Monday 5 September 2016

Up bright and early so we set off at 7.30am.  It wasn’t particularly sunny today but it wasn’t raining!  Another long day – 12 locks and 19 miles but we are getting there.

We saw some more pretty looking villages and went through Burton Upon Trent, then stopped at a place called Willington because it had a shop and the cupboards are bare.  Armed with our rucksacks we arrived at the shop which was a tiny village store so with a pint of milk, loaf of bread and half a dozen eggs (omelette for dinner tonight!) we made our way back to the boat.

9.5 hours later we decided we had had enough chugging for one day so stopped in a nice open spot (essential for TV signal!) out in the countryside.

Quite well camouflaged - I nearly trod on him. 

Right near the gate - I told him to move but he took no notice!

Coming into Barton Under Needwood.

Lots of pretty cottages.

There's Alfie - he was moored down on the River Lee last winter and we saw him somewhere else too but I can't remember where now.

The locks and bridges are still narrow on this stretch.

Do you think our Polish friends have been using this lake to catch their tea!

Momentary lapse of concentration - Steve was on the phone and the boat decided it didn't want to moor!

!!!

We thought these were the cooling towers by Trent Lock but then realised we are still too far away!

In the first Double Lock in ages with a hireboat and two volunteers doing all the hard work!

Quite a big drop and some leaky gates

In the next big lock by ourselves - Steve can do this one - the paddles are tough!

Moored in a nice quiet spot - Goodnight!