Thurs. 16 Aug 2012 Popes Corner

About 9.30 this morning we walked back to the lock to get a bit of video of the pusher dredger/bulldozer working. However when we got there we found the Bulldozer sitting on the bank, two men repairing the rescue boat that broke down last night and a Fox’s Narrowboat sat right on top or the mud bank. I expect he will be there until about 6 pm this evening before the tide lifts him off and I doubt they will risk dredging the bank until he is gone, so that will be another day the bank is there. More information on the dredging machine can be seen at http://www.fadsdirectory.com/reviews/conver-silt-pusher

9.45 and we were on our way having a quick word with the 70 footer that we followed across from Salters last night. There was a bit more traffic about than we had seen on earlier trips but it still wasn’t busy.
Just before The Ship the Air Ambulance flew over head and we could see him circle in the distance over in the Hilgay area looking to land and shortly afterwards an ambulance went along the road in the same direction.

The starlings were gathering on the power cables as we continued along 10 Mile Bank.
We stopped at Littleport opposite The Swan to fill with water before continuing on into Ely, her we spotted K2 moored on the park so we pulled alongside and had a chat with Peter. While we were talking Matilda Rose came by and stopped for a pump out, I excused myself and went for a quick word with Graham and Jill who were struggling with the pumpout machine, it would pull a reasonable suction but no volume so was pretty useless
. The problem is when the chap comes to mend it he will check the vacuum and say that is OK and go away again, if he had a boat to pump out he would see the problem. When I returned to K9 Hazel had returned so we spent a bit of time with them both before continuing on our way.
Just under the bridge giving access to the marina there is now a chap trying to hire out floating cycles, can you imagine if these are all out on a Saturday afternoon when the new hires from Bridge Boats set off on their holidays. Note the lifejacket or lack of it and it only costs £5 for half an hour.
As we passed Soham Lode Graham and Jill were just tying up. I wondered if they had a problem, but they were just looking for a quiet night, I have put that spot in my little black book. Just then a lovely little wooden cruiser came round the corner towards us, I have seen this out a couple of times down the Cam and the steerer called out it was 1938.
We carried on passed Pope’s Corner onto the Old West River and are the only boat moored on the second lot of EA moorings, The Hundred Acre Moorings which will do us for the night.

The weather has stayed fine but very overcast most of the day, the wind has been fresh but with a bit of warmth to it, there were times when I needed a bit more than the Tee Shirt.

Wed 15 Aug 2012 Denver Sluice

Last night we had a very pleasant evening in out favourite Italian Restaurant in March, Mamma Mia right on the riverside.

We set off at 9 45 this morning for a 5 pm locking out of Salters Lode. Just passed March we saw a rabbit swimming across the river, this was a new one on me and I have never  seen a rabbit swim before.

 

I rang Maureen as we passed the 20 Foot River junction to tell her we would be an hour reaching her lock, but only got the answer phone, the reason soon became clear as we met 5 boats before we got to her lock, so she had a busy morning. As we approached the junction with Popham’s Eau the river was completely covered with Fairy Moss and these two boats looked like they were in a car park. I am glad I didn’t meet them a little bit later as there is not that much room for boats 3 abreast after the junction. As we approached the lock Maureen rang and asked how far away we were as she had a boat waiting to come down who was getting impatient, when I told her I was just round the bend she said the gates were open for us. We went into the lock at 1120 exactly an  hour after I rang her, the other boat had waited all of 15 minutes. It was good to see her husband with her being fit enough to help with the lock.

