Saturday 19 July 2008

Junction of 3 Canals

6 Locks 4 Miles. Now moored in the Great Northern Basin.

Last night was surprisingly quiet considering the railway was not very far away. This morning there was a fine misty drizzle in the air as we set but this disappeared as the morning wore on. It wasn't a particularly fast trip due to moored boats and the locks which are fitted with anti vandal locking devices. These locking devices do tend to slow you down but they are a necessary evil.

Upon arrival at the basin, which is the junction of the Cromford, Nottingham and Erewash canals we went over to the dry dock to see where we could moor and also to get our plaque which is only available once you have completed the Erewash canal. We then walked to the end of the basin where the Cromford canal societies Friday work party were busy on the new mooring basin. They hope to have this up and running by the end of the year.

We spoke to a couple of the volunteers who said they were expecting visitors today. The towpath telegraph had been working overtime again because they said 2 more boats were coming up the canal behind us and sure enough, when we got back to the boat there were 2 more boats in the basin. They also told us about some open cast mining that has been talked about for a long time which, if it ever takes place will become part of the restored canal and a marina.

There is so much to see and do around here we will have to try and workout what is going to be feasible over the week-end. Watch this space.

1321 locks, 1900 miles, 43 Tunnels, 42 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

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