Time to move further down river.. Looking to get to Barrow upon Soar today, mainly as I’ve had my instructions.. “We need a shop!” so shops it is.. and there’s a Co-Op and a post office there – so that’s the plan for today.. Looking at the closures on the River Trent, the need for a car in a few weeks, and the lack of marinas on the Erewash Canal.. we may look to hunker down on the Soar for a week or so.. but we will see as the weather will dictate this..
A few locks down.. and the boards are all green, so the levels are good to continue.. however; this one is a little foreboding..
The water being just up on the red.. but were following another boat.. and as far as I can see from the water levels, and the water marks on the brickwork.. we should be OK.. Got to the next lock, and the board below that one was green, and other than the side winds, nothing really to worry about.
The engines having an easy time of it today.. < 2k revs and 5mph.. do like going downstream.. especially with a tail wind 😀
I see that Herbie seems to have retired on the waters edge also..
Past the pub at Mountsorrel and the visitor moorings.. the two boats we were following pulled in for a pint – don’t blame them 🙂
Down through Mountsorrel Lock, with permanently moored boats under the weir outflow.. personally, I would not want to have the one nearest the water.. bit of a flow to deal with when pulling into that spot!
On the final approach to Barrow upon Soar.. I do hope that the gardens are not like that because the river commonly floods that high.. loose ropes tonight I think.. just in case..
Pulled in at the 48 hour mooring.. there was a boat there already, but after asking if they were on their way, they were! so sorted.. wait for them to pull off and back the boat in for the night. Should be OK here, there is a serious weir here, so if the water rises, it needs to be from a serious amount of rain to not be dealt with by that weir..
And.. trust them to find a way down to the waters edge.. clam shells, snail shells and coconuts a plenty..
As a side note, the Soar and the Ganges have one thing in common (other than there patently goddesses).. They are both confirmed holy sites and commonly used for Sikh and Hindu funeral ceremonies, where the scattering of ashes on the waters is permitted so that they will eventually reach the sea.. There is even a hire boat company providing special boats for the services.. ( https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1473785/River-Soar-is-new-Ganges.html )