29th July to 23rd August 2014

Leaving the boat moored at Newark we spent a couple of days at Cropredy looking after Joseph and Samuel before returning to Newark to continue bringing Vincent Joseph back towards Leamington. On Friday 1^st August we passed through our last ‘manned’ lock on the Trent - the 12’ deep Holme lock!

Nottingham was extremely busy, with boats moored six abreast in readiness for the festival taking place this weekend. 

We're about to leave the enormous
locks of  the Trent behind us

And return to queuing six deep for
the single locks of the canal system

We decided to pass straight through Nottingham and found excellent ’14 day’ moorings in Beeston. This suited us very well as we abandoned the boat, retrieved the car from Newark, and set off for a week’s stay in France with Alex, Guillaume and Louis! They are in the middle of having a large extension built and we were on hand to look after Louis and offer occasional advice re the new electrical installation.

Safe place to moor in Beeston while
we went off to France for a week

Alex, Guillaume and Louis in the midst
of their 'building site' in Vannes

Returning from France on the 11^th we then spent a couple of days at Dalesbridge Campsite on the borders of Lancashire and Yorkshire, with Joseph and Samuel, David, Amanda, Lizzie and James. We had great fun visiting White Scar caves and the exhibition of flower pot people in the village of Settle!

Part of the 'flower pot' exhibition in Settle

Lizzie and Sam exploring the bunk beds

James demonstrating his skills
on the 'monkey bars'

Joseph with Lizzie's hoola hoop
--possibly not one of his best activities!

Thursday 14^th saw us back at the boat but still feeling a bit ‘knackered’ from our travels. We remembered to go and retrieve Benny from the cattery where he had spent 12 nights. He just about remembered us, and would quite happily have stayed there in order to avoid the car journey in the dreaded cat carrier!

We then discovered that we had a ‘mooring ticket’. Apparently the ’14 day’ mooring site has now been reduced to 48 hours. Unfortunately the new sign has been removed by disgruntled boaters!

On Friday 15^th we set off from Beeston and completed the remaining stretch of river cruising, to join the Trent and Mersey canal. We reached Burton on Trent and spent an afternoon at the National Brewery centre learning how beer is made and then sampling some of their products!

An old employee of Marstons Brewery
cleaning out his fermenting tank ---

--before going off to do his deliveries! 

Leaving Burton on Trent

Part of the Art Exhibition at Alrewas

We spent some time at Alrewas trying to find out from local people how to pronounce the name of their village – unsuccessfully!  Variations include "Ol-ree-was", "Olwus" and "Orrers" - take your pick. Still it is an extremely picturesque place and it was enjoying an annual art exhibition.

Now at Tamworth we are feeling quite close to home and nearing the end of our two year adventure.