What!!! Breaking Ice

The weather was cold today but bright, and the wind had died down a lot.. So we were up early and on the move. The thing we didn't realise was how heavy the frost was.. We only got half a mile from where we were moored and we were breaking ice..

It was only a thin layer, but it's something we just don't do.

We wanted to move as we needed to get through Braunston Locks before next Monday when they will be closing for a month. We also didn't want to get caught up in the weekend traffic where everyone was making a dash for it to get through.. We first got to Hillmorton where again the locks were in our favour, so it was easy..

At the top the ice was about 5mm thick and very patchy. We stopped at The canal shop as we wanted some gunwales paint but they were out of stock..

We moved on down the Barby straight still breaking ice.. We then passed another boat which gave us a path to take all the way into Braunston..

Again it was very quiet here, so we stopped for water.. We also got rid of our rubbish and Al walked up to post a letter and go to the Butchers who also agreed how quiet it had been this year..

We then set off for the locks and while we sat in the lock to see if any boats we going to join us we popped into the Chandlers and got some blacking paint. (still no luck with the gunwales paint). By this time a boat had joined us in the lock and we made good progress to the top as they had a crew of three. We headed off into the tunnel, which was empty, so no boats to pass...

The ice had now gone and we were clear to Norton junction where we turned up the GU Leicester arm and moored up..

 As were setting up the telly it started to rain, great timing!!!  Knackered from all this we chilled out for the rest of the day with the lamb shanks we had cooking on the stove all day..mmm......Snore!!!!!