Swarkestone

After surviving yesterday's windy weather we did a couple of hours cruising today to take us just past Swarkestone Lock.

I taught a couple of holidaymakers the 'two windlass trick' for stiff paddle gear. This consists of placing two windlass opposite each other on the spindle so that two people can work one paddle, great when the gear is hard to work. The advantage of now being on a stretch where there are broad locks means that we can share locks and share the work.

It was an uneventful day, only a couple of hours cruising but the cats are happy because they can go and hunt mice and climb trees this afternoon. Ray managed to pick up some windfall wood so the top of Morgana is beginning to look as if we are in winter mode.

Today's journey 6.6 miles and 2 locks

So far this year we have travelled 728.4 miles, 583 locks,  50 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 27 tunnels
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1930.1 miles, 1669 locks, 106 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 67 tunnels