Ice on the Canals

Friday 3rd February
Distance: 20.9 km (13 mi)
Time: 3 hours 54
Average speed: 5.36 km/h (3.33 mph)

The first Rugeley-to-Stafford walk of the year, alongside the Trent & Mersey and Staffs & Worcester canals. I did the same walk on almost the same day last year, for the same reasons. Then it was windy, this year cold. This time I had checked the weather forecast properly and was well wrapped up.

The forecast said it would reach 1°C, given that it was -7°C driving into work I wasn't convinced it got that high. Both canals were iced over, but only thick enough to support the ducks (and one swan). Only one thin ice warning message though, apparently the council was only worried about that part of Rugeley where the railway crosses over. The parts clear of ice were at the locks where the flow had prevented the icing. Between Tixall lock and Baswich Bridge there was a very light dusting of snow on the ice.

Compared with last year I'd taken 6 minutes more, but felt just as stiff so more training to do. Shame I ducked out of walking this morning, due to the snow.