Back to Barton.

We were ready to move off just as a boat came round the corner. I held on with the centre line and lo and behold it turned out to be 'Pride of Holderness'. She is normally moored at West Stockwith on the Trent and the start of the Chesterfield Canal. When we are 'up north' we are frequently asked when we give our boats name if we are 'Pride of Holderness'. It seems that they are frequently asked the same question. It was a swift conversation as they passed but I seem to remember that the owner was either a lock keeper on the Trent or used to work the barges working on the Trent. I'm sure we will meet again.

We moved up through bridge 48 and winded at the hole juts passed and headed back again. There had been a lot of early starters heading off to beat the rush but we seemed to hit a quiet spot. We didn't go very far as we stopped at the water point that was below the lock as we had been five days with out topping up. We have never run out yet but maybe we ought to so that we would then know how long we can go without filling up. The tap was very very quick to fill which surprised me. We were just about to finish when a boat came through the bridge behind us. The man decided to step off in the bridge hole narrows and walk to work the lock. Unfortunately he went all his length. I thought he was going to fall in the cut but he saved himself from that. He even saved his windlass. He was very shook up for a time and had a small cut but soon got over it and appeared to be fine by the time he had left the lock.

We were soon heading down the lock and passing the bridges of the sitches. Even in the few days we have been here the trees have greened up and there is a real feeling of spring in the air now the wind has started to come from a warmer direction.

Everything is greening up now.

St Leonard's Church partially hidden now.

There is a little bit of a chicane at Cow Bridge over to the private moorings near Wychnor. Luckily we didn't meet anybody coming the other way.

We did the run next to to the A38 and were soon at Barton Turn Marina. We turned in and soon found the visitor berths and moored up hidden from the pub by the 'office barge'. I went over to the office and booked us in. I bought a card for the electricity but I should have checked first as there was one with loads still on. Hopefully I can get a refund! We had our lunch and then went for a walk to find the bus stop as I have to get into Lichfield tomorrow to catch my train.

Barton Marina entrance.

We continued into the town and were quite surprised at the number of big old houses there were. This was obviously another place that had been well off in the past. maybe wen the canal arrived as there was a wharf at Barton Turn. We walked back past the fish pond and over the lakes to get to the shopping village on the Marina. The car park was packed and there were loads of people milling about. We joined them and had a look in all the shops. Helen has found some ear rings she may go back for, but the bargain of the day was a pair Gelert trousers for Helen for £8, and they were the right size. She loves a bargain and is very happy. There is a good phone, wifi and TV signal so she should be fine until I get back on Thursday.