Having got close to Nottingham much less boating and much more focus on catching up with friends both those local and those from far away.
The total trip to go from Teddington Lock to Beeston Bridge is a trip of 311 miles, 3 furlongs and 232 locks.
Highlights
- the wide open expanses of the river Trent
- so much green space
- king fishers and dragon flies
- friends
- junctions and direction signs
Leicester to Beeston
Detail Trip Report
Mon 14 July – Arriving into Lecister could not be more of a contrast as we pass high walls and tall buildings with high bridges. Mooring by castle park is a pontoon against the high stone walls with a secure gate giving access Castle Gardens and the medieval centre, much altered by modern roads but still charming.
Tuesday 15 july – In Leciester we join the river Soar and travel with wild chevil for the morning stopping in Zouch. Strong winds and heavy rain mean i am glad to have a day in planned, good to get some admin done.
Wednesday 16 july – after a short stretch of canal we are Back onto river soar which is wild with soft banks lots of trees and flanked by water meadows. The wide fast flowing weirs are even more beautiful after the sluggish canal so deprived of water. The water is black, apparently residue from the dye industry.
Stuck at kegworth deep lock for more than 1hr. Could not fill fast enough to match the leak but with the help of a passerby we are able to get the gate to open and we are off again. The cooling towers at red hill are dramatic feature of the landscape as we wind round them before joining the Trent.
We meet the Trent with a 5 way junction and its vast for a few miles then back on to canals as we join the Trent and Mersey canal. Couple of locks up and we arrive at Shardlow a well preserved inland port to spend time with friends.
Thursday 17 July – lazy day on the boat it was really hot one again. Jason and Samci went to Jason’s family home for dinner, Lenny was very happy to chase around the garden with Doyle.
Friday 18 July – Rose arrived by train and bus at we set off for Cranfleet Cut which allows boats to hop round the weirs on the Trent. Couple of locks from Shardlow and you are on the Trent again with its wide open vistas. Small adventure getting round sailing boats going very slowly (no wind) and a motor boat wandering around in the middle while drunk men jumped off the roof and and climbed back on! We managed to get up the cut and avoid all the obstacles.
Rose had their first experience of driving a boat and working locks. We went to The Trent Lock for dinner.
Saturday 19 July – Its raining and no boating weather so we head on a search for coffee. The Trent Lock to the rescue again then we decide to walk into Long Eaton and have lunch in a cafe. Its a longer walk along than the Erewash than we, realise plus its not walking weather and we arrive looking very disheveled! Lazy evening on the boat playing the transformation game.
Sunday 20 July – Jason joins us for breakfast at the The Trent Lock, that have done well out of this weekend. We head off with full bellies for Beeston which involves 1 lock then more of the wide open Trent then the most confusing lock ever. firstly we don’t appear to go up or down at all and you have to leave paddles open on both gates when you leave but fortunately our fellow boater from Cranfleet lock sorts it out.
Wave Rose off on the train for London.
Monday 21 July – Kim came to visit and then Glen arrived in the afternoon and in the evening Samci, Jason, and Blossom popped round!
Tuesday 22 July – Up early to get the boat to Beeston Marina and us away to London before the traffic slows us down. Feeling separation anxiety as i walk away from the boat!
Big thank you to Glen for the lift back.