Friday 14th September 2018



With having Aaron with us, we decided to go out for a run. We cleared it with the marina that we could return to the same pontoon, checked with the engineer that nothing would be happening today, and set off for Derwent Mouth.









Aaron did most of the steering, including a tricky turn on leaving the pontoon. We ran up to Derwent Mouth and did a 180˚ turn at speed. Exciting.



We passed the marina again, went through Sawley Locks, and entered onto the wider section of the river below the locks, heading for Trent Lock. Here we were lucky enough to find the pontoon beside the pub had empty spaces. We turned in the river and duly moored up.









                             Had a lovely walk up Cranfleet Cut, the route of the navigable River Trent, and up the Erewash Canal befoe heading back to Trent Lock. Had a pint in the Steamboat Inn just to show Aaron. The place is a bit tacky but full of character.














Then went to Trent Lock pub for a thoroughly enjoyable lunch. Back to the boat and returned to the marina.

The lock keepers’ cottage at Sawley is now the home of the last full time keeper, now retired, and, as well as being his home, he and his partner run a coffee shop and micropub. The volunteer lock keepers were telling us just how good it was so we walked up there.

The place is only open from 4pm until 9.30, is very small, like being in somebody’s living room, but boy, this too was full of character and had a great atmosphere with everybody talking to everybody else like old friends. We had a great evening. There is music on here occasionally, that must make for a great time.







Lock Keepers Cottage

Sawley Lock

Now a micropub and

 coffee shop













They do a platter of three ⅓ pint glasses of different ales, a wonderful selection of ciders and a lovely cheese platter. I tried Sloe Gin Cider and an Apple and Blackberry. Hhhhmmmm.

Back at the boat we had a Cornish Pasty that Brenda had made.



Weather: chilly and overcast but warm when the sun was out. Rain showers in the evening, some heavy.



Day Total: 2 locks; 4 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 3.3

Overall Total: 216 locks; 388 miles; 15 tunnels; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 232.0








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