Monday 10^th February 2020

Ever since we had our battery management system explained to us, and calibrated by Kevin at Springwood Haven Marina last February, we have come to the conclusion we are running the engine to charge the batteries far more than is necessary, putting unnecessary running hours on the engine. We have put many more hours on the engine for charging the batteries this winter, than last. Ignorance is bliss. Before Springwood Haven, we did not monitor the batteries to the same extent as after and we have concluded we are being too careful with them. Running the batteries down to 11.8V should not be a problem, especially with solar panels, but we were running the engine late afternoon/early evening whenever the charge dropped below 12V, leading to the excessive running hours we have had this winter. The last week or so, we have not run the engine until the charge dropped below 11.8V with no problems and fewer running hours.  

Having had my scan on Saturday, we had intended moving on Sunday. However, Storm Ciara put paid to that and we spent Saturday night, all day Sunday and Sunday night being rocked and buffeted. Inside the boat, it is quite comforting listening to rain on the roof, especially when cosily tucked up in bed. But wind is a different matter and the movement of the boat is anything but rhythmic.

We visited Tracey and the kids yesterday, to say our goodbyes. A sad affair, we do miss the kids badly when we are away. If anything were to have stopped us following this life, it would have been them.

Today, we were determined to move, if only a short distance to get free of the town. The Middlewich Narrowboat site just looks out onto a wall with lots of people walking past on the busy towpath, and lots of dog shit. While it has been good of Kenny to allow us to use the Elsan disposal and the water tap at the site, Middlewich does not have any rubbish disposal for boaters other than to use the council tip on the outskirts of town, and rubbish has been a problem. Also, we have been here for months now apart from a few short trips out. We moved onto a boat to continuously cruise and have steadily been driven stir crazy with not moving.

Harvey had a 9am appointment with the dog groomer, after which we moved although the wind was still fresh and blustery. We said our goodbyes to Kenny and Sue. The goodbyes were to last either until our return in April to store the boat while we go on holiday, or for 15 minutes if we did not manage the turn at Wardle Junction.

There is no such thing as a manoeuvrable narrowboat in the wind. Experience does play a part as does luck, but in the main, the boats are at the mercy of the wind and there is little the helmsman can do if the wind catches her. Wardle Junction is particularly nasty in the wind. The wind tends to blow directly across the junction making any manoeuvre difficult. We had to reverse from the Middlewich Narrowboat site and beneath Brooks Lane Bridge before beginning the junction turn. Fortunately, the wind dropped long enough for us to turn onto the Wardle Canal and Brenda stepped off under the bridge to operate the lock.

While in the lock, it started to rain, the rain quickly becoming sleety. By the time we reached the site of the breach at the River Wheelock Aqueduct, the rain had turned to heavy snow and the wind once again, had become strong. Mooring was made difficult due to the wind carrying the boat across the canal, slamming her into the opposite bank. It took Brenda manoeuvring the boat and myself holding the ropes, to bring her back. By the time we were secured, we were both soaked and freezing cold.

However, yippee-eye-ah, it was good to be out into the countryside again and off cruising, although we do have to return in April. We feel almost liberated.   

Weather: Storm Ciara passed through over the weekend with heavy rain and very strong winds causing all kinds of problems across the country.

Today, the morning was blustery with rain and snow early afternoon but, as the afternoon wore on, the day improved slightly.

Day Total: 1 lock; 1 mile; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 4.0 

                                                                                                     (including running for hot water etc)  

Overall Total: 870 locks; 1518 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 1013.6