We are back at the marina ostensibly to "winterise" the boat : remove all the linens and soft furnishings, take home food which won't keep till March/April, drain the water tank, check the battery condition, replace the anti freeze, and generally prepare her for what may come in the next few months. The last two winters have been very hard and last year the boats were frozen in for nineteen days straight. The first thing that strikes me on our arrival is the stillness; not many boats moving around at this time of year and stoppages due to begin around the system next week, when the Canal and River trust start to do the repairs and improvements needed to keep 2000 miles of the canal network navigable. They have their work cut out this winter on our home canal , the Trent and Mersey, due to a huge breach which occurred earlier this month during the prolonged, heavy rain. A large section of embankment failed and massive repairs are in progress , estimated to cost £1.5 million. Harsh in this first year of the Trust's life as a charity! But here all is quiet and still. The water looks thick and oily, and flat like a mirror, as you can see by the way the almost full moon is reflected in its surface. We may be forced to take a final turn out for a few days before we shut her up for winter.....it's all to beautiful.
