Okay, today is the day. We are up early to get this show on the road as we start the cruise up the infamous Erewash Canal! So, why do I say this? Well, ((Peachy this is going to be a long blog so keep it short and be warned people. Might as well book yourselves a weeks leave for the next two blog posts!)) we’ve heard a lot about the Erewash Canal, it has a reputation for stiff locks, low water, trouble from kids, lots of weed and added to the fact the canal doesn’t go anywhere as you have to return on yourselves and the other day I’d spoken to a lady whose boat had been trapped on the canal for I think it was 7 weeks, we headed out with just a little bit of trepidation.
Just as we head into Trent Lock (60) which is at the mouth of the canal I hear the familiar noise of the paddles been wound up as I head to the gates, sure enough a lady is there. To be fair she had not long started and offered to close it again but we wanted to get onto the water point just above the lock. Also, never pass up the chance for a good old natter especially with someone I found has lived on the canal for a long time.
Few top tips are not to moor at Cotmanhay – I think this is mainly down to kids playing up. Apparently, they have tackled a lot of the issues they had with kids so whether this is historic issues, I don’t know. Along the route we met loads of kids, mainly fishing, some hanging about as kids do but I said hello to them and all of them were friendly. Other things she mentioned was one of the locks was tricky – I cannot remember which one she said but we had a problem at Stenson’s Lock so maybe it was this one. Also, there are only water points at the beginning and the end of the canal so obviously that’s likely to put people off. Once through the lock we moor up to the right and do the usual boat services; toilet, water and rubbish.
It’s a beautiful cruise as the sunshine we haven’t seen much off this month, has appeared and we enjoy a coffee whilst using the services before heading off feeling apprehensive but looking forward to a day of cruising, finally!
The water is so clear and it’s amazing to see the canal is teeming with life. So many different types of fish and massive crayfish as well as the odd tyre, traffic cone and tomorrow something we have never seen in the canal! ((Ohhh, nice hook there Peachy.)) As you can see, I didn’t have time to write this blog on the day as once we’d cruised, I was shattered and straight to bed the moment it went dark so I apologise if some of this doesn’t make sense ((You rarely make sense Peachy))
Arriving at Long Eaton (61) lock I’m just starting to set the lock, the paddles seemed pretty easy on the gates but due to the depth of these locks, this one is 6ft 3inch and the fact they are double locks ((This means they can fit two normal narrowboats in or one widebeam.)) and a CRT chap arrives with his greasing gun ((Calm down there Peachy)) and I have a good old chat with him about the canals in general, the moans and groans people have which are justified in many cases. He tells me about the chance of low water in the pound at Pastures Lock I think he said ((This is why you should write this down on the day Peachy! Imagine you being in court and being relied on to give evidence… “Well, your honour ‘I think’. Hammer down dismissed contempt of court for being forgetful)) Hey, stop picking on me it’s because I’m peri-menopausal. I can barely get dressed properly most days never mind remember anything. ((This is quite apparent from tomorrow Peachy!)) Anyway, where was I? oh yeah, we get through the lock and the CRT chap kindly closes the gate for me and off we go. Oh also, there were two swans when we arrived and one quickly got out of the lock and the other stayed in and panicked as the water went down. When I open the gate it swifty legged it into the distance leaving the other one to fend for itself, but fear not, they were reunited.
Next is Dockholme lock (62) and 7ft 9inch deep this one! There is a lot of weed stuck in the paddles which means they are quite leaky and this probably is the reason some of them are heavy as well as old mechanisms. The locks do seem to be well maintained, more than I thought really based on what I’ve heard. It’s evident that there has been a lot of problems with vandalism as many of them do have the anti-vandal locks but they all seem well greased. Helps with the chap coming around to maintain them. He said if we had any problems at all to ring the office and he would come and find us – which was very nice of him. Once emptied I try to open the gates and one of them just won’t open more than halfway but it’s okay as the other one is open fully. As I mentioned these are double locks and we can fit through one with no problem. But I think it’s generally good practice to open both in case your boat bashes the other gate which obviously causes varies issues. Upon investigating I realise there is a bike tyre stuck between the lock wall and gate so that explains that!
Boat in and I close the gates and head off to open the ground paddles which are very very hard! In fact, on this whole canal there was only a couple I could do and if we needed them open Chris needed to do them. The idea is to open the ground paddles so the lock fills up from below this creates much less turbulence from the water spewing from the lock paddles. These lock gates are very leaky so it takes a while for it to fill. Job done and onto the next one.
Somewhere between Dockholme Lock and Sandiacre lock it’s a boating first as Chris heads into the weed hatch! There isn’t much but just enough to slow the boat a bit. More about weed later!
It’s getting onto about 1pmish now as we think about stopping for lunch but when we arrive at Sandiacre lock (63) which is 8ft 4” deep we meet our second boat since setting off at 8am this morning and they have left the gate open for us so in we cruise. I only managed to open one ground paddle and overall these are very stiff even for my Yorkshire muscles.
We manage to find a mooring where the little shopping baskets are on the map. We have a well deserved break as my old hip is giving me jip! We haven’t done a cruising day like this last summer which involved so many locks as most of the ones on the river Trent have lockies or are key operated. I know later I’m going to be in serious pain! Chris heads to the very convenient Lidl which is about a 3-minute walk as I rest my hip. Lunch stop done we decide to crack on as see what else we can get done today.
It’s a stunning cruise as we head to the next lock. This canal is beautiful and very interesting. Lots of industrial heritage with many tall mill chimneys shadowing the skyline. I’ve said the water is crystal clear and it’s mesmerising. There are the usual suspects hanging about as the ducks and swans turn up to see what they can steal from us. They are usually loitering around one of the locks waiting to cause mischief 😉.
Between Pastures Lock and Stanton Lock the water level is low and the odd scraping noise on the bottom means we have a slow cruise in this pound but no matter, we do have somewhere to be but we have left enough time so just enjoy looking at the beautiful area. We should have more time on the way back so I will try and add some more detail for those wanting to do the Erewash Canal – please don’t be put off by other experiences. Yes, the locks are hard but that’s just a challenge. The beauty of this canal needs to be enjoyed.
We crank it and do one more lock – Hallam Fields (66) before finding a lovely mooring spot with the five-star luxury canal find which is Armco! (see a previous blog – add link for pics and what this is) and moor up about 6pm for a well-deserved dinner and go to bed exhausted, aching but pleased the first day is done and it’s been such a fabulous cruising day.
Until tomorrow x
Miles/Distance: 6 miles
Locks: 6
Tunnels: 0
Swing Bridges: 0
Facilities…
Toilets: Trent Lock and the end of the Erewash – nothing in-between other than stopping at places and using public or supermarket toilets.
Elsan: Trent Lock and the end of the Erewash – nothing in-between!
Bins: Trent Lock – none at the end of the Erewash
Showers: None
Waterpoint: Trent Lock and Langley Mill – as above, nothing in-between
General: Many of the locks are heavy due to the size of the locks and gates. They are quite leaky and some of the mechanisms are broken or have the anti-vandal locks on them. Don’t forget to bring your anti-vandal key else you will struggle!
C.L. Peache 