Wednesday 12 October 2011

Crazy seasons!

A long time ago when discussing the weather with an American friend whilst living in Maryland I explained that they had seasons, so they knew what weather to expect and in the UK we had weather. I cannot recall any time when this has been more apparent.

Yesterday, whilst enjoying the 'autumnal' sunshine I picked blackberries, saw sloes, hawthorn berries, conkers and the turning leaves. All very appropriate. However, I also saw lots of butterflies, ladybirds, honeysuckle, forget-me-nots and cowslips, I also picked strawberries from my still flowering strawberry plants, hardly right for the season. What makes it more confusing is the weather forecasters dire warnings of snow by the beginning of next month and a winter colder than the last. If that is to be the case we will experience a drastic change in the next eighteen days, and the forecast I look at on line says the temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high teens until at least Saturday!

We continued our progress southwards, uneventfully, to Winkwell where we moored for the night. Tomorrow's journey will probably be our last for a couple of weeks unless we can pick up a cheap alternator at a breakers yard. Paying for diesel to cruise and petrol to provide us with power just gets too expensive. We intend to moor at Boxmoor which gives us reasonable access to shops and the necessary boaters facilities like rubbish disposal without being too much in a built up area. We will probably move down to Watford before the end of the month and then go and collect my car.

Today's journey 2.5 miles and 8 locks

So far this year we have travelled 447.3 miles, 418 locks, 2 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1178 miles, 1067 locks, 57 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels

No comments:

Post a Comment