The weather was forecast to be very changeable today, and I was due to move on to some of the wider river stretches of the route. But, before reaching that part I boated through Loughborough early in the morning. One thing that was very noticeable was the great variety of canal-side properties ranging from small bungalows and terraced houses / cottages to much larger houses with wide long gardens and manicured lawns reaching down to the water. The weather actually stayed dry until I reached Kegworth Deep Lock. It was fine when I went into the lock, and fine as I let the water out but, when the boat was 10 feet down in the chamber, there was an horrendous cloudburst which soaked me and all the open maps on the roof of the boat. Such is boating!
The wider sections of the River Soar and the River Trent are quite spectacular, and Sawley Locks are an eye-opener. I am not sure whether I would be quite so enthusiastic in flood conditions. In the floods of 2000 the flood level marker is one third of the way up the wall of the Lock Office.
The second picture is Sawley Flood Lock in the opposite direction and shows the river in such conditions. Scary!
I eventually decided that I was wet enough for the day and moored up about 12.40pm at Shardlow.
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