Erewash, the Trent and the Trent and Mersey Day 7 - 26th June Trent Lock to Stenson Lock 6 locks, 14 miles, 7 hours Rain - but it cheered up a bit later in the day A goal achieved Woke up to torrential rain, I suppose we mustn't complain, as we haven't done badly so far this holiday! We are in no hurry to get up and go, and hope it will ease off, but eventually give up waiting, don our waterproofs and leave. We see Jan as we pass, and she suggests that we are mad! However, the next people to take over Jemima are almost complete novices, and we are planning to get her to the narrow locks of the Trent and Mersey for their benefit. We are soon back on the river, and after we have negotiated Sawley Lock (which is partly electrified) we stop at Sawley Marina for a few bits and pieces. The wind is making life difficult here, but we manage to moor to their new pontoon. We didn't spot Platypus, although we were looking for her! Once away again I am heading for a section of the Trent that has been one of my 'goals' ever since we first hired a boat - passing under the M1 on the Trent! This is a road we regularly drive, and I always make sure I am in the inside lane when we pass this spectacular spot so I can look enviously at any boat passing below. This time I look up at the traffic and grin and wave! Of course, in some ways it is much less spectacular by boat, as you cannot see the weir - but I know it's there. We take a detour up the Trent to Cavendish bridge - and spot what appears to be a boat moving above us - on the T&M. There are serious fisherfolk here, standing up to their thighs in the water, but the river is too wide for us to bother them. Back on the main line we join the Trent and Mersey ourselves at Derwent Mouth Lock. I manage to hurt my back on the ground paddles, and this is the last lock I work all holiday. It wasn't the toughest lock I have worked - it was just the point at which the paddle decided to come to a full stop combined with the direction I was pushing the windlass at the time, and I just jarred something. Ouch! (Note to Bill: I ached a bit for a couple of days - but was soon OK again). A step back in time We stopped at Shardlow, taking advantage of the handy rings over the road from the Malt Shovel. A fascinating little pub, which made us wet bedraggled boaters welcome, despite the busy trade in 'yuppy' lunches. This was a real contrast of cultures, and we enjoyed our stop. A wander to the shop for provisions, walking back up the tow path to better appreciate the history of the place, and then we move on, taking photos as we go of the wonderful warehouses. We are fortunate that it is not actually raining at the time. I should like to return to Shardlow and take a more leisurely look as there is certainly plenty of interest here. The locks this afternoon are all against us, as usual, and when they empty it is quite a tug on the boat. I use the bow rope below the locks (rather than our usual centre line) wrapped round a bollard, as it keeps Jemima in more effectively. Cliffwood is very pretty, and it is a pleasant afternoon's boating despite the showers. The Bubble We moor up at Ragley Boat Stop - very nice landing stage with electricity and water point - because Neil wants to watch some football match! Unfortunately they are not showing it, so we are soon on the move again. This causes some amusement aboard the other boat that was moored there, as apparently we are not the only people to stop for a few minutes and leave. I try suggesting that he listen to the match on the radio - but give that up as a lost cause, and phone ahead to find out whether the next pub will be showing it. ( I point out that the mobile phone was bought for emergencies - and am told this IS an emergency!!) We moor at Stenson Lock, by The Bubble, and Neil goes off happily to watch the match while I continue my policy of football avoidance and clean out the fridge. This is a necessity, as everything in it has a beautiful aroma of balti, which is proving hard to shift! Chris and Katy are taking over Jemima tomorrow, and may not like the smell as much as we do! The trip boat -the Stenson Bubble - leaves with a full party, The helmsman seems to be in danger of tripping over crates of beer - but I suppose they provide a handy place to put his rope!!!! After the football is over we have tea and walk back up to the pub for a drink. This is the strangest place we have encountered on our travels on the cut. It is a converted barn - and a very impressive barn it is too - it is very trendy, large and cavernous on two levels. In a more populated spot it would be full of people drinking designer lagers, but instead it was almost empty (and this is Friday night). The menu looked very plastic, but we didn't see them serving food, so I don't know what it was really like. I bet it gets really busy on Summer (What's that?) Sunday lunchtimes though, as it is a lovely location. Sue and Neil Happy to be on Jemima D