Stenson, Swarkestone and return to Branston Water Park (14 miles, 3 locks)

Plan A - We need to get back to Lincolnshire by about mid September to go back to work, so we can do this all again next year.  That way, the shop doesn't need to do anything spectacular, just pay it's overheads and we are happy with that.  There can be no Plan B.

Swarkestone would be the turning point of this leg, enabling us to retrace our journey perhaps to Great Haywood junction and then return properly for the final countdown to a winter of toil!

Back at the Findern,  a bit of a sharp corner on the road and consequently the bollard in the foreground didn't make it!

Considering all the offside trees were hacked back during March when we first set out, they have grown again well.  That'll be all that rain.....

We moored at Willington for a few days again, and had an evening of pool and drinks at the local pub with Sam, John, Beth and Dave again as they began their final journey back to Lincolnshire.   Reluctantly, they left   the next morning, but at least safe in the knowledge that the Trent would be behaving itself!

I flung open the side of the butty and did a roaring trade on the Sunday, but oh dear, I need to do a lot more painting to replenish my stock now!

Monday, Richard's Mum and Dad came up to run us to Cheshire to view another butty for sale.  So disloyal of us to think there could be a butty which could suit us better than Echoes, but this one was longer and had a back cabin fully fitted out ready for any visitors we may encounter!
Ok, better the devil you know. Our beloved butty is solid, welding done by our resident mechanic and fits our purposes nearly totally.  All that needs doing is stretching it another 15 feet; to gain another discount on our trading licence and enabling us to attach it more securely to the motor (breasting side by side), and we need to fit out the back cabin.....
Yes but it (the butty for sale ,which we drove half way across the country to see) was 'a nail', so we walked away.

Sometimes, it's easy to chuckle, even in the rain!

Stretton on the outskirts of Burton is very pretty, but because of the depth of the water at the edge,  mooring here is not an option.

Now that's a good name for a boat, better than the 'Black Pearl' which seems to be as common as muck!

Don't do it!

Geese everywhere!   Anyone know any good recipes?

Pulling up back at tiny Dallow Lane lock in Burton, we braved the storm and took both boats up through the lock.  We moored past Shobnall Fields as before, but this time just to stock up on food.

This year's young seem to be doing well.

Continuing on to Branston Water Park, we moored for the night, hoping that we may see a glimmer of sunshine the next day............................