Squirrels

The forecast was for wind and rain, and it did not disappoint. When we arrived in Ellesmere the previous afternoon it was still calm and dry so it was wisely decided to turn the boat around while there was no wind. This is called ‘winding’ and the idea is that at the designated wide spot, you put the nose of the boat into the bank or corner, and use the motor and any breeze to push the stern around, so eventually you are facing in the opposite direction. So this is called ‘winding’ as in north wind, not winding as in wind your watch.

Anyway, we were soon moored snug and secure in Ellesmere, right in the centre of town. It’s quite cosy snuggled up inside the boat with the heater on while the rain falls steadily outside. In the afternoon, once the rain had passed, we walked over to The Mere, or lake,  which is surrounded by parkland. We have been spotting squirrels collecting acorns for the coming winter, and we were lucky to find several around the base of a huge old oak tree, making the most of the copious nuts. This one even stayed still long enough for me to take a short video. They are extremely cute with their fluffy tails and the way they sit up to nibble on an acorn.