Swarkestone to Burton-on-Trent

It's good to see C&RT doing some much needed dredging.

Even if they do pop out in front of us!!!

Along with the Swan family!!!

So lovely to see.

All the mud and gunge is dug out and loaded onto a tug for disposal.

Stenson Lock - 12'4" and a gusher!!!

This is the last wide lock until we get to Kings Lock in Middlewich.

Mr Heron

Burton-on-Trent is known widely for its brewing industry.

Originated in the 13thC; when the monks at Burton Abbey discovered that an excellent beer could be brewed from the town's waters, because of their high gypsum content. At it's peak there were 31 breweries producing 3 million barrels of ale annually, alas, now only a few remain.

Mr Hare

View from the side hatch moored in the Centrum area of Burton-on-Trent.

The Trent and Mersey Canal

The Trent and Mersey canal begins at Derwent Mouth, some 2 1/2 miles upstream of the point where the Soar Navigation enters the River Trent at a complicated junction.  We leave the Soar and turn left thus avoiding Thrumpton Weir.

Passing the entrance to Cranfleet Cut

and the Erewash Canal.

Progressing on the Upper Trent

and onto power operated Sawley Lock,

all singing and dancing with buttons for each gate.

Time for a Stobart moment as we psss under the M1

We go to the far right to approach Derwent Mouth Lock

This is basically saying 93 1/2 miles and 77 locks to Preston Brook and for the first time we will be travelling the full length.

The Malt Shovel greets us at Shardlow

Everywhere there are living examples of large-scale canal architecture.

The biggest and best of these buildings - the 18th-C Trent Mill, now the clock Warehouse.

Restores in 1979, it has a large central arch where boats once entered to unload.  Today it is The Clock Warehouse, a Marston's pub.

Shardlow Lock

 Wending our way through pleasant countryside.

We are now climbing up and the locks are getting deeper( 8'1" then 10'11") and the paddles fiercer.

Swarkestone Stop

Decision made - overnighting at Swarkestone.

Loughborough- Kegworth and River Trent Junction.

Leaving Loughborough

and on to Bishop Meadow Lock, both manned by volunteers.  We did make them coffee while we were waiting to fill with water from the slowest tap on the system!!!

Normanton on Soar

There is a flood mooring scheme in operation for those heading north.

Glad we didn't have to use it!!!

Loads of room to pass.

The weir veers off to the left and we head towards Kegworth Deep Lock

We moor for the night on some lovely looking moorings opposite the weir.

View from the side hatch.....

and a few too many of these = disturbed night!!!

Kegworth Shallow/Flood Lock

Radcliffe Power Station 

Homes with flood defences

Approaching the junction with Cranfleet Cut, the Erewash Canal and the Trent.