Friday 29th May
Today started off with awful weather, really wet and windy so we waited until there was a lull in the proceedings before setting off. Before doing the lock we stopped at the water point and filled up so it was gone 11am by the time we finally got away. While we were on the water point a couple of boats came up the lock. By the time we were ready to go down we had been joined by another boat and as they were going to Sawley as well we shared the 4 locks we had to do during the 5 mile journey which was a bonus.
It was still windy although the rain had stopped and we had a laugh at a couple of the locks watching the yoghurt pots battling against the strong gusts. At Shardlow Lock we thought one was going to reverse straight into us as he tried to get off the bank backwards. Would have done him more damage than it would us. Then at Derwent Lock picking up the crew and getting off the bank proved to be rather problematic for one ‘yoghurt potter’ when the offer of the crew getting back on while the boat was still in the lock was refused.
We arrived at Sawley mid afternoon in the end and after mooring up we decided to go to the pub for dinner. So off we went to The Harrington where we had a couple of pints and I had a nice steak pie. Ken had the fish and chips but said the fish wasn’t particularly good. His chips were lovely though and so was the bread and butter. I know this because I ‘helped’ him eat them!
We returned to the boat and promptly both fell asleep missing a call from Don and Mary, who we met on the Witham and Fossdyke last year. They were visiting their boat at Derby Boat Club and we are currently moored opposite. We phoned them back later and arranged for them to give us a ring on Sunday morning.
Saturday 30th May
Today we went to Nottingham on the bus. We had to go to the bank and then we looked for a jacket for Ken. Surprisingly this didn’t take long as we found exactly what he was looking for in Urban Outfitters, the first shop we went in! We went to the market and got a couple of crabs and some other seafood for our dinner, did a bit more shopping and then went to the pub.
Back at the boat we spent the rest of the afternoon watching FA cup finals, first from Scotland and then the English one.
Sunday 31st May
This morning was another wet and windy affair and we didn’t do much. Ken went out and put the diesel from our containers into the tank so we can refill them before we leave here on Monday.
Having not heard from Don and Mary by lunchtime we thought they may have gone home as the weather was so crap. So we went off to the pub. We had just got in there when we got a call from them saying Sue and Arthur, friends of theirs who we met last year, had gone out for lunch but would we like to meet them all in the Harrington about 3pm?
Well, as we were already in the pub we didn’t want to start another session at 3pm. I told Don we were already in the pub so we arranged to go to their boat when we got back.
As it transpired we all went on to Arthur and Sue’s boat, Arctic Skua and spent the rest of the afternoon having tea and a good old catch up. It was really nice to see them all again.
Tomorrow we are moving to Trent Lock.
