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!