We've been here for a couple of days in advance of today's GPL match against Saracens. This morning ice had formed on the surface of the docks to a thickness of about 1/4 inch and extending 20/30 feet inwards from the quayside. We could see that the canal was iced over between Llanthony and St Anne's bridges though a couple of boat movements had broken a path through it. Reports from further south indicate sporadic coverage, about 1/2 inch at Purton.
We'll see how things are in the morning with minus 4C predicted overnight and at 9pm Saturday there is an ice covering all the way across the docks. We may decide to stay put for the week since the bridges are closed on Tuesday & Wednesday and there is no immediate prospect of warmer weather. Some of the regular canal travelling rugby fans may attempt to break out in the morning. We'll see how they get on and decide towards mid day, first challenge maybe reversing away from the pontoon. We've already been offered a dry dock spot for re-blacking ! We have now plotted our departure route from the G&S after 4 years hereabouts and we'll be heading up to Aqueduct Marina, Church Minshull on the Middlewich bit. River permitting our journey north will begin around Easter. -- Capt Beeky