After the lock progress slowed with more weed about under the surface requiring a few blasts of reverse to clear the prop, we also had a couple of short showers as we made our way to Salters Lode. We arrived at the lock at about 3 pm and wandered down to see the state of the tide, it was still running out but the mud bank was clearly visible out in the entrance. A handy place for the ducks to rest. It is Pauls day off but he still appeared about 4pm as did the crew of a 70 footer that had arrived a short time after us. With the water this low it was about 6” below the level of Well Creek, so Paul lifted the gate to flush water over the mud to prevent it getting worse. With the crew of the other boat present a plan was hatched. Although it was Pauls day off he would lock the other boat out at about 4.45pm while the river level was still lower than the Middle Level then at 5 pm the relief lock keeper would be on site to carry on. What actually happened was the relief lock keeper arrived at 4.30 pm so he was able to lock the boat out who then sat with his bow against the mud, this just gave room to close the gate behind him. He had to stay  in this position until the tide turned and had come in enough for him to clear the mud. At the same time a boat, one of about 8 was waiting at Denver to come the other way. The mud build up at Denver has got much worse over the past couple of weeks and now not only extends out to the edge of the New Bedford River but is also closer to the sluice structure. This means that boats have to stay very close to the sluices and come well into the New Bedford to get in or out. This meant the boat leaving Salters actually had to wait for the boat leaving Denver to get a clear passage round the bank. Once he was clear of the bank the 70 footer could leave. We in turn had to wait until the other boat arrived and locked through to the middle level before we could do anything. Our 5 pm locking became a 6.30 one. As I approached Denver lock there was quite a crowd waiting to watch me come in. Once through the lock we moored for the night on the EA moorings just above the Jenyn’s Arms http://www.jenyns.co.uk/ at 7 pm. we then walked down to the pub for a meal and a pint.

Tuesday 14 Aug 2012 March Town Mooring

We set off from home having to go via Gt Yarmouth to settle our account with the vet and then Caister to pay for this weeks grass cutting at mums old house under an overcast sky, sure enough we had a bit of rain west of Norwich. However when we arrived at our moorings it was sunny and about 23° C.

We backed out a little after 2-30 we would have been away slightly earlier but there was another Narrowboat coming down the cut and there was no point sitting on his fender. When we arrived at March needless to say he was in our favourite mooring beside the park, he did invite us alongside but there was only one boat on the Town moorings so we went on to there.

This is the first time we have ever been on the boat without Magic so its a bit strange, not having to think where we moor so that he can get off or looking down in the back cabin to se him laying there. I expect it will take us a couple of days to get use to the idea.
On the way I rang Paul at salters Lode to check locking times. We can go out tomorrow at 5 pm to cross to Denver or at 7am on Thursday to go up the New Bedford river. I think I will try that as it will see us in Hollywell by 3pm.

As we came through March we spotted Lord Toulouse moored at The Middle Level Waterman's Club for a couple of day. Its not often you see a Narrowboat moored on the outside of a couple of cruisers.
As I write this the temperature is up to 26°C

Saturday 11 Aug. 2012 Floods Ferry marina

The road was reasonably quiet last night and the wind died right away leading to a foggy early morning.
Before we were up Magic had visited us a couple of times so he was up and about this morning. We helped him off the boat and he went for a short walk so we decided that I would ring the Vet at 9 am and cancel her visit, instead we would head home and take him to our own Vet on Monday morning, a phone call to them ended with an appointment for 9.20 am. I can’t see him like he was yesterday tea time again, its not fair on him.

Andrew set off first at  9 45 am winding right outside the engine room door. he had managed to get a booking for Stanground Lock  for 1.45 and was planning on a bit of shopping first. We followed a little after 10 am. In a field beside the river was a flock of Egrets, I have only ever seen them in ones and twos before.

By the foot bridge there is an interesting old boat, I am not sure what it was and I doubt it will ever get returned to its former glory. It was in this condition the first time we ever came this way.

We found LT moored to the railings in Peterborough, Andrew was onboard and Wendy getting a bit of shopping in, so we pulled along side, The river was down by a good 6” from yesterday and there was absolutely no discernable flow, we just came along side and only started to move when the wind freshened slight. The swans were out in good numbers squabbling with each other and even a few rowers for good measure, I am not sure why they have to go flat out on the busiest section of the river when there are a nice couple of miles of straight river that hardly anyone uses just a bit further down stream. The pumpout system in Peterborough has been out of action for some little time, but there is a phone number to ring and they will send a man out with a portable pumpout unit to empty your tanks into an adjacent manhole. I call that good service especially as the pumpout is free.

