Erewash Canal

I enjoyed a week in Newark-on-Trent resting my strained back and sciatica. I explored the town and it's market and visited the National Civil War museum to which the city is home.  The museum also houses local historical items including a superbly restored Brough Superior SS100 as famously ridden by Lawrence of Arabia.  This is a 1925 model which has been fully restored and is simply stunning.

I had a visit on Saturday from old friends Mac & Helen Cook from Harrogate along with their friend Amanda who I met briefly in Skipton. After a coffee and a walk around the market we took Mr Bunbury for a short trip up the river  before returning for lunch.

On Sunday I left Newark heading south along the Trent and stopped overnight in Nottingham before continuing to 4 way junction at Trent Lock where the rivers Trent and Soar meet with the Trent & Mersey canal and the Erewash canal.  The Erewash is a short canal, only 15 miles long, which meanders northwards through Long Eaton and Ilkestone to the basin terminus at Langley Mill.  A pretty little canal in places with almost a lock per mile making it quite hard work. 

Entrance to the Erewash canal

One of the highlights was the splendid tea room at Trent Lock which was stuffed with canal memorabilia and served an excellent mushroom omelette.

Now moored back at the Trent junction I'll head south again tomorrow down the river Soar through Loughborough and Leicester to join the Grand Union canal.