It can get cold here!!

We are still at Tardebigge and we can not move even if we wanted to. Totally ice bound. Christmas went well. We were going to the Peak District for New Year but that had to be abandond due to the roads being blocked with snow & abandond vehicles.
It is nice & cosy inside with the log burner going well and supplemented with the Central heating. All very nice.
I thought that last winter was as bad as it it likely to get, I was wrong again. It is colder this winter. The canal has been frozen solid since December 19th, we did have a bit of a thaw just after Christmas, just enough to enable me to break the ice and fill up with water. I have no idea when we will be able to get our next refill.

I all looks very nice, and that is improved greatly with the knowledge that we do not have to drive.

 

Winter at Tardebigge

 
 
 

Yet more stoppages!!

Captains Log

Canal Date 16^th November 2009

Travels 3 miles yards

O Narrow lock

2 Tunnels

Current Location Near Alvechurch

Map Ref SO 019 711

Filled with water and decided to move on to a new location for a few days. The preferred locations was going to be either Bittell lakes if there are suitable moorings if not then continue on to Hopwood.

Whilst removing the mooring pins the rain started, slow at first and then it poured.

Only a few yards to the water tap so I did not bother to put on water proofs, big mistake, within minutes I was shivering with the cold and damp?

The rain stopped as quickly as it started and the sun came out to play. No matter how hard it shined it still did not create any significant warmth. It gets very lazy this time of year!

We soon had filled our water tank and set of into Tardebigge tunnel. Now I have travelled through many canal tunnels over the years but this one was different. It is the only tunnel that I have been through that is fully fitted with Christmas Lights. I suppose we will have our peaceful lives disturbed by young people looking for Farther Christmas very soon – Bah Humbug!!

The other thing about the tunnel is that it is just about the driest tunnel that I have been though, not a drip anywhere, most unusual indeed.

Not far after clearing Tardebigge tunnel we came to Shortwood tunnel, this is about the same length as Tardebigge and again cut through Sandstone. This time it was like driving an old discovery after a rain storm i.e. a continuous and unwelcome stream of cold running water dripping on your head. (Only Disco owners will fully understand this)

When we exited the tunnel we were met with just about the perfect autumn picture. Guess who had flat batteries in his camera?

We were looking for a toilet pump-out; the first site is the Anglo Welsh base. This appeared to be closed so we carried on to the Alvechurch Boat Centre.

When we arrived at the Alvechurch Marina we were met with a total closure. They were dredging and all of there hire fleet were at home. Absolutely no way to pass, so to much disgust of a local fisherman, we were forced to turn round. Not even half way to the Lakes! We are totally boxed in now, only 3 miles of navigable canal open to us.

It can only get better in the New Year.

We are planning on staying here overnight and then moving on a bit further tomorrow.

I suspect we will be back at out starting spot very soon.

Blocked by stoppages all round!

Captains Log

Canal Date 25th October 2009

Travels 200 yards

1 Narrow lock

Current Location Opposite Tardebigge BW Yard

Map Ref SO 991 691

Moved all of 200yards today to fill with water.

We decided to stop here rather than return to our last position.

Once again, we have meet up with our old friend Chris MC. We are moored next Paddington, his boat. That is twice in 4 months. Quite remarkable as either of us had no idea where the other was.

Our plan was to move on from here for a month and then return in December for our winter moorings. After looking at the “stoppages program” it was obvious that we are not going anywhere far. The Tardebigge locks below us are closed so we can not go back. The Stratford canal in closed almost at the start, so we can not go there. The Worcester Birmingham Canal is closed at Selly Oak. So we can not go very far at all. I think that the best trip we can make is to Kings Norton Junction and back. That is not very far at all, still it will charge the batteries and replenish out hot water for a day or so.