We arrived at Stanground Lock at 1 45 for our 2 pm locking and the lock keeper waved us straight in. As we locked down I measured the depth of water in the centre of the old part of the lock and it was just 3 feet. The other side of the lock, still on the lock moorings was LT. Andrew had just replaced the alternator belt that snapped as he entered the lock so as we set off he followed us. It wasn’t long before anther boat “Flying Fox” caught us up and passed Andrew just after this bridge. Its the same bridge that we met a boat at 2 days ago. At Whittlesey we went straight to the lock landing, LT were planning to moor in Whittlesey but the boat between us pulled into the only vacant mooring spot. As we were turning the lock a gent and a boy walked down the park each with a windlass and climbed the railings surrounding the lock. It turned out they were not mooring for the night but heading for March and they had dropped onto the visitor moorings as it was an easy place to get ashore. They helped us through the lock and just as we were departing, their boat left the visitor moorings and Andrew and Wendy on LT arrived at a now vacant mooring. After the lock it was an uneventful run back to our mooring other than the amount of blanket weed we picked up which mad it hard work for the engine. Once moored I removed a large ball of it from the prop.

We will be driving home in the morning.

Friday 10 Aug 2012 Dog in a Doublet

First job of the day was to service the BBQ, we may get to use it again sometime this year, it only needed a new handle and half a dozen pop rivets.

We set of just before 11 am upstream to meet “Lord Toulouse” who was coming down to the Middle Level and Ouse. Sure enough our paths crossed about a mile below the next lock so we turned and run down with them.
It was nice to see a polite notice informing us the bank was private and that mooring was not allowed unlike some of the “Keep Out” “No Trespassing” ones we come across. Politeness costs nothing.

Magic is not at all well this morning, its old age as he is well over 15 now, so we have decided to head back home and take him to the vet. We are booked for Stanground Lock at 2 pm on Saturday.

We continued down stream with Andrew and Wendy meeting Paul and Christine on “Waterway Routes” on the way and exchanged pleasantries as we passed. (Paul, now you know why rushing back downhill”.

Some of the locks had quite a bit of water flowing over the top gates so you wouldn’t want to put your bows there when going uphill.

We took LT into Ferry Meadows and also behind the rowing lake to show them the moorings, after that we continued on to The Dog in a Doublet where we moored for the night.

At this point we found that Magic could no longer stand up and I had to carry him off the boat and laid hi on the grass. While Andrew went to check the pub out I phoned one of the local vets Pengally and Mizen http://www.pengellyandmizen.co.uk/home.html  
who were more than helpful, the vet rang me back to asses the situation and agreed to come out Saturday morning to put the old boy to sleep. They were happy for us to stay where we were and they would come to us, I enquired about payment and they would be happy with a cheque of ring the office with a credit card.

Andrew returned and reported the pub a goer, nothing wonderful he said but OK, so a that is where we spent the evening.
        
OK turned out to be an understatement, we had 4 very nice meals from a very imaginative chef helped down by a couple of pints of beer and a couple of bottles of red wine. This pub is well away from anywhere so was not overly busy for a Friday night but the restaurant deserves to do better than it was last night. http://www.doginad.co.uk/ There are visitor moorings just above the lock but the road in quite busy with speeding cars, however it does quieten down at night.

When we returned to the boat Magic was up to meet us, much different from 4 hours before. I helped him out of the boat and he managed a short walk to leave a deposit on the grass and have a wee. We were expecting a mess on the floor if not this evening then overnight, but now he has been out we may be OK.

Thursday 9 Aug 2012 Wandsford

Its a long time since we had a night onboard as hot as last night. After eating at Weatherspoons in town we returned to the boats and opened all the doors and hatches. The evening entertainment consisted of swatting the Mozzies with the electronic zapper before we hung anti mozzie net over the hatches, I still ended up with several bites. We left the doors open with the nets all night and I still found a mozzie in the bed this morning.

