Iced in - again. Brr and Grrr .....

So it is official - BWMidlands has announced "rather belatedly feeling like 'proper winter' with reports of frozen rivers and canals". That includes Cambrian Wharf in Birmingham, so no moving for us then for a while, grrr.

pontoon moorings

However the sun was shining

One narrowboat moved today though ......

We woke to ice - it cracked beside narrowboat Epiphany as I went to the bathroom at some unearthly hour, so I was not surprised to look out and see the "frozen waste" at our bows! But intrepid narrowboat Sapphire went for water this morning, breaking ice to do so.

sapphire

Nb Sapphire

We decided to take advantage of the sunshine and go for a walk to see the state of play elsewhere on the central Birmingham Canals. Particularly after reading this from BW E Midlands: "Due to the current weather conditions, the River Witham has now frozen over. Boaters are asked not to travel along the navigation until the ice has thawed. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause." (Why else would the River Witham freeze over, I wonder? Ed.)

ice

Ice around us

As in past years, BW do not expect any boats to move in adverse conditions. Quite apart from damage to our own hull we have to think of others too. 

So here are some more views on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal/old Newhall Branch

narrowboats

Narrowboats on the pontoon moorings

locks

Farmers Bridge Lock Flight

top lock

Top Lock and moorings - can you spot Epiphany?

B and F

Frozen B and F and the sani-station above Farmers top lock

Old Turn Junction was entirely frozen over and we could see that the Birmingham Main Line towards Worcester Bar was too. The sun was very bright!

junction

Old Turn Junction from under Deep Cutting Junction Bridge

But what was it like the other way? ......

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