A surprise meeting

Leaving Branston late morning, we headed off for Sandiacre. Another couple of days should see us back on the Erewash, where preparations for our forthcoming trip to Australia will be foremost on our minds. First though, we made our way through the last of the single locks on the T&M, Branston and Dallow. Then it was a reverse into Horninglow facilities for a long awaited and somewhat desperate filling of the water tank, equally desperate was the emptying of the loos, washed the port side to remove the dust from them combines bringing in the corn and then onto the first of the broad locks at Stenson. We were greeted by two volunteer lockies who happily told Ian to stay on FS as they would do all the work. How wonderful was that!

Will you look at all that dust!

Stenson lock busy as always.

  Having already decided to stop by bridge 10, where we knew the towpath to be wide enough for the last BBQ of this cruising season, it was sods law that the place we usually stop at was already taken. We managed to stop between two trees where the solar panels could do their job but not for that long as the sun was most inconsiderate by ducking down behind one of the trees within 15 minutes of stopping!.

  Ian was sorting out the aerial, so I could watch the Olympics, I was bringing in the washing from the washing line in the well deck when suddenly there....coming towards us was Dennis, Margaret, Stephen and Sharon (Nb Icing) on their way to the rally in Pelsall. No sooner had we done the hugs and exclaimed how wonderful to see them when another boat turned up and pulled in behind. Two people waving and there's me wondering if I knew them. Then one of them walks up and blow me down if it isn't Paul followed closely followed by Jacquie with boat Nb Saphire, on their way back to home moorings in Willington. Paul was once heavily involved with the Derby canal society and the restoration of the Derby canal. Still an active member of the society, he now takes on more of a back seat.  So it was out with the chairs, orders taken for drinks and the question, "Joining us for the BBQ"? A good old catch up with plenty of liquid refreshment went on well into the evening. Only the pesky midges and fading light drove us inside to our respective boats. As for watching the Olympics, that never happened, but then it's not often a meeting of boaters as impromptu as that happens either, and I know which I would rather have!

From L to R....Sharon, Dennis, Ian, Margaret, Stephen, Jacquie and Paul. Tea and coffee first before the drinks appeared.

And seen on route and a most surprising sight on the canal, A Black Swan

Plenty of Buzzards around, especially as the fields of corn are being harvested.