Day 42 - Torksey Lock to Newark

Tuesday 13th September

21.5 miles, 2 locks

Looking back to the lock

Alarm set for 5.15, our first dawn cruise to catch the tide. Beautiful morning thank goodness, three boats set off in the mist. I'm sure we must have disturbed the boats going north at lunchtime!

Misty River Trent

Uneventful cruise - lots of birds including two white egrets, cattle and sheep down at the water's edge  and lots of fishermen. Saw one land a good size fish.













Came through Cromwell Lock and on through Nether Lock to moor opposite the castle at Newark.

Very, very hot hitting 30 degrees in London and not far off that in Newark although when I spoke to Rachael and Jude they had both had mighty storms, thunder and lightening the lot!

Lazy afternoon, just wandered to Waitrose for supplies and relaxed in park reading.

Went out for a drink in Just Beer, a micropub, the Water's Edge, enjoyed a Greek meal and finished sat outside the barge in a tea shirt - crazy.

Day 43 - Newark to Trent Bridge

Wednesday 14th September

23.5 miles, 5 locks

The huge river passing Averham weir

A more leisurely start to the day. Left Newark at 9.45 with the intention of reaching Nottingham. As we were getting ready Nb Lyngarying went by and used the lock ahead of us however we caught him up at Hazelford Lock and did the rest of the trip with him.

Another beautiful day of heat and sun, plenty of wildlife about too saw three egrets and more Egyptian geese.

Mored at around 5.00pm on county hall steps feeling very tired even though we had not done much apart from stand on the back of the boat all day.

Walked the loop before settling in the Riverside for dinner and a drink.

Day 44 - Trent Bridge to Sawley

Thursday 15th September

11 miles, 5 locks

Beeston weir

Misty start but yet another scorcher!

Set off from county hall steps around 9.30, first job was to work Meadow Lane Lock. Cruised through Nottingham, the waterway changing from river to canal as we went. Stopped at Beeston for water - very impressive weir there.

I think the weather is confusing nature - loads of huge dragonflies. Saw another egret only this time in flight.

Sawley lock

Tempted to stop at Trent Lock as hot and tired but decided to cruise on to Sawley where we moored on the visitor moorings opposite Derby boat club and Sawley marina which is massive.

Wandered to the Plank and Leggit for another evening in the warm sun.

Moored at Sawley

Day 45 - Sawley to Swarkstone

Friday 16th September

8 miles, 4 locks

Bit of a shock this morning - it's raining! We have got off lightly and heading west we have avoided the storms again, Lincolnshire, London and the south east have been hit badly.

Walked over to Sawley marina - big shop but expensive. Had a coffee in the cafe.

Furthest point South of Bonnie Prince Charlie

Stopped raining and the sun came out after lunch. Cruised the final stretch of river this trip and on to the Trent and Mersey canal. We worked four heavy double locks before mooring at the bottom of Swarkstone lock.

Walked into the village which is as far as Bonnie Prince Charlie got in the Jacobite rebellion before turning back to be beaten, eventually, at Colluden. Also has a five arch bridge which is part of a mile long causway over marshy ground.

Swarkstone Bridge

Called into the Crewe and Harpur for pre dinner drinks and nachos. Our rural mooring is not very peaceful - planes, trains and roads!

Day 46 - Swarkstone to Branston

Saturday 17th September

12 miles, 4 locks

Stenson Lock

Left Swarkstone in the dry but temperature has dropped noticably - got fleece and kagool on!

Two double locks, the second the deepest was manned with two volunteers, followed by two single, shallow ones.

Stopped in Willington for lunch and a co-op shop. Reluctantly got going again after lunch - the canal was very busy.

Burton on Trent

Cruised through Burton, saw Marstons brewery, and on to Branston home of the pickle where we moored for the night.

Calling at the Bridge Inn which served very nice looking Italian food so our sausage and beans had to wait as we enjoyed a pizza.

Day 47 - Branston to Hopwas

Sunday 18th September

15 miles, 9 locks

Got a phone call from the Whittakers at 8.15, they are going to join us.

Set off from Branston, lock ready and set for us but an Anglo Welsh passed Paul as he was preparing to set off.

Ice cream stop at Fradley Junction

Beautiful day found a lovely lunch time mooring at Arlewas. Began to wonder where the Whittakers were, rang them onlt ot find they had parked at Hopwas and were not yet at Fradley Junction. We set off again and finally met them at lock 14. Bikes on roof and off we went to Fradley Junction where we stopped for ice cream. Lots of boats and people about.

Long, flat cruise to Hopwas. Anna was a bit restless, had her tea on board as we didn't moor until after 6 pm.

Quiet night in - dark by 7.30 pm!

Day 48 Hopwas to Curdworth Tunnel

Monday 19th September

9 miles, 11 locks

The greyest, dampest, coolest day of our seven week trip and still not that bad.

Curdworth Locks

Cruised from Hopwas stopping at Fazeley junction for water and rubbish. Moored near Kingsbury water park for lunch. Had a stroll around a couple of the RSPB lakes think we saw lapwing, definitely saw the usual suspects and two white egrets.

Next Curdworth flight - 11 locks all set against us, through the tunnel to moor in the cutting. Quick visit to White Horse.

Hedgerow very autumnal now lots of berries, willow leaves yellow and falling.

Day 49 - Curdworth Tunnel to Birmingham

Tuesday 20th September

9 miles, 27 locks

Back to more familiar sunny day and quite warm too. A relatively early start for us, 9.00am, up 27 locks, getting fouled when entering Birmingham. All locks were set against us so it was quite hard work.

As we got into Gas Street basin it was quite busy, Paul bullied a hirer to moor in the prime spot outside the sealife centre.

Wandered to Brindley Place, warm enough to sit out, amused ourselves watching the "oldies" ambling to Symphony Hall to see Daniel O'Donnell. Had dinner in Pitcher and Piano.

Day 50 - Birmingham to Warings Green

Wednesday 21st September

13 miles

Total trip - 375 miles, 210 locks

Dull again with drizzly rain at times. A very boring cruise back from Birmingham to the moorings, having to avoid a fridge which had been dumped in  the canal and fouling twice.

Settled into moorings, Di, Chris and Caryn away in their caravans. Two new boats on site, both liveaboards, Rob and Louise with their two greyhounds and John and Becks on a tiny boat which they are doing up. Di and Kevin are selling their flat and buying a new boat to live on and we have a new neighbour coming next week so we will be full again. Nifty fifty has gone too.

Called over the Blue Bell to catch up on things there of course.