I've done some solo training since our trip last year, so aimed to do the first section solo from Sawley on Blue Adeline before joining Denis in Burton upon Trent. I was feeling nervous but capable, probably not a bad state to be in and a big change from how inadequate I felt four years ago, when even going to the fuel jetty on my own seemed impossible.
Since then, as well as the Leicester Ring I've done numerous river and canal days both training with and crewing for Ray Cullis of Trent Boathandling - my mentor and the person who above all helped me gain the confidence to steer well. I also trained with Mick Gavigan of Planet Narrowboats to learn his simple and elegant methods for solo boating. I've learned a huge amount. As they say in books, the mistakes are mine alone!
The 6 double locks at the start of the Trent and Mersey Canal are, to my inexperienced eye, fairly challenging, increasing in depth as they do from the shallow (Shardlow is 4'5") to the whopping Stenson, at 12'4" the second deepest on the T&M. Also, the last 4 locks, Aston, Weston, Swarkestone and Stenson have bridges over the canal immediately by the bottom lock gates which makes it necessary to climb the ladders to work the locks rather than walk the boat in. I don't like climbing lock ladders much, but choosing the side of the lock with the ladder at the most accessible from the stern means I can climb up from there rather than the roof.
Derwent Mouth and Shardlow locks are both fairly easy to manage: steer slowly in, stop the engine and jump off with the centre line and windlass, hand the line over the gate machinery and gently bring the boat to a halt and secure the line; open the ground paddle on the opposite side (contrary to most double locks) half way until the water covers the cill, open whichever gate paddle will keep the bow in, all the time watching the boat and adjusting the rope if needed. All very slow and careful and the boat hardly moves to and fro at all.
At Aston, I choose my side to enter the lock and another boat came in with me. I climbed out and tied up, then got so distracted as the water rose that the line got crossed and jammed, fortunately quickly released when the paddles were closed by my companions and the bottom ones opened slightly. Very easily done and a salutary lesson in what can happen when concentration lapses. My fellow steerer said that he'd done the same and his boat had tipped to an alarming angle before being released.
At the approach to Weston lock, there's a new ramp leaving only enough room for one boat to moor to the bollards, which means a rather awkward tethering to the handrail supports. I stayed on the boat this time at the suggestion of my companions, but they opened the ground paddles fully straight away and we steerers had to reverse furiously to stop the boats hitting the top of the lock. Exhausted by my efforts as a newbie soloist I moored for the night at a favourite stop just above Weston. Setting off at 8 next morning would get me to Swarkestone in time to ascend it by myself and in peace.
This is a beautiful section of canal, where the banks are tree-lined and in the early morning, full of birdsong and tiny newly hatched ducklings and moorhens in scurrying flotillas, jays, a buzzard and the evening before, a pair of kingfishers. The morning was fine and clear, with the forecast of rain and thunderstorms later and I could feel the change of air coming up from the south as the boat chugged westwards.
Swarkestone was as I'd hoped completely deserted, apart from a cyclist leaning over the bridge parapet as I steered into the lock and climbed the ladder. Fortunately, he helped me with the (very heavy and stiff) lower gates as I'd have had difficulty closing them on my own. I secured the boat, opened the opposite ground paddle half way and then fully, let the water reach the cill and then opened the opposite gate paddle a few notches, keeping an eye the whole time on the boat and rope. Apart from gently rising, she was steady as a rock.
I'm very pleased with the new windlass, which is a type I haven't tried before - a 4-holed steel one, very light and the extra length helps with stiff paddles.
Another very attractive stretch of canal past Ragley and then Stenson, with the wonderful sight of four CRT volunteer lock keepers on the bridge waving me in and letting down a rope to pick up my centre line. As the sole boat, I asked them to open opposite side ground and gate paddles only, to keep the bow steady and they obliged, so Blue Adeline enjoyed a stately progress in that normally very fierce lock and then I enjoyed a bacon butty in the lock side cafe. Coincidentally, Mick Gavigan's boat Mercury was moored just above Stenson and we were able to catch up and have a good boaty chat.
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