Saturday 18 February 2012

Thawed out

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

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