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........

Branston Water Park, Alrewas and return to Stenson

Plan A was going so well, until Richard had a look at the weather forecast for the rest of August and realised that hanging around on the canal for a bit longer might jeopardise our route home.  Rain and overcast conditions seemed to be the trend, so we thought hard and decided that Alrewas would be our winding hole.

Underlining this season as a 'one off bad year', helped us come to terms with the prospect of returning to work for September.  Even the swallows are thinking about calling it a day!

Scoob needed a bit of shade as we cruised along.  My new hat!!!  Thanks a bunch Richard!

Mooring for water after a very quiet and wet weekend in Alrewas.

Back through Burton as the traffic whistles past.  This stretch is so noisy!

Pretty Stretton again....

Lots of work gone on since we last came over the aqueduct on the river below.  The EA have taken out the islands in the middle and reinforced the banks to hopefully lessen the flood risk.

Approaching Willington, Richard spotted the need for an arty photo, but look at the sky!!!!

Scoob loves his boat.  God help any other dogs who venture inside.......

Mooring just outside Stenson, we staked the boat down with as many pins as we could find, as the ground was so waterlogged!  Still we had people racing past, trying to get past us and through the bridge hole before the oncoming boat.

Apart from the Stenson Belle (widebeam trip boat which frequents this stretch), this was the first widebeam boat we had seen on the way back, as we are now in widebeam lock country.  When these boats get to Burton though, they have to turn around as the locks reduce to narrowguage.

The next morning we located a spot above the lock in Stenson. moored, then hiked into Sinfin to do a 'big shop' at Asda.  We cheated on the way back and got a taxi.  Normally, we bike everywhere but Richard's bike has sustained a knackered pedal ie. it fell off and cannot be reattached until he can get a new 'bit'.  

The weekend was a disappointment with the weather again, except the sun did come out in spurts on Sunday.  The humidity has been a tad uncomfortable, but again, thoughts are turning to home and seeing family again, so we are not overly bothered.

A dipper I painted during the rain...

Sunday afternoon, as we were both sitting outside enjoying the sunshine, we heard screams coming from the lock.   From where we were moored, we couldn't see what was happening, but lots of people spontaneously started to run towards the edge of the lock.  Richard also went to see if he could help, but already, there were men in the water pulling a lady to safety after it appears she fell off the gates.  She apparently had slipped and hit her head on cill on the way down and had gone under the two boats in the lock.  She was unconscious when they found her, and were giving her mouth to mouth whilst she was still in the water.  The ambulance came really quickly and took her away and we found out later that she was breathing when she was on the bank.

Our thoughts go to them and their families, and hope she recovers soon.