AnnC

Hi We have a time share there and go out the 1st week in April - the boat comes with Nicholson guides and useful tips. They also take you through a lock (No 10) just outside the marina and spend a good half hour showing you how every thing works on the boat and how to get through locks. Having gone through the first lock you will be heading towards Burton on Trent where the first available turning point is, going that way you can probably get to River Trent and have a choice of Nottingham or Loughborough, once you get to the wide locks it is heavy going but I loved it. Or you can turn at just before Burton on Trent and head back towards Stoke and take in the Wedgewood factory, we did that our first year out. Our second year we went to Gnosley on the Shropshire Canal, this year we are planning on going along the Coventry Canel and the Atherstone Flight, Shakespear lines have a web page with everything on it and it is really good, here is the link to Shakespeare lines http://www.timeshareboats.uki.net/location.htm . there is even a guide to the canals you can tour in a week. Waterscape is another good site to look around, as well as the http://britishwaterways.co.uk site where there is a waterways code of practice which you can download and it gives you all the rules and regs, lock operations ect. Clothing wise you will need a good water proof jacket and trousers, these help not only with the rain but helps keep the wind out as well, our first year it rain once over night, we had frosts overnight the second year it rained everyday and thats where the waterproofs came into their own, last year was a mix but we enjoyed them all I know you will have a great time we did our first time out and look forward to our week every year this year is our 4th time the boats are good and the staff at Barton Turns are very good and helpful.

I always have some instant mash, a tin of stew and tin of peas, it takes 10 mins to prepare and is warming. Stores own brands are cheap and last for a year or so. or eggs you can make omlettes, scamble eggs. My fav is onion, bacon and mushrooms (tinned) omlette. Slice the onion, chop the bacon into smallish bits slice the mushrooms, put into a frypan with a small amount of oil. While these are browning(cooking) whip a couple of egg whites till they are foamy when the onion bacon and mushrooms have cooked to your liking. Whisk into the egg whites the yolks and pour over the onion, bacon and mushrooms. Jiggle the pan around so it gets all mixed up then wait for it to set, over a low heat Serve hot or cold. fillings can vary choose what you like. Dont forget to invite me to tea when you do this AnnC

Thank you James I will post about our trip when we get back.

We are travelling from Barton Turn to Nottingham next week. Is there anything we should know about before we go? What are the Good Pubs to eat at. Places not to moor up. Thanks this site is great Ann C