Narrowboat Maid of the Mist Blog - February 2012

We hope you enjoy reading about our travels around the British Inland Waterways

1st - 4th Stayed in Ellesmere due to the poor weather conditions. The canal has frozen over several times and although the ice was insufficient to force us to stay, it has been too cold to want to move really.

Had my sister and her husband over for lunch on Thursday which was really nice. I expect that will be the last time we will see them for a long time now.

5th - 6th Moving slowly back now. Had to break through some ice for about a mile. Cruised 6.5 miles from Ellesmere Wharf to the junction with the Prees Branch. Stayed 48 hrs.

7th - Today we cruised as far as Grindley Brook Locks, stopping off on the way to pick up some fuel from Viking Afloat in Whitchurch. Rumour has it that we will experience temperatures as low as -6 tonight, so it was important that we had a full tank of fuel and be close to a water supply.

8th - Canal not frozen completely, however as the next water point is at Hurleston Junction, just before the 4 locks, it would be stupid to set off and then get caught up in the country without water. We are at least 4 of our cruising days away from that junction. So we are staying here a while until we are sure we can make it.

1th - 12th Still at Grindley Brook. Although very cold, we seem to be on the edge of the bad weather. If we move, we move into it. Will definitely stay here for the weekend, and will review the situation on Monday.

Image shows the ice on the canal yesterday.

Zoe and Ryan came to stay for the weekend, which was really nice. We are also enjoying some good news this month as my eldest daughter, Lea is expecting a baby (9 weeks). Ryan asked me if, when Lea's baby has arrived, will he still be my favourite Grandson - ahhh.

13th - A mild day today, so we have started heading back towards Hurleston Junction. A boater we met at Grindley Brook Locks advised us that the Shropshire Union Canal at Nantwich is frozen.

Today we did 8 locks and have moored below Willeymoor Lock.

14th - Travelled to Wrenbury. Batteries on boat are now 8 years old and we are staying here until they can be replaced. We have ordered them from the Wrenbury Mill boat yard.

The batteries will arrive a week tomorrow, and the boatyard will crane the old ones out and the new ones in. They are very large batteries and cannot be lifted by one person. We have 4 x 220ah Gel batteries as an all electric live aboard, so that's another £2K gone.

16th - Zoe and Ryan came today, just for the day, so as we had already decided to have a meal at the Dusty Miller we invited them to join us. It's quite a nice pub, but a little pricey for a gastro pub. Having said that the food was cooked to perfection and the main meal portions were huge.

17th - Had a lovely visit by Les and Alicia who live in Cruddington and have a narrowboat on the River Weaver. We have met them several times along the cut. They will try and visit us again in about 10 days. We shall look forward to that.

18th - Weather has taken a turn for the worse today. Sounds like hail out there- brrrr. Lea has gone to London today for the weekend and will call in to see us tomorrow on her way home.

23rd - At last, our new batteries arrived and were installed. Not before time either. Three of our four batteries were completely shot, one giving only 3 volts.

Whilst doing that we had our engine compartment degreased and sluiced, so that is nice and clean now. They used a product called 'Traffic Film Remover'. You just spray it around, leave it for five minutes and then sluice it off. The resulting sludge was then pumped out.

24th - Woke up this morning and our battery reading was 87% and 12.7 volts. Wow, it's not been that high for a long long time. We generally top up to 100% by 8pm.

We are now on the move again. Just did 3 miles, but 3 locks and a lift bridge. We are moored in the country again between bridges 12 and 13 at Ravensmoor. and will stay the weekend. We have a phone signal again. Wrenbury is an O2 region and no other network seems to work. Having to stay there over a week waiting for the batteries was a bit of a strain, despite it being a lovely village.

25th - No move today.

26th - Moving very slowly again as we do not need to be at Barbridge until Thursday/Friday. Called in at Sawley Marina to fill up with fuel and water. Moored just beyond the marina.

Not a good spot for internet signal.

27th - Today we moved to between bridges 3 and 4. Excellent signal for internet here (T-mobile, not Vodafone). Love being out in the country.

Stayed here until 1st March.

Author: Jean Beven

Ellesmere-BW van with new signwriting