By Tuesday this week the ice had at last disappeared from the canal at Batchworth so we decided to carry on with our plan of heading back to Cassiobury Park. The canal was ice free as far as Lot Mead Lock but above that there was still a lot of ice, it had been broken up by at least one boat going through but there were still lot of sheets about three quarters of an inch thick and about twelve foot square. We slowly made our way up to Common Moor, nudging sheets of ice gently out of our way, up through the lock through more ice and then, where the river joins the canal for a while, it was ice free to Cassiobridge Lock.
A bit of good timing meant that we were able to share the lock with another boat who was just heading for the waterpoint above the lock. From the lock I could see a space to moor by Rousebarn bridge and also that there was a lot of ice still beyond the bridge so we decided to stop there.
We paid a visit to Bob and Babs, who live just a short walk over the hill, then on Friday Babs brought two of her grandchildren, Robbie and Katie to visit. They seemed fascinated by the boat and the cats!
We will probably move up to our favourite spot in Cassiobury Park either tomorrow or Monday.
Since my last post we have travelled 3.1 miles and 4 locks
This year we have travelled 7.4 miles and 10 locks
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
In 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have travelled 1209.1 miles, 1096 locks, 56 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Friday, 3 February 2012
Frozen in
Well, January was pretty uninteresting.
No luck for either of us with any work, we did manage to get a cheap deal that allowed us a trip to see the grandkids in Peterborough but apart from that we haven't been doing much.
We had considered heading north before the BW stoppage at Nash Mills started but then we heard that Tring Summit has been closed and drained to save water so we can't get much further north than Berkhampstead until they reopen that so we decided might as well potter around the southern end of the Grand Union until we can get past the summit.
We spent some time at Lot Mead just above Rickmansworth then last Monday came down to Batchworth intending to stock up, fill up our water etc and head back to Cassiobury Park for another couple of weeks before heading back down to Brentford, maybe having a look at the Slough Arm and maybe going in on the Paddington Arm. Tuesday was washing day, then to the White Bear to meet some other boaters and a chap from NABO who was talking about BW becoming a charitable trust then Wednesday was shopping day and turn round. Except that it was blowing a gale and by the time I had managed to turn the boat around I was frozen and fed up so decided we would stay here, intending to move today when the winds had died down. Then last night the canal froze, not very thick but if it is frozen here only 50 yards from where the river is creating a flow it is probably very solid further up. There has been no movement on the canal at all today so I am guessing it is pretty solid everywhere.
It looks like we could be here for another week at least.
So far this year we have travelled 4.3 miles and 6 locks
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
In 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have travelled 1206 miles, 1092 locks, 56 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels
No luck for either of us with any work, we did manage to get a cheap deal that allowed us a trip to see the grandkids in Peterborough but apart from that we haven't been doing much.
We had considered heading north before the BW stoppage at Nash Mills started but then we heard that Tring Summit has been closed and drained to save water so we can't get much further north than Berkhampstead until they reopen that so we decided might as well potter around the southern end of the Grand Union until we can get past the summit.
We spent some time at Lot Mead just above Rickmansworth then last Monday came down to Batchworth intending to stock up, fill up our water etc and head back to Cassiobury Park for another couple of weeks before heading back down to Brentford, maybe having a look at the Slough Arm and maybe going in on the Paddington Arm. Tuesday was washing day, then to the White Bear to meet some other boaters and a chap from NABO who was talking about BW becoming a charitable trust then Wednesday was shopping day and turn round. Except that it was blowing a gale and by the time I had managed to turn the boat around I was frozen and fed up so decided we would stay here, intending to move today when the winds had died down. Then last night the canal froze, not very thick but if it is frozen here only 50 yards from where the river is creating a flow it is probably very solid further up. There has been no movement on the canal at all today so I am guessing it is pretty solid everywhere.
It looks like we could be here for another week at least.
So far this year we have travelled 4.3 miles and 6 locks
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
In 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have travelled 1206 miles, 1092 locks, 56 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels
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