We could have stayed in Barrow for a few more days, just soaking up the peace.
Until the joy riders arrived on their bikes. Yes, Barrow Boating brings new meaning to travelling by water.
There were several of these bike boats and swan shaped pedaloes, and once the frost had melted happy families joined the emerald drakes adding to the rich colours. The ducks seem to have disappeared, I can only assume they are now sitting on their nests and we’ll be rewarded with fluffy ducklings soon.
But Barrow wasn’t always fun and frolicks as this poem pinned up at Barrow deep lock reminds us.
Barrow Deep lock is the deepest lock in the East Midlands region having a fall of 2.9m (9.7′) but it didn’t faze us, the deepest canal lock in this country is Tuel Lane on the Rochdale canal at 6m
The rest of our day saw more wide open river sections.
Although we didn’t plan to cruise far, just beyond Pillings Marina under Woodthorpe Bridge
And onto Loughborough Moors, a journey which took us all of an hour to do of just over 2 miles. We are easing ourselves into the sort of boating we love.