Us? Fickle?

 2nd January

Turning on the TV, the first thing we heard was the weather forecast! It didn't bode well for the next week and checking the outdoor temperature, it was below zero. A look outside showed no solid water, frost or snow, but ice had formed on the towpath and our center rope was solid!

 

So now we had a dilemma. Concerned about getting iced in with the overnight minus temperatures, and fully aware that once we left Atherstone, no more services until Fazeley, (at the Marina), we decided to stay. With the facilities nearby by the top lock, we set off to do water, rubbish and empty both cassettes and then reverse back through the bridge to the mooring we had just left. But us Jameisons can never make up our minds, I think fickle is the best way to describe us, and so it came to pass that we headed down the Athertstone flight with thoughts of trying to make Polesworth. We had talked it over while the water tank was filling and decided that with 3 empty cassettes, a full tank of water and if we forego our every other day showers, do a stand-up wash instead, we could manage for at least 10 days. So Polesworth, with its shops nearby, was the obvious choice to sit it out at whatever was thrown at us.

At the facilities top lock Atherstone.

 The first three locks had to be filled, but at the 4th, a boat was coming up.

 

The sun was really low, always is this time of year, and I was so thankful we weren't looking directly into it.

 Town moorings had nothing but a workboat moored. We try not to stay along this section unless we have too. It's that blasted Cockerel that greets the dawn with a very loud 'cock a doodle do' that we take umbrage at! It is handy for the shops, though, closer than by the top lock, and that's the only reason we moor there and then move off once the shopping was done. Our preferred moorings are always in the long pound below lock 9. 

 Another boat met after lock 6 which meant the rest of the flight (apart from lock 8 which leaks like a sieve) were all with us and the whole flight was completed in 2 hours.

 An hour later we reached Polesworth. The fire was stoked, and we are now ready for the freeze. Bring it on!

 And seen on route,

 

Best laid plans

 31st Dec

The last thing we wanted to see was ice! I thought it strange the boat didn't move when Ian got up to make the first cup of tea. It wasn't until we opened the curtains that the reason was revealed.

 And the temperature gauge came as a bit of a shock too.

 Well, this was a bit of a to-do! And us hoping to reach Atherstone to top up the water tank too! Resigned to staying another day, suddenly the sound of cracking ice and a boat engine in the distance.

 

That changed our plans again. No need to stay, just follow the channel left by the boat. At least it saves our blacking from being scraped off. So not 10 minutes later, the bow was given a hefty shove while I put on the power and FS was on her way.

There were areas where no ice lay, mainly in Nuneaton, and where a breeze was sufficient to move the water and stop ice forming.  

 During the 3 hours it took to reach Atherstone one boat was seen on the verge of sinking and 2 already on the bottom. Those two had obviously been vandalised!

 

 

Plenty of space at Atherstone so we decided not to go down the locks today. Got ourselves settled after a massive shop at Tesco, nibbles and wine, all ready to welcome in the New Year. So Happy New Year to you all. Let 2026 be the year all our wishes come true.