Arriving in Nottingham

Today, Friday, we arrived in Nottingham having had a great run down from the MGM boatyard yesterday morning.  We saw two boats on yesterdays’ journey – solitary stuff!

Here we are at Bishop Meadow Lock having left Loughborough.  Strange weather most of the day – we seemed to be in sunshine all the time but had threatening clouds in front which made for some terrific scenery.

Further down the river we passed Normanton-on-Soar  - a very well- healed village with some lovely river frontage properties. Like this one?…..

or this one?….

or perhaps this one!

Further on down, passing through Zouch (wonderful name!), we saw the chain operated ferry which carries people across the canal for 25p per person – well you get what you pay for!

After nearly 6 hours cruising we decided to moor up near Kegworth  just above the Deep Lock.  An idyllic spot as you can see.  We didn’t realise it was right under the flight path from East Midlands Airport! (and the planes don’t stop at 11 o’clock like the trains do!)

Today we did the rest of the River Soar – continuing the delightful surroundings…..

but Ratcliffe power station had to get into one of the shots.

After leaving the Soar we did the short Cranfleet Cut, getting to Cranfleet Lock which took us down onto the River Trent and into Nottingham.

Tonight we are moored in Castle Marina, where we’ll stay for the next three nights.  The staff here are very helpful and friendly – the chandlery even lending James their entire stock box of             o-rings overnight so that he can do a small job on the throttle lever – very kind.  We shall have a walk into the city tomorrow morning.

28 miles and 13 locks.  Thurmaston to Nottingham