Saturday 10th June 2017

We are off! The mega journey to Liverpool has started. The map shows our intended route, down The Trent to Keadby, onto the Aire and Calder and Leeds and Liverpool canal to Liverpool and then back to the Marina via Manchester. Ignore the 'Day timings' as these are calculated assuming no breaks for sightseeing.

We left the Marina at 10.30 under overcast skies and the threat of rain which was with us all day. This new building is taking shape and we shall see what progress has been made by our return in mid August.

Quite a few families of swans could be seen today although they were not always keen to pose for the camera.

The cows certainly treated our passage with disdain.

Three of today's locks were manned by volunteers which was good as they are all broad locks with heavy gates. Apparently they can be very stiff on the Leeds and Liverpool canal so we are getting in some practice.

Under the M1 and past Sawley lock where the sign indicated that there are no flood conditions to worry about.

We are moored at Trent Lock where the Soar and Trent converge. The rain has started so we shall hunker down for the night and hope for sunshine tomorrow.