Thursday 4th April 2013

Not a bad day today. To say it was windy would be an understatement. To say it was warm would be an exaggeration. We did have occasional peeps of sun but only coyly for a few seconds from behind a dark cloud. BUT, it didn't rain - or snow - or hail. Spring is definitely on the way and that's official.
Here's a picture from yesterday of our departure from Pilling's Lock Marina.

As you can see, blue sky and a bit of sun.
We made our way through Loughborough, foregoing lunch at The Albion, and made our way down to Kegworth, a favourite mooring place for us. On the way though, we saw that many of the old trees have been severely cut back. Probably a necessity but it does made the canal side look very bleak. Also, no protection from the East wind that is constantly blowing across our path.

And, only because I know you're interested, supper was lamb chops (cooked under the newly repaired grill) mashed potatoes, cabbage and courgettes followed by red grapefruit.

Back to today.

Breakfast - eggs, bacon and toast - what more can you want on holiday? Decided to keep the fire alight all day today because the sky didn't look as if it was going to clear anytime soon.

We battled our way on past Ratcliffe on Soar, easily recognisable by the power station (still working) and navigated through the wind and waves (yes, waves on the canal system) just where the River Trent and the River Derwent meet up with the Trent & Mersey Canal.

It was great fun, especially when you're battling along at all of 4 miles per hour - you don't need fast cars for excitement! We certainly know how to live life to the full on a narrowboat!
By-the-way, the picture above is before we got to the big waves but it shows how much pruning and clearing has been going on and how open and exposed this stretch of the system is.
Stopped in Shardlow for a light lunch and then made our way up to Weston-on-Trent where we have moored for the night. We could have gone further but felt that the cold would probably have got to us and it wasn't worth the risk. Not sure yet what's for supper but we have a (working) fridge full of food from the butchers in Barrow, plenty of vegetables and a couple of boxes of wine. Sure we'll find something to do with all of that.