A Chilled day out with a Friend

Linda and I have know each other from school and though at various times we haven't seen much of one another because of moving away or family commitments we have always stayed close. We both go to the same keep fit class on a Thursday and on Tuesday's we go to the Lunch club at  St Mary's Church Eastwood. Margaret who oversees the lunch club arranged a day out for us at  Cromford Canal  we then went for lunch at  Willersley Castle Linda and I had a pack up and so after a walk around the shops in Cromford we walked up to Willersley and had our lunch on one of the benches under the shade of a tree, it was lovely after we'd eaten whilst we were waiting for the rest of our group we had a walk through the gardens down to the weir by  Masson MIlls the river was much decreased because of the heatwave but it looked lovely.

We arrived in plenty of time for our cruise on the canal and so Linda and I had a walk around the shops at  Arkwright's Mill we saw plenty of things we liked but managed to stave of the temptation to spend.

 Then on to the barge

It was lovely, so peaceful and informative, the people who gave us all the information where all volunteers for Friends of Cromford Canal. We saw plenty of wildlife, Linda saw a water rat which I missed :( the grasses along the bank were beautiful and I am sure hid all kinds of creatures.

We continued past the old Wharf Shed were the Duchess of Devonshire has a barge moored but I am sure she would be quite upset at it's neglect.

Then just a little further we turned around to come back, on the way back we went in two by two to the back of the barge to see the cabin and hear all about the life of the people who lived on the barges, it was really interesting.

It was such a tiny space it was amazing that you could get a family in there. There was a small coal stove (coal and sticks were kept under a step that led up to where father would steer the barge) next to that was cupboard space the front of which when pulled down would act as a table for everything from baking to changing baby. The seat I sat on doubled up as a bed for the children, in between this small space and the next were some curtains which is where mum and dad slept a front panel was dropped down onto the opposite seat transforming it into a double bed. And what about baby? Well they would sleep in a drawer underneath the panel that came down for the double bed. It was law that there had to be a door between the parents bedrooms and the children's,

this was the door!

 
Everything was so beautifully decorated. And who remembers these a babies bottle made of glass that you put a teat on each end, wonderful!

It was certainly an eyeopener to how they lived, no gas lamps, no electricity, just calling at shops along the way for their provisions and come hail, snow, blow or heat they were in this small space having no choice but to get on with one another I should think, and making up their own games to pass the time, (that is of course when they had any spare!).

After this everyone else went on the coach to Willersley for their lunch and then on to Carsington Water, 

where there where plenty of people enjoying the sunshine and the water sports.

Linda and I took the opportunity for a sit down in the sun and just relax and watch other people exerting themselves :)

                                         Then it was time for home, 

all in all we had had a wonderful day and both of us felt very blessed.