Nearly in Nottingham

Leaving Barton Marina on Monday we had a short cruise with 2 locks to moor at Branson Water Park, yes this is where the famous pickle originated.

Deep Cill see gate at the top.

On Tuesday friends Joan and Dave came to see us. Dave is a flying buddy of Paul's. They moved from Plymouth to Leicester several years ago. It was good to see them and catch up.
Finally the weather has perked up so we spent be afternoon sitting out enjoying the scenery and also took the planter down from the 

Leaving Stenson Lock

roof and did some gardening.
The pictures are of Stenson Lock. There were several volunteer lock keepers so I got back on board. As this stretch of the canal meets up with the River Trent the locks are broad and for the most part deep. With 5 locks in total on Friday we arrived at Shardlow for the night. Went to the Clock Warehouse for a

Steam engine called Betty!

meal in the evening. When leaving we found a Miniature Steam Rally was taking place in their car park over the weekend. So Saturday morning we popped over to have a look. About a dozen engines gathered there getting up Steam for a road trip.

We then set off towards Sawley where for many years we used to hire so some of this area has been familiar. Taking the River Trent towards Nottingham. We have only been this way once before. After several miles of River we are now back on canal at Attenborough. Yesterday we went for a walk around the Nature Park.
On Wednesday we go into a marina as next weekend is Paul's RAF reunion weekend. This year at Rutland Water.