Froz, froz and more froz.. Brrrrrr
Moored Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal..
Last night I could only just see him.. a lone boater’s narrowboat with a dog about 30 yds in front of us, no tele “No I dont have a tele, I dont want one”.. Gosh last night was cold with a blanket of fog. He said last week “I am so bored, I am hoping to get away after the weekend”… I said to him no chance and here we are.. I was right no chance..
Some wonderful pictures on some of the regular boater’s blogs of what we all woke up to this morning, a real winter wonderland.. Cold, yes for sure, but absolutely beautiful. But look at that towpath, it is lethal, even Lucy and Meg are having to be restrained.. I got the gear though!..
That made my boots more sure footed keeping me safe on the solid ice! 
Oh that white stuff under my feet… well it is Huggies Bed Mats. You know those things you put on a young child’s mattress when trying to get them out of nappies? They are fantastic at mopping up wet dog paws, so we lay them out in the back cabin.. Lucy and Meg know the routine and wait just maybe 15 seconds before moving down the boat.. that’s all the time it takes to dry their pads off. Saves the mats getting wet too when we come back in as well..
We popped into MD this morning to top up again on bits and bobs.. well no chance on Mr Tesco getting anywhere near us at the moment. Do you know they hadn’t even put any grit on the pavements.. It was so dangerous, I was so cross. Vic slipped a couple of times and I nearly had a heart attack on both occasions.
The Council really should have done something about the state of the streets. People were trying to walk on the roads, it was that bad. If only they had placed some grit bins, then we could have done it ourselves!
The poor fence on the little lane that goes under the canal here has been smacked into twice now.. it’s just on a downhill corner.. It isn’t only us slipping and sliding.. and more tomorrow I guess, I gonna slip and slide to Stafford to meet my very good friend Annie (Moore2Life), and I believe she is bringing Carol (Rock ‘n Roll), for a good ‘ol ‘girlies lunch’! 
Sue
Updated 24th April 2012
December 6th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
We have got a grit bin just over the canal bridge from the house, which was full a couple of weeks ago, but people have been useing the grit/salt to take home (so now empty)! or in some places according to the Sunday paper hijacking council gritters to be able to go round clearing paths for extorsionate fee’s !!
December 6th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Well that grit is to help the cars get over the bridge!
Thats the trouble Alf, people are being greedy for themselves, we should all be helping each other not ourselves!
December 7th, 2010 at 12:16 am
Hello
I envy you, even with all the hardships involved in being a continuous crusier and not being able to continue to cruise with the unseasonable hard weather. Maybe one day, before I’m too old (and I think I probably am already) I too can join the ranks of a CC!
In the meantime I have to look forward to your blogs and pics – which I really enjoy – I read a few and feel a bit like an intruder but I do look forward to reading and looking at photos of places you just don’t see unless on a narrowboat – I have only ever made it to the Ashby (3 times – no locks) – but thanks to a charity trip ot two I now know how to do locks, I’m just still a bit scared of them!
With the hard weather as it is, I remember when everyone used to clear their bit of the road – now it seems that people think it is someone else’s problem…. will look forward to next blog – I’m sure it’s not just me (without a boat) that enjoys your writing
With best wishes
Anne
December 7th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
C’mon, Sue, where’d you get the crampon thingies?
They look brilliant!
All the best
Bruce
December 7th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Anne,
Many thanks for your lovely comment.. Ah it’s not such a hardship being a boater in this sort of weather.. it does need careful planning and a bit of luck to be in the right place at the right icy time though.
You will soon get used to locks, it becomes 2nd nature when you have done a few I promise.
To be honest I think the majority of people are helping each other out.. just the odd few who will take more than their due during this weather..
Bruce,
I got these when I went to France at the beginning of the year.. but they are available in this country, well the exact ones I found at this site, they are dearer than I paid though, although this is the best price I could find..
http://www.e-outdoor.co.uk/432423/products/Petzl_Spiky_Plus_Slip_On_Sole_Crampon_XL.aspx
But I like this one from the AA, seems just what we all need at the right price…
http://shop.theaa.com/store/other/aa-snow-ice-grips
And I found a 5% code off for that that seems to work, add it when you order.. code = AALOYAL
Be interested to see which one you purchase. Glad to see you are coping in that Marina which is always one of the coldest in this area.. you sure picked the right one!
December 8th, 2010 at 11:33 am
I don’t think people are necessarilly selfish not clearing their snow, just careful. Over recent years there has been a lot of rumours about people being sued if someone fell on their cleared patch and with firms of Injury lawyers advertising so much it did make you think twice, I certainly did. A sad fact of our litigious society. Our Council’s website is now saying that is not likely to happen but the message has not got through to enough people.
Hope you continue well and warm
Kath
December 8th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Thanks Sue, nice one. I went down the AA route, means we both get a pair for what it would have cost for one of us for the larger ones, and the gear looks more adaptable at that.
The code worked, but I’d added a space blanket to get the order over £15 to qualify for free delivery, and using the code knocked it down again, so that it was actually cheaper without it!
All the best and hang in there
Bruce
December 10th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Kath,
I know it does concern people about clearing snow.. trouble is as soon as anyone has the slightest fall, they are ready to sue who they can via the ‘No win, no fee’ vultures. That is why a lot of people won’t do it, and to be fair I don’t blame them!
But someone needs to do it, and that is the Councils, either that or they need to bring some legislation in that people who clear their paths outside their properties beit private or business are not liable for injuries… Oh and sorry I was a bit late replying to your comment, there were so many this last week you and Bruce missed out!
December 10th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Bruce,
Ah Ha! So when I read from Alan Tilbury that a woman (with a description of Shelia) fell into the canal at Gt Haywood Marina I can report that you were just testing your new purchase!
Well done you for getting the extra item for nought. I have heard that quite a few people have also ordered these, perhaps now the weather will abate.. I think not!
As above sorry to have missed replying.. a lot of comments this week, missed these two
December 11th, 2010 at 8:53 am
What’s this? We’ve heard nothing about someone falling in – it certainly wasn’t Sheila.
ATB
Bruce
December 11th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Bruce,
No, no don’t panic.. it was my attempt at humour!
By ‘Read’ I meant the future tense of the word, just the purchase of the space blanket gave me visions of you trying it out on Shelia to see if it worked when someone falls into an icy canal!
December 11th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Oops, sorry, being a bit slow this morning!
I mean, with nbworld, anything can happen (and often does
)
Let’s see if you thaw out before we do!
Cheers
Bruce
December 11th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Bruce,
Everyone will thaw out before you do in that Marina!
