Since our last blog we have meandered down to Sawley Marina and back. The weather has been so good we have taken our time and enjoyed it!
The River Trent was an absolute millpond, and so we didn't wrestle with dog to try to get the life jacket on him. We moored opposite Sawley marina for 24 hours and enjoyed the entertainment of passing boaters in the hot sun. We took a very pleasant early morning walk alongside the Trent down to the junction where the Erewash Canal joins the river, a path that is adjacent to a golf club nearly all the way. Surprisingly, there are signed footpaths pointing across the greens.
We are now on our way back towards Fradley Junction, in no hurry, and as we had enjoyed Shardlow previously, stopped there again overnight. The Heritage Centre there was unfortunately closed, so didn't get our business, but the Malt Shovel did! Saw the Shardlow croc lurking under a jetty . Honest!
The 74 acre Mercia Marina site at Willington, was worth a stroll around, a most attractive location, created with conservation in mind, and includes a well stocked grocery shop, Midland Chandlers, plus plans for a bistro and 18 luxury lodges. Very courteous management team too. We will definitely give this place consideration for moorings.
Just around the corner from the marina we stopped again at Willington village. Very close to the railway this time unfortunately, so thundering rail stock through the night meant briken sleep, broken again by fighting cats at 6am!
Now we are back at Branston, moored alongside a very neatly mowed towpath. The autumn sun is out again, but very strong breeze, so strong the dogs ears are horizontal!
