A bit of a detour - Sawley Cut

On Wednesday, we moved on out of Beeston Cut and back onto the River, to enjoy our last day on the lovely Trent. The weather had been better on our way down the river, but at least it didn't rain. Well, not much. The birds certainly didn't mind it, though. There were thousands. And so many different species. We even saw an great white egret, unusual in the UK, we think.

A large group of volunteers were working hard on a stretch of the bank, removing huge swathes of the pernicious Himalayan Balsam which would take over the waterways, given half a chance. Well done, Friends of CRT!

San Fairy Ann leading the way

Ahead, Dave, straight ahead!

At Trent Junction, we turned right to Sawley Cut, ascended the electrically powered lock - this one operated by Sandy, and not a Lock-Keeper - and moored opposite Sawley Marina. It poured with rain immediately after we'd tied up. Really poured! Dave and Sandy got soaked, filling their water tank. It was a lovely evening, however.

Back to Gunthorpe then on to Nottingham

Come Monday morning, we'd outstayed our 48-hour welcome. San Fairy Ann even more so. So we set off back up the Newark Cut. Dave couldn't do the bow-spring turn we'd anticipated him doing, because the river was too narrow at this point, so he turned in the nearby marina entrance and off we went, picking up NB Wandering Star on our way, and going with her in the locks as far as Gunthorpe, where we moored again, squeezing our way into spaces on the bank side of the pontoon, next to a large cruiser.

The moorings were filled within the hour. Other poor folk had to carry on for hours before the next available place to stop.

The day was rounded off with an evening of cards with Sandy and Dave. Much fun.

Tuesday was a day of very strong winds and occasional, very short outbreaks of rain. But this was the River Trent, and she is beautiful, and well worth getting wet for. After Stoke and Holme Locks, we were back on the Beeston Cut, where both boats moored by Sainsbury's again.

After shopping there, and before supper, we all walked into the old town, to Nottingham Castle, an amazing building with a long history, built on top of a rocky outbreak with once-inhabited caves. While the original castle is long gone, there remains an ancient pub "Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem", built into the rock in 1189. We didn't stop for a drink (though I would have loved one at the time), but wandered quickly through it to see the rooms carved out of the rock. Fascinating.

In the evening we watched a DVD of Flashdance, that 1983 classic which seems just a little dated now!

From River Soar to River Trent

With rain forecast for the afternoon, we set out at 8:30 on Tuesday morning in an attempt to get onto the Trent before the rain hit. After Zouch Lock, the river opened out again into a broad expanse of beauty. We had the river to ourselves again as Kantara nipped along at a smart 5 to 6 mph. Only innumerable birds shared the water with us.

At Kegworth Deep Lock (or Kegworth New Lock, the old one lying, filled in, just a few yards away) we met a broadbeam community boat coming up, with an excited crew of young handicapped people enjoying every moment. They left the lock and a small plastic boat came in. A man and his daughter. The man gave the eight year-old his windlass and told her to go up to the lock and wait for him. He drove the boat in, and climbed up the steps with a rope to tie the craft. He had no idea that the girl, wearing flip-flops in which she couldn't walk, tripped and fell, very nearly over the edge of the lock.

I told her to move away from the edge, and she did. Until her dad called her, and she tripped again. And yet again. She was in tears by now. Shocked, I think, by the realisation that she'd nearly pitched into the lock chamber. I suggested this to dad, and remarked on the unsuitability of her footwear. He grunted, ushered her into the boat, and buzzed off. Well, it was the boat that buzzed. He left with it.

A couple of locals, out for a stroll, told us about the vixen which frequents the area, with no fear of humans, and a great desire to be fed by them. They'd seen one woman literally feeding the fox by hand. Another boater, Dave from Lady Christine (a beautiful old, wooden sailing boat) recalled being at the lock once as dusk began to fall. The fox appeared, and followed him at his heel as he moved around, taking the boat down Kegworth. He was really spooked by her, he said. We're hoping we'll see her when we go back up next week.

Below Ratcliffe Lock, we stopped for me to check the engine mountings. The boat had an annoying, unidentified rattle at a particular engine speed. We'd tried every other possibility, we thought. And, fortunately, it wasn't the engine mountings, either. On then to Trent Junction, passing dozens of riverboats making us feel small, 

and on to the Cranfleet Cut which took us onto the River Trent. And it was amazing! The Soar was good, but this was something else again! The river was wide, deep and awesome. Kantara could cruise along at 7 to 8 mph with the current behind her. The smiles on our faces said it all.

Cranfleet Lock

As we approached Beeston Lock onto the Beeston Cut through Nottingham, a small crowd was gathered at one side of the river. Cameras flashed and people cheered and clapped, and we, a little surprised, smiled and waved. The subject of the applause, however, was not our humble selves, but a man who was doing a sponsored swim up the Trent and the Humber in 10 days. Accompanied by three canoeists, he made his way onto dry land, presumably for a scheduled break.

We had lunch just past the lock, then moved on into Nottingham, and found a mooring close to Sainsbury's at The Meadows.