Down in one.

We spoke with Rob and Jo from 'Watt Now' and they were just going shopping. However they would love to share the locks with us on the way down. As it happened there was a pontoon positioned under the bridge just after the lock. We therefore asked if we could pass about 1045. This gave us about an hour so we went for a walk up what is left of the Cromford Canal.

This dog was sounding very fierce as we passed. With its head stuck out of the cat flap it lost something!

It looks like there was a loading area on the right and the canal disappears off into the distance. There was a lot of coal mined in this area.

We winded in the basin and entered the lock ready for the off. 'Watt Now' joined us and we were off at 1030. As we had only just come up the lock it is difficult to find different things to mention. Helen was doing the steering as we seem to find it easier if I drive when going up hill in the locks and Helen drives going down.

Helen had a day of top on/top off as the weather was warm but when the wind gusted it got cold.

The locks are still spread out and we only had one boat coming up. After a few locks we were caught up by a tug. I started to lift a paddle for them as we left the locks.

We seemed to take it in turns to leave the lock and prepare the next whilst the others shut up the lock once it was clear. Helen and Jo seemed to have a lot in common and it turns out that they had both been doing the same job. The chatting seemed to mean a lapse of concentration and the tea pot and a cup went for a burton. As both boats wanted to get something we stopped for lunch and some  shooping. We managed to get a teapot at Argos.

My best mug!

We decided to continue all the way to Trent Lock as there was little point in stopping whilst there was a lock partner.

'Watt Now' just coming through Sandiacre Bridge.

At one of the locks I saw bees carrying parts of leaves into a gap in the beam. They must have been nest building but I have never seen leaf cutters before in this country. Just after passing the Sheet Stores Basin I saw a strange looking duck. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo in time. It turns out it was a Red Crested Pochard. In our book it says that there are only 50 to 100 sightings a year so that is quite rare in our book.

Red Crested Pochard.

We passed the moored boats and house boats as we approached the visitor moorings and found the spot almost where we had been before. We will have at least a day in hand now so we will be able to get some of the outstanding jobs sorted.

Mills Boat Yard with Ratcliffe Power Station in the distance.