Back to Shardlow

We started the day off with breakfast in the Dragon.

Salmon and scrambled eggs for me and bacon and maple American pancakes for the captain. A good start to the day.

The first lock of the day was Stenson lock and look, they're all double width locks. The gates were so heavy that I had to tie up the boat and go back to help close them.

Oh dear, some things never change. This bridge is always getting knocked at some time or another. The bridges just weren't made for modern traffic. 

Now approaching Swarkestone lock. It was at Swarkestone that Bonnie Prince Charlie gave up his attempt for the throne of England. 

And off from the lock is all that remains of the Derby canal. Just a short stretch for moorings.

Luckily there was a volunteer lock keeper at the lock, so not as bad as previously.

Here's a view of the Summer House, all that remains of Sir Richard Harpur's Jacobean property. 

This bridge is close to the Ukrainian Settlement near Weston-on-Trent. 

Weston lock. Once again, heavy old gates and paddles. Luckily other boats coming up and we were able to get on the boat in the lock and sail off leaving them to sort everything out.

Doing my nature bit trying to get a picture of a heron. We've seen quite a few birds and ducks on our travels. A fleeting glimpse of a Kingfisher, Red Kite, Buzzard, Moorhen, Pigeon, Seagull and plenty of Mallard. We've even seen a rat making its way along the edge of the canal. Nature in all its glory.

And now we're entering Shardlow, a most interesting inland canal port. 

What was once a warehouse with an arch where boats entered to unload, now a pub.

When our boat was based at Pillings lock we would often come here. It has a great sense of canal history and is well worth a visit. Mind you, there's not much to do here but we love it.

And to round the day off a glorious sunset.