New territory- up the Erewash

Our first ever journey on this canal although it's not that far from our home base. The Erewash Canal is little known except among its local boaters and the more adventurous canal enthusiast. It has none of the fame nor lure of canals like the Llangollen but we are finding it interesting and attractive despite its passage through the industrial outskirts of Nottingham and former Derbyshire mill towns. The canal itself appears well maintained with wide locks which despite being heavy are not too difficult to operate.

Radcliffe on Soar power station seen from the Trent through the mist and drizzle

We left Sawley late this morning for two reasons. The weather looked pretty grey and miserable, not quite raining but then not quite not raining. Secondly, we are running short of the kindling we need to light our smokeless fuel stove, an important piece of equipment at this time of year. Unfortunately a visit to the Sawley marina chandlery was unsuccessful as they had run out so I will have to be frugal when I light the stove.

After a mile's cruise down the Trent from Sawley we turned onto the Erewash at the complex junction of Trent Lock where 5 waterways meet, 4 of which are navigable. The canal then passes through Long Eaton, not that interesting from the boat but noteworthy as being the centre of the furniture industry where there are many small workshops making bespoke furniture as well as some larger names.

Sandiacre Lock

This urban area merges into the next one of Sandiacre, again an unexceptional town although the lock preceding it is attractive and of some interest. Here there is a unique (for the Erewash) toll house dated 1778 and the start of the now derelict Derby Canal. We stopped for lunch and a bit of shopping at Sandiacre at a convenient Lidls, no kindling here though. By this time the weather had improved somewhat.

After lunch we moved into the countryside beyond the town where we have moored for the night.