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)?

Fradley junction 5/6 April 2010

Stenson to Fradley 7 and a half hours each way (10 locks, 16 miles and the scary Trent at Wychnor)

We have done Stenson to Branston/Barton a few times, but, fancied the slightly longer trip to Fradley this Easter bank holiday (I have visited this popular spot by car a couple of times - very pretty and with good boater facilities including the famous Swan pub).

Against the water flow and wind most of the way, however, most of the traffic was going the other way so no hold ups at locks.

The village of Alrewas looks very pretty with attractive waterside thatched cottages, however, due to its popularity some of the moorings cause a few problems getting through due to the narrow canal and double parking especially around bridges (patience required)

Could be my last trip if the boat sale goes well (I am sure it wont)

Bridge 20 open

Nice new bridge 20 plate

Just requires coping on right parapet

Hard core replaced on bridge saddle

Canal now fully open - apparently opened on time yesterday 12/3/10.

The contractors still have to place copings on the new brickwork on the right parapet, however the scaffold and platforms have been removed.

The temporary bridge is still in place and the repaired bridge is still fenced off until the copers are cemented on.

I presume BW will put a weight limit on the bridge to warn the farmer?

Must be a big relief for the hire companies and Stenson marina - might take the boat out tomorrow to Willington and back.

Bridge 8 completion

New concrete bridge saddle

Just a few bricks left to replace - scaffold gone

work boats - hogging the towpath

Collapsed towpath repair in progress

The canal is now open at Weston on Trent - bridge 8 repairs. To be fair it was more of a make over than anything structural. The scaffold and temporary bridge has been removed and the bridge remains closed to traffic for now. The canal and lock appears open although the towpath is taken up by two work boats repairing the collapsed concrete path.

Bridge 20 progress 28.2.10

This is a bit of a worry - new brickwork on a damaged pillar

Slow progress with the bricklaying on the parapet

The Willington side has been pointed

Slow progress on the left parapet (Stenson side) the bridge saddle has been concreted

Update on the bridge 20 repairs as at 28.2.10.

This work should be completed and the canal opened by 13.3.10 - doesn't look good and difficult to see where the £250k has gone (probably mostly health and safety and worker comforts)

The bridge pillar on the damaged side has not been repaired at the base - surely this will eventually crack and collapse.

The bricklaying is very slow - probably due to a lack of qualified staff and the lime mortar problems.

Old Derby canal - M1 to Draycott

Public footpath from the M1 to the car parts firm near navigation inn - parallel with Longmore Lane - mostly muddy fields

Tarmac area used by car parts firm - see compound used for car body parts which blocks the canal route

Navigation inn - over the road from the tarmac area

Navigation inn on Risley Lane - canal on right - tunnel required

Navigation pub to left - Breaston

Stream and farm track

Lock sides - either side of tarmac

Old pipe bridge

Hopewell road Draycott - bridge required - time to go home for now

The other side of the M1 heading towards Breaston is rough pasture/farmers fields with public right of way. There is no decent path to follow until you get to the rear of the Beeston Car parts firm - a tarmac area used as a car park. There is also a fenced off area that would block the canal used as a storage area by the parts firm.

Accross the road (Risley Lane) the canal path has been covered with tarmac and is advertised as a cycle route - I rode along this section to the kennels at Hopewell road and the derby canal society sign.

Sign at Hopewell road Draycott - note the BNP grafitti

Old Derby canal - Sandiacre to the M1

Junction with the Erewash canal

Tree clearance at Sandiacre

Longmoor Road bridge

Springfield avenue crossing - bridge required

Bostock lane crossing - very busy road - tunnel needed - hotel to right

M1 bridge near Long Eaton longmoor lane - canal bed/bridal way to right - tunnel under M1 required

Walk bike through Sandiacre to the M1. Pretty lock at the junction of the old derby canal and the Erewash canal. Work looks to have started on clearing the canal bed of trees etc on the stretch to Longmoor road.

The track is rough gravel at this end - as opposed to tarmac at the Derby end - watch out for punctures.

As the path crosses an estate road another bridge will be required - Springfield Avenue.

The cycle path ends at the busy Bostock Lane an M1 feed. accross the road the path/canal bed becomes a bridle way - very boggy and full of horseshoe holes/s**t.

At the M1 a tunnel will be required to reach the farm fields on the other side of the M1.