River Trent

On the Trent near Shardlow - M1 bridge

We left Swarkestone at 8:40 and continued down the Trent & Mersey. Lunch was eaten at Shardlow, an interesting old canal village with several warehouses and pubs dating from the time when the canal was the major trade route in the area.

Radcliffe power station from Sawley

After Shardlow we left the canal and started on the River Trent. This is now becoming a wide river, Densie seems very small as we cruise onwards. We passed through the electrically powered Sawley lock, which last time we were here (April 2008) had a permanent lock-keeper, but today was boater operated.

The next point of interest was the junction at Trent Lock, where the Trent, Soar Navigation, Erewash Canal, and the Cranfleet Cut meet. This last small stretch of canal bypasses a large weir on the Trent and provided our route towards Nottingham. We have moored at the start of theCranfleet Cut just off the Trent. The wind is gusty, and we can hear the continual lapping of the water against our hull. Hopefully this wont disturb our sleep.