Erewash canal 5/6/10

Reports of poor quality water (weed), rapaging kids and drunks, unusable locks and weed hatch issues prove to be unfounded as we had a pleasant 3 hour trip from Trent Lock to Sandiacre (Derby canal junction) on Saturday. The weed and canal depth is actually worse at Trent Lock, no doubt due to the polution caused by the permanent live aboards and the fact that they seldom move their boats. The water is actually remarkably clear - probably due to the weed (lilies) - you can see the bottom of your boat - a pretty scary sight after a winter of ice damage to the blacking! Just remember your anti vandal key for the locks! The expression use it or lose it springs to mind - how Derby boaters would love a canal like the Erewash - how many millions would have been saved if it had been preserved in the 60s like the Erewash (not much change out of £100m I would guess)?