Swarkestone

Black swan in the canal

After yesterday's excitements our trip today was quiet and enjoyable.  We left just before 10am cruising through Burton upon Trent.  Although the domestic battery light was on for much of the time it didnt concern us and the batteries  were getting charged without any problems.  Just beyond Burton we were surprised to see a black swan.  We arrived at Willington around mid-day and as the weather had been fairly cold we decided to stop for lunch and to give me a chance to light the fire.

Boats ascending Stenson Lock

We set off again an hour later, helped down the deep Stenson lock by volunteer lock-keepers and then out through the pleasant agricultural countryside.  On our way we were very pleased to see another kingfisher.  Unusually it didnt fly off as soon as it saw us, but instead stayed perched on a branch until we had nearly passed by and so we were able to get a very good close-up view.  Unfortunately my attempts to photograph it failed, just capturing rather a good picture of some willow leaves.

We moored at Swarkestone at 3pm after a journey of 10 miles and 2 locks.