Day 3 – Friday 31^st August. The day started well with the sun shining in a clear sky. We packed up the car leaving bits and bobs behind that we hope won’t be needed on the boat. Car keys left with Jane in the marina office and then a pootle round to the pump to fill up with diesel. Luckily I remembered to put in the additive that prevents diesel bug and all other nasties that you can get with this ‘new’ red diesel. (If you want to know more just search for diesel bug and all will become even more confused)

Then we set off! Whooppee! The first part of the journey was past all our usual haunts on the way to Loughborough – mind you a bit of excitement at the chain bridge where there is a T junction to go either left into Loughborough basin or right toward the Trent & Mersey canal, just as we tipped up two other boats were coming through.

Seeing as they were breasted up (tied together side by side) and bigger than us, I had to give way. Never mind, since we were only just popping round the corner anyway to stop for lunch at another favourite pub of ours, The Albion Inn. I had Boboti which is a South African dish and is best described as curried lamb and looks a bit like moussaka. Brigid had Cottage pie.

The Albion is a family run pub, no internet, no card machine and, according to the landlord, they’ve only just got an electric till. After lunch we pottered on through Town Lock and Bishop Meadow Lock through Normanton on Soar and moored up at 3:30pm at Zouch opposite another pub we like, The Rose & Crown. Might pop along later just to see if they have Wi-Fi available. Will let you know.

Anyway, Brigid decided to wash the roof of the boat – don’t know what’s come over her!

So I got out a few tools and started attacking the rust around the base of the chimney. After that we both felt a little weary so a cup of tea and a sit down helped to sort things out. Have just checked the map and we have covered nearly six miles today – life is all rush & hurry on a canal boat!