Cruising Again!!!

Tuesday morning, cold and misty at 9am and we finally pull pins and head off Great Haywood where we have been for the last month.  The ice had cleared and we were optimistic about getting to Fradley Junction some 12+ miles away on the first leg of our journey.  We have had a super stay at Gt Haywood, the boaty community has been grand and the village shops and hostelry will miss the presence of their captive boaters I think.

When we arrived at Colwich lock, the second on our journey,we found that a new item of locking equipment was required, a club hammer!  The pawl (above) that engages with the cog to stop it dropping the gate paddle had been 'serviced' and over tightened by BW.  A gentle tap was required to engage and disengage each time I operated the paddle..

Jill and I locked through three boats and the trusty hammer, carefully applied to cold metal I might add, was key to making any progress.  I walked until Wolseley Bridge and then Joe picked the dogs and myself up so that he could push through faster than my walking pace.  I got on with boaty chores including preparing dinner (below) and getting washing dried and put away etc. 

We encountered our first unbroken ice just past the Plum Pudding pub up to the Armitage cut/tunnel.  Thereafter it was clear again until we got to Kings Bromley.  Ice breaking our way through to above Shadehouse Lock at Fradley, we arrived after five hours and moored up on the visitor moorings.