Ready for Winter

We found ourselves moored in Willington well ahead of schedule for checking into our Winter mooring.  Having hung around for a few days we had to decide whether to continue onto Shardlow and Sawley, simply to use up some days, or negotiate an early start to our time in the marina.  The fact that we were both really tired after our hectic six months cruising (I shall post a review of our cruise soon) coupled with the increasing to do list of jobs on Adagio, we agreed to enter Mercia Marina early.  The good folks at Mercia happily obliged and so here we are tied up for the Winter.

Mercia is a large marina boasting 585 berths.  However, it is cleverly laid out as a series of small bays separated by islands and  peninsulas which creates a water-borne village atmosphere in a collection of small communities.  Unlike our previous marina, and others we have heard of, there are no irrational rules about storage on boat roofs or a ban on burning wood on the stove.  The marina is also pretty relaxed about work carried out on boats in their berths.  Consequently, moorers appear to respond to this mature approach in a responsible manner.

Wasting no time we have begun the refit work: I am building a work station/study and we have agreed a plan with Aqua Narrowboats to fit a pump out loo.  Once that work is complete we shall complete a refit of the cabin.  By the time our planned works are completed early in 2012 Adagio will be quite a different boat internally.  (I intend to post details of the actual work and progress over the Winter months.)

There have been a few familiar faces here at Mercia and the majority of people we have met have been very friendly.  Duffy has made herself at home and has acquired some new friends as well as renewing old acquaintances.  We have been here for almost two weeks and have found the services and facilities are excellent and the staff very friendly - we anticipate a pleasant stay.