Sunday 11th April
Having spent a really peaceful evening and night at Zouch, Thursday night, we were ready to go off to Trent Lock on Friday and stay for the weekend. The weather has been great, warm and sunny for the most part but chilly nights. I let the fire go out yesterday (Sat), for the first time since we got back from our holiday. It was good to clear out all the ash etc. However, when I relit it, it was like the last push at the Somme! The neighbours, who were sitting on the pontoon were well and truly kippered!
There have been lots of boats about this weekend, with it being the end of the Easter holidays, everyone has been making the most of the good weather. Opposite the pontoon moorings, on the other side of the river, is the Scout camp. There have been loads of kids there for the weekend, canoeing, sailing, camping and generally enjoying themselves. Last night there was a very lively party at the Trent Lock Sailing Club, also on the other side of the river, but the other side of the entrance to the Soar. The people moored up next to us on the pontoon, and their frequent visitors, have been doing their best to compete with these activities on a decibel level, and have succeeded in the main! Bless.
Having aborted our attempt yesterday because he was wholly uncooperative, we eventually managed to take George for a drag, sorry I mean a walk, into the outskirts of Long Eaton today. It’s quite a nice walk up the Erewash for a bit. We found a nice pub there, called The Bell, which doesn’t get so crowded as the Trent Navigation, which, incidentally, we can trip up and fall in to from here, so George couldn’t see the point of walking all that way to another pub!
Tomorrow we are heading for the Trent and Mersey and hope to stay at or near Swarkestone tomorrow night. We are hoping for a bit of peace and quiet and George is hoping the pub is a bit nearer too!
