We topped up with water and dumped the rest of the rubbish before setting off out of the marina. I tried to leave head first but couldn't get the bow round to port without the stern coming onto the other side. There were several blokes about giving 'advice' but I turned up stream and turned right round in the entrance to the marina and then off we set. Helen managed to drop her windlass in Haggonsfield Lock but I was able to pick it out on my second cast of the magnet. A passerby was mightly impressed. We dropped down six locks and moored up outside Sainsburys to get some supplies and afterwards we had lunch before setting off again. Just below Stret Lock is the roving bridge that marked the start of the Lady Lee Arm. It was built in about 1778 and went for about 0.75 miles to a limestone quarry. It is infilled now but has a good footpath on top of the old route.
At Town lock in Worksop the top gate seems to be a short cut for ne'r do wells. I suspect that they were shoplifters of some such thing as they were hoping over the pub wall. There is a little park and a on the towpath side a seated area. Both seem to have been taken over by drinkers and others. It is a shame as these areas would make good family areas. Below the lock and past the Straddle Warehouse is an area of towpath that is below the line of a road. This would make a good area of visitor moorings by erecting a high fence, placing bollards and having it opened with a waterways key. The tow path could easily be diverted onto the road. I'm not sure whether dredging the bank would be required but it didn't look like it. Everybody we spoke to said that we shouldn't moor in Worksop. This seems very sad as the place has a lot to offer and could take a few quid too. Secure moorings would help people to make the plan to stop.
We dropped down another six locks and moored up on the bank close to milestone 23 which marks half way between Chesterfield and the Trent.
Roving bridge to the Lady Lee Arm.
Today we have seen loads of new ducklings. It is a lovely sight but unfortunately it is a common sight to see a little one that has got separated and if not quickly reunited is almost certain not to survive very long. I'm not sure whether we could scoop them up and place them with another family or not but I suppose it is natures way to stop us getting overwhelmed with mallards and add to the food chain. It does give a moments pause of sadness though.
Hoping it found its Mum.
Morse lock was the head of navigation for over thirty years. On the way up I wondered why the bridge was adorned with Liver Birds as we are no where near Liverpool. Since then I have seen this design of publicity leaflets for the Chesterfield Canal Trust so I suspect that it is a cuckoo as that is the name of the old boats that plied on the water and the name of the footpath that follows the canal.
Morse lock bridge with cuckoos.
At Town lock in Worksop the top gate seems to be a short cut for ne'r do wells. I suspect that they were shoplifters of some such thing as they were hoping over the pub wall. There is a little park and a on the towpath side a seated area. Both seem to have been taken over by drinkers and others. It is a shame as these areas would make good family areas. Below the lock and past the Straddle Warehouse is an area of towpath that is below the line of a road. This would make a good area of visitor moorings by erecting a high fence, placing bollards and having it opened with a waterways key. The tow path could easily be diverted onto the road. I'm not sure whether dredging the bank would be required but it didn't look like it. Everybody we spoke to said that we shouldn't moor in Worksop. This seems very sad as the place has a lot to offer and could take a few quid too. Secure moorings would help people to make the plan to stop.
Town lock in Worksop. The local youths had vacated below the bridge when I arrive to open the gate.
The plaque on the side of Town Lock marking 200 hundred years that isn't very prominent.
We dropped down another six locks and moored up on the bank close to milestone 23 which marks half way between Chesterfield and the Trent.
Our mooring for the night.
We sat outside reading until evening and after eating and washing up the thunder and lightning started and we are in the middle of a very heavy shower at the moment.
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