Might it be warmer and drier in the Midlands? No.

Wednesday 18^th February; in the marina

So much for our anticipated New Year trip on Bonjour!  Instead we were in bed with flu (probably).  By the time we were fit again the rains had well and truly arrived and appointments too got in the way of planning.  When at last the weather forecast intimated there would be a few dry days in Droitwich, and even sun today (Wednesday), that was good enough for us. 

The banks of the Avon near Bredon are well and truly burst

The sun had disappeared from the forecast but we had an easy journey up the M5 and got the car unloaded in the dry.  But by ’eck that wind was cold.  It was only about 6 degrees inside the boat but at least it was out of the wind!  Apart from some cupboard doors having swollen a little, the boat was dry inside, though as always on a winter visit we needed a fair few matches to get the gas lit for a cuppa.  Then before we really got the boat warmed and sorted Jess needed a good walk so we went down towards Droitwich.

The rain has meant the canal from the M5 bridge to Droitwich has been closed for several weeks.  It’s always a bit of a tight fit to get under the M5 but it doesn’t take much rain to close it. It's affected by the Body Brook, normally a gentle trickle but a bit full at the moment.

Everything was grey and drear, and apart from a lot of paw and boot prints there was little to see – no birds, people, early flowers or leaves – just us and the icy wind.

A deer had been by earlier

Once we were back the Eber went on and the fire was lit.  We had already run the engine and connected the shore lead so we hunkered down for the rest of the evening.  Heavy rain had arrived and the boat was rocking in the strong gusts.  Dave drew the short straw and took Jess out before bed – not only was it wet and windy, he also had to haul her out of the water – in the dark she failed to realise you can’t cut corners on marina pontoons!