Jennifer McM

The first time we cruised through ice was an experience. We were on the Coventry and had moored at Hopwas, en route to Fradley. We had an appointment with a contractor in a marina, so we were on a 'mission'. The noise of the boat breaking through the ice was horrendous. Imagine the noise of a farmer cutting a hedge with his tractor, then multiply that noise about 50 times. People were running to the canal to see what the noise was. We were hardly moving, so the noise wasn't down to 'speed', but possibly because we were passing through an 'avenue' of trees. Cruising through the ice was 'interesting' as the boat wanted to go straight at bends, at each bend the boat had to be reversed a couple of times. We'd cruised all the way to Streethay before we met another boat coming towards us, which was brilliant, as they'd obviously broken up the ice for us. The ducks loved us as they'd been standing on the ice, looking forlorn. Word of warning though, when passing other moored boats, pass them very very slowly and as far away from them as possible. The noise inside the boats is deafening - it'll save you getting sworn at.

I spoke to a lady who had bought some of those wall pocket grow bags. (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D12Q84M/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07D12Q84M&pd_rd_w=nG2ML&pf_rd_p=8e5be0e3-b258-4b06-8b6e-695b24f935a4&pd_rd_wg=IqguE&pf_rd_r=8633QA9H1H2Q9E46PZES&pd_rd_r=1e9b84f5-1b46-11e9-86d5-2d0b37739c40) She had tied them around the rail on her boat's stern, and was planting them up with strawberry plants. Never saw her again so I don't know how they turned out. I thought of doing it, but in the end I couldn't stand the hassle from my OH should there be an accident, or if watering made a mess. I guess if the boat's paintwork was protected, a few of them could be hung from the cant rails?

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I see what you did there