We’ve stretched everything as far as we can, and we need some cat and dog food before we have a riot on our hands.. so we need to get moving – and of course – the canal froze up again last night, and its a thick one.. so this is going to be heavy going – but it has to be done..
Didn’t get chance to get some more wood, the ice had other plans for us manoeuvring into the offside bank to reach them..
Seven locks on the cards for today.. that should get us to the water point, and somewhere where we can get some shopping in, and hopefully park the car for a week..
Seriously grey and cold this morning.. the ice is not making it easy – and the lock team are feeling it.. grumpies all round at the moment..
Lock #29 – Bumblebee Lock.. Built in 1929.. but the gates are of course newer!
And its in dire need of a wall re-build… staying clear of that – its not that I think the wall will collapse in on me – its where the missing bricks are.. and I don’t fancy getting hung up on a load of bricks when all the water is out!
But were there.. moored up just outside of the winter mooring at this spot..
And this is why you don’t go through thick ice a few new scrapes where the ice pushed the boat into the side of the lock entrance.. that’s the blacking scraped off at the water line and missing from the bow (both sides).. and there are a few spots down the side that are shinier than they should be as well.. not sure how to deal with this one.. may see how the bow lifts when the water tank is empty.. I may be able to touch up the blacking on that without taking the boat out of the water if its high enough to paint on and leave to dry – once done.. fill the water tank.. hopefully!!!
And its a walk to the shops.. 3 hour round trip.. so still more grumpies to be had before the day is through.. Now we have what we need.. if where here, without a car and need more.. its a Mr. Tesco delivery..