A bit of snow was no surprise after the freezing temperatures
Hopefully last week is the last of this freezing cold weather? It was loverly to wake up to, but not nice to steer the boats in with the biting windchill....
Lister's bravery is gradually improving and he loves snow, just like Scoob.
Not many out for walks today
The numbing of Scooby's knees is obvious as he bounces around when we get some proper wintry weather!
I've got that many layers on, I could hardly move! Equally glamorous items include filled dogpoo bag and shovel...
Crazily, we decided to move nearer to Willington as the weather was expected to close in a bit more. Firstly we moored outside the Indian restaurant in Findern, walked to Midland Chandlers at Willington marina and back and then moved the boats again! This was an element of forsight which we had fine tuned over the years, wedding radar on high alert!
Mercia Marina on the opposite bank
We knew we would not sleep well, so we sloped another 200yards to the marina entrance for the next couple of days.
View from Willington village towards our mooring just around the bend
The thing we always find when we moor at Willington, is that it is so popular for walking, staying upright on the towpath is always another challenge! Richard discovered that his beloved fur lined rubber boots had sprung leaks in several places and we had missed the last train to Derby....
Boater's gold was plentiful during a stopover on the village limits
Cold wet feet or blisters from his newish Doc Martens? Richard battled on and suffered quietly whilst running out of dry socks. The quest for wellies would be top of the list when we got to Burton!
I fetched it and he chopped it until the chain saw died pathetically on us!
Scoob and me on the butty, we take it in turns to steer and cuddle up to the chimney
With Richard's feet top of our list, we set off for Burton on Trent.
One of Brindley's aquaducts spans the River Dove as we pass over the border between Staffs and Derbyshire, complete with pill box.
Passing through Stretton, on the outskirts of Burton, we encountered a fallen tree part way over the canal. Debating what to do next, were no less than 4 Canal and River Trust staff in hi vis clothing... , a fuel can and no chain saw, but pulling up was another van with yet more staff in hi vis coats on..
I do think either the bridges are getting lower, or the ballast situation needs attention!
We were not commented on as we travelled past, nor did we pass comment. I was busting to ask how efficiently they had decided to spend our licence fees this year, but behaved myself unfortunately, sorry .....
At a mere 3'6" rise, the lock at Dallow Lane is a welcome 'model village size' lock after all it's predecessors back to the Trent
We moored in Burton and walked to B&Q for wellies(!!), wood and such and returned to be greeted by Brenda on her narrowboat Solitude, an old friend from Kings marina years before.
The sense of community amongst live aboards mainly, on the cut is really endearing and warms us when people remember you when you perhaps only bumped into them once, a year ago!
Leaving Burton this morning, with slightly less windchill!
Easter weekend approacheth with biting weather and a shop to open. It may not be a memorable first weekend of the season, but at least the weather is showing signs of improvement....
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