Stenson to Sawley Cut

Everyone will be relieved to learn that the aforementioned lady, unfortunate enough to have fallen into the deep lock at Stenson was released from hospital the next day apparently.  What a close call.  Richard was convinced she had drowned, as they couldn't find her under the boats for a while.  There but for the grace of God!

Now there's a plan!

We moored here at the pub overnight and it would have been rude not to sample the delights therein.  

We breasted up the boats as  it is a busy stop for other boaters.  The sun had come out...

Some of the locals came to inspect my painting....

I had forgotten to do this side, so I made the most of the weather and finished it off.

Not so much on the details Richard, please zoom out!

The timer works.  Time to get changed for our meal - can highly recommend The Ragley; we will go back next year.

On the road again, what a gorgeous day, just look at that sky!

The Strand, a 17th century pavilion, used it is thought, as a grandstand for spectators of jousting and other sports.  It was also used as a backdrop for a Rolling Stones photo shoot in 1968 (ref Pearsons Guide).

Getting dripped on passing under the railway bridges.

How, why, oh you know BW, or should we now say The Canal and River Trust!  Perhaps they are short of jobs, we can think of lots they could be doing.......

Like this one!  Alright that's probably a winter job.

Aston lock, last of the horrible deep locks, only Shardlow locks to go and we would be at Sawley.

The bywashes have been quite spectacular below these locks with the sheer volume of water  draining off the canal above.

As we dropped down the relatively shallow by comparision ( 4ft5") lock we encountered a sleepy Shardlow.  I don't think anyone really noticed us tiptoe through their village, mind you it was about 8 o'clock in the morning!

The Clock Warehouse, now a popular pub, takes pride of place.

Carnage Corner (as I call it, as we always meet a boater taking it really wide on this S bend) was desolate!  What a relief really as the butty doesn't do 'stop and reverse quick'!

If you look closely, you can see the railway track which goes all around this lovely garden.

Good name..

And out onto Derwent Mouth where the River Derwent and Trent meet, if you can imagine a washing machine on a slow spin!  Richard was going to breast the boats up, but then said that we would just cross strap to get into Sawley Cut.  Let's just say, I was keen to get in the safety of the cut as the back of the butty went a little sideways.

The weir on the river before the entrance to Sawley Cut, looking fairly calm by now, and I was a bit more relaxed.

The M1 going over with .... a caravan? on it....

The flood lock in the distance.  Sawley Cut was a 2 day break whilst we visited Richard's brother and his family on the Friday night (thanks Nic for a special meal!) and then met up with Richard's Mum and Dad and the rest of his family for his Mum's birthday, on Saturday.

Sunday we planned to start on the river sections of this final part of the 2012 Tour........