Return to Willington.

We moored at bridge thirteen Last Thursday with the intension of catching a bus to Calke Abbey a national trust property,however, looking in the book we discovered that its not open on Thursday and Friday. On Friday morning we carried on to Shardlow,arriving around lunch time we moored above the lock. In the afternoon we walked down to the New Inn and booked a table for Sunday lunch. Due to the Trent being in flood all the hire boats from Sawley were moored below the lock outside the Old Clock Warehouse which is now a pub. Taking the bus on Saturday morning we went into Alvaston to do some shopping. The buses were running late for our return to Shardlow due to a home game for Derby football club. Heavy rain greeted us on Sunday morning and the side of the boat was a chalky white from the cars splashing through the puddles on the track at the side of the mooring. Pamela, Nathan and the grandchildren arrived in time for coffee before walking down to have our lunch at the New Inn. We all had steak which were cooked to perfection. While waiting for the Trent to return to normal level we went for a look round Derby on Monday. A walk round Shardlow Marina passed some time on Tuesday. Finally on Wednesday we walked to the lock where you join the river to see how high it was. Having seen it we decided that we would return to Willington and try again later. So this morning we dropped down the lock and watered up, then turned round and headed back. Tonight we are moored near bridge thirteen and tomorrow we will continue on to Willington.