Part 9 - Leaving the Erewash and reflections

Our time for now on the Erewash was coming to its close and we needed to begin exploring other parts of the network. We returned to moor for a few days at Trent Lock and one of our daughters, her husband and our lovely granddaughter stayed with us over the weekend that we moored there. Jake sorted out my problems with the horn and front light, he's a good electrician and when we readied to leave after the weekend we were all set for tunnels and troubles if encountered. The weather remained idyllic, blue skies, a pleasant temperature and a very peaceful spot.

To be honest we needed the peace was because Marian and I were both feeling a bit stressed after clearing out our five bedroomed, three reception roomed home for the previous three months before sailing onwards. How does one collect that much? It was such a mammoth task and we had to be utterly ruthless in what we were keeping and throwing away. I remember we had completed one room but feeling no further forward. I insisted on taking some items to the local tip as I needed to see some space. I failed, more items appeared out of cupboards and drawers.

It was really difficult and Marian who took the lead role in the clearance was brilliant. The last month was manic with getting items ready for storage, innumerable visits to take things to the charity shop and the refuse site. Then organising storage and I was so very grateful to my friend Andrew who helped me when I needed it most.

You realise that one doesn't need all that clutter and extras to live and certainly not on a boat with limited space. It is looking back emancipating;  having what you need to live and not having things which seemed like a great purchase at the time but was rarely used after it was removed from its packaging. Which reminds me I still haven't found my olive stone removing tool!

A week or so before we were to set off, I realised we had to get the things we needed to the boat. that's how I knew it was stressful. How on earth could we forget? So it took five or six journeys of  three hundred mile round trips to bring all the items from Somerset to Shardlow where the boat was waiting.

Yes indeed, the peace and tranquillity was much appreciated. Our intention was to sail back along the Trent and Mersey canal and visit some friends and family along the way, but a lock was out of commission for a week at Shardlow so when the sun was up on Monday we were ready to cross that wide confluence and sail onto the river Soar and beyond.