A Trip Down the River

I spent most of my holiday's growing up on a narrow boat that belonged to a friend of my mum and dad (my dad also built it). Once me and my brother left home it was the perfect time for my mum and dad to have on of their own, my dad built it and together they fitted it out.

Now they spend their holiday's on it, chugging up and down around Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire until they retire and can move further afield.

So a few weekends ago we were invited out for the day, it wasn't the best of day's but being English it's never the whether that is bad, only bad preparation. So donning waterproof's and warm clothes we headed out.

Heading out of the marina down to the lock...

The children had never really seen a lock before, let along been on a boat going through one, having spent so many weeks on one, it seemed like second nature explaining what is happening.

Here you can see the lock being filled up, the paddles are open and the water is rushing in to fill the lock up. The boat goes in and then the same thing at the other end, water is let out, goes down and then the gates open and the boat is on to the river.

Just out of the lock were last years signets, probably about two dozen, we stopped for lunch and then fed the ducks some food too.

One thing I love about being on the canal boat is how quiet it is, I used to get lost in a book or my own thoughts as we trundled through some beautiful country side on my mum and dad's friends boat.

So many happy memories, the children are still young but hopefully one day they will enjoy as much as I did.

And what is the name of this lady, well my mum and dad being children of the 70s called it Thin Lizzy.

So that is our trip, our time in the very fresh air., linking up to Country Kids on Coombe Mill Blog