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We are now back in Devon for a few weeks intending to return to Muriel and head off to Wales at the end of August.  We had been out from the first week in June to the last in July - the very, very wet weeks - and travellled the R. Soar, Trent, the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Ashby Canal.  We visited the National Arboretum at Alrewas and the Battlefield Site at Market Bosworth, and we passed the Triumph factory at Hinckley.

Although the weather was wet we didn`t suffer at all, spending the rainy days moored up and sitting down below in Muriel or out under the pram cover of her cruiser stern.  The rivers all flooded of course but we were lucky with our timing.  We arrived at Fradley the day before the Alrewas river section was opened (for one day) and we got through on an amber level.  By the time we reached Shardlow on the way back, and the start of the Trent, the sun was shining and water levels had returned to normal.  The trip back up the Soar was perfect and reminded us of just how beautiful that river is - despite the power station at Radcliffe-on-Soar creating clouds in the clear blue sky. 

It doesn`t really matter what the weather`s like; well, not to the neighbours, anyway.  A sparrow adjacent to Muriel`s mooring at Shardlow.

And things go on despite the weather.  Swans, ducks and moorhens all had young on the canals.

Sign of home.  Fenakapan (aka the Wine Boat) actually lived on the Exeter Ship Canal for a short period - she was transported by lorry to the main network.

An old tramp tries to steal M - and then has the nerve to pose for a photo.

We met the wine boat, Fenakapan, at Willington - great wine, 3 for a tenner.

The Trent at Willington - water levels still very high.

The Trent at Alrewas - fast moving during an amber warning.  Navigate with caution, the sign said.

Colourful and traditional - workboats are still home for a number of people.