A new low for us

There was eerie sounds on Percy in the small hours....  not heard for many years. As the canal froze and nature locked Percy into her icy stronghold the smallest of movement on the boat creates a creak and a groan quite unique in the world of sounds. Steel and ice holding tight to each other and the movements seem to echo under the water.... I would what the fish think of it ? 

The photos tell the tale of our early morning ...

I've been putting the coal cage in overnight as that controls the burn and does not make the boat too hot. As you can see we woke to 16c in the boat and -7c outside the boat. The engine room that is unheated next to the bathroom was 3c. The three logs I have left will soon bring the boat up to 20c 

The canal has lost the battle with the cold and now frozen over hence the creaks groans and strange echos in the night 

The frames of the windows has ice on the inside 

It is a lovely winter wonderland outside but as you might imagine quite bitter.

Colin and Viv have got a roaring fire going, even with the smoke going straight up the wood smoke smells quite fragrant.

I can't recall being aboard in such low temps and its gratifying that Percy's systems ( touch wood) have been a match for the cold. I do recall a particularly cold spell when I was living aboard at Fradley - a boater was trying to beat the ice and failed

Part 2 even more power even less progress 

I did go out and help him reverse back to the junction up three locks. He got some abuse from other boaters as they don't like the ice being pushed against their boats as it removes the blacking as does cruising in ice of course. 

Running for home later as we have a decent amount of snow forecast  up our neck of the woods ( as well as here at Shebdon.) Percy will be drained down and locked up and left in peace until the next time. 

Maybe some walking along the Caldon in the snow ?