Up dated 2019
We were reluctant to leave the idillic
moorings by the church in Alewas
but we had a schedule to meet.
If only we had known what was to come! 
Slightly odd bridge on the short river section
Just outside the village the canal merges for a short time,
via a plethora of warning signs with the River Trent
and takes on a very pleasant natural aspect.
As if by way of pay back at Wychnor Lk, the tranquillity
is dashed as the A38 screams on to the canal side to
supplant the birdsong with road noise.
Soon the payback is on the other foot as we pass a
struggling roadside cafe with its back to the water.
What a missed opportunity, however for the boater
directly opposite, access is gained to Barton Marina.
As we needed a launderette and some bedding in
adjustments to various new engine belts we ventured in.
The Marina now has a little retail wharf with several
small shops including a very good Deli, with Fresh
Veg and local meat, a Thai restaurant and of all
things a combined shoe and jewellery shop where
Sue found a lovely pair of thongs.
But strangely no chandlery.
At the coffee shop we had a very pleasant lunch in
what seems to be very much a local meeting place.
Apart from a short diversion round Shobnall the
A38 is a pest all the way to Eggington Wharf.
We were not interested in the much publicised
water park at Branston and pulled in to a very
pleasant spot just before Br 33 at Shobnall,
just as it started to rain.
A short but very pleasant little trip.
Next day car pick up and off to Devon & Somerset
for an IWA research trip and a ResCom
meeting at Bridgwater Docks.
On our return we filled up with Diesel at the adjacent
Shobnall Marina which is all that remains of the
old link canal down to the River Tent.
The diesel was at a very good price and we
took the opportunity of buying maps & life
jackets in the chandlery for our up coming
trips down the Trent & up the Erewash.
All the staff at Shobnall were great and we could
not recommend them highly enough, they even let
us leave the car in the car park for the long weekend.
A very friendly place soon to have a Tea Room.
In 2019 we moored in the park just past the bridge.
This is also a good location and has
plenty moorings closer to the town centre.
As we had time this trip we went exploring.
Apart from the distinct brewing smell
the town is interesting for its
remnant brewing history but unremarkable.
Another short day took us to Willington from
where we walked into Repton (got the bus back)
in order to get to a bank, which it did not have !
However it was an interesting
trip as it is home to Repton School.
The village is very much like Eton in that just about
every building is part of the school.
One exception being the little parish church which is part Saxon,
but just over the road the school has it own much larger chapel.
Repton was the capital of the Kingdom of Mercia in the
dark ages and Christianity was brought to Repton from
Northunberland in 653 when it was adopted by the
royal family of King Penda. 
The village is probably now best know as the setting
for the 1939 film Goodbye Mr Chips.
Journalist Jeremy Clarkson was also a pupil at the school.
The only surviving shop was an excellent butchers
which also sold other miscellaneous goodies,
so after stocking up we continued on to
Swarkestone where we took on water.
This is a very exposed location so we were
pleased to drop down the lock into shelter
for the night.
All the locks on this section are wide deep and
very heavy, if possible locks are best shared.