We were booked through Stanground lock at 1 pm today and it is about a 2 hour cries from Whittlesey to the lock so no great rush to get away, The boat ahead left quite early and another boat came up the locks and passed us so we set off just before 10 am. The only place we met another boat was on a blind bridge and bend just on the outskirts of Whittlesey, he saw my bow before I could see him and held back for me which settled him well in the mud. I hung around until he was away again in case he needed a pull backwards into the slightly deeper water, but he was soon away.
We arrived at Stanground at 11 30 am. a bit early so I wondered up to the office to find a relief keeper on duty. He checked my details in the book and said we may as well go through, I think he only had one more boat to come today, so by mid day we were on the Nene.

First job was to top up with water, while we were doing this we had a chat with Paul of Waterway Routes http://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/ who kindly gave me one of his maps on CD. He has spent the past few weeks covering all the Middle Level, Gt. Ouse and connected waterways including the New Bedford River to produce a new set of maps and guides of the area.

After that it was off upstream arriving at Orton lock just as a boat had left, on the Nene the locks are left empty with the gate up, so its ready for boats traveling upstream to enter, but you do have to raise the gate when you leave. We arrived at the next lock just as a Narrowboat was leaving, but another arrived from above before we were ready to go so we could just sail off and leave them to it. We arrived at Waternewton Lock just as the Narrowboat ahead had finished lowering the gate, so they kindly lifted it again so we could share the lock.

When we arrived at the EA moorings at Wansford Station there was already one Narrowboat moored up but we were able to slip on behind him with the stern moored to a fencing post on the bank, the bows against the floating pontoon. As it was such a nice evening we had a BBQ in the picnic area above the moorings, This is maintained by the Nene Valley Railway http://www.nvr.org.uk/ Just as we were about to eat a Narrowboat called “Dream Keeper” came downstream looking for mooring so we invited them to come alongside. About 8 pm, a second boat came along and they are moored outside the boat in front.

Wed 8 Aug 2012 Whittlesey

The moorings by the park are very quiet, much better than the town ones in my opinion and apart from the CO monitor chirping because the battery was low we had a good nights sleep.

We set off this morning at 1030 am still heading downstream as we need to go about half a mile below the railway bridge before its wide enough for us to wind. On the way we stopped for water at the March service block.

I hate to think what the MLC grass cutting bill is, they cut both banks for miles and miles.

This is not pollution, but Fairy Moss spreading out from one of the pump outlets.

It wasn’t long before we were passing our moorings and heading for Angle corner. As we passed the moorings we encountered a Cobb Swan who was suggesting to last seasons youngsters it was time they left home.
The MLC have installed some new signs at the junction and most boaters just follow the “Link Route” and miss out on most of the Middle Level.
We had been following two Narrowoboats since Fox’s yard in March, they were going at a nice speed but if they were heading for Whittlesey there would be nowhere for us to moor, luckily for us they both turned down towards Ramsey at Floods Ferry junction.

The rest of the trip to Whittlesey was very quiet and we only met one boat. We did however pass this little chap and I hope he has grown sufficiently before the winter weather sets in.

Ashline lock was against us with the top gates wide open even though there is a sign asking you to empty it and close everything. The bottom gates were completely leak free, not a dribble unlike the top gates, so when we left we just closed everything and left it full, if we had have gone to the trouble of emptying it it would have been full by now anyway. The MLC made a good job of overhauling the bottom paddle winding gear last year and have kept it all well greased this year lightening the load a bit. The paddles are just pulled on threaded rods so need about 50 turns to fully open them, I stopped at 30 on both gates and waited.

Once clear of  the lock we moored on the visitor moor by the sports centre, there was one Narrowboat there already right at the end and there was just room for us to get on behind him. These moorings were due for a major refurbishment and it looks as if they may of had it, depending on how you define major, its been  backfilled with chippings behind the quay heading and a new wooden capping with a none slip surface on top of the quay heading. The winding hole has had no attention at all and is getting more overgrown by the day.

Tue 7 Aug 2012 Park Mooring March

We finally arrived at the boat about 4 30pm and as soon as we were loaded up we set off.

I slipped Harnser into reverse and Diana dropped the front rope off, half way out and I spotted a boat coming upstream so slid gently forward again, he took forever to arrive and once opposite me put it into reverse, he was mooring about 6 slots up. Once he was out of the way we backed across the river, I have to have the stern almost on the opposite bank to be able to swing the bows round downstream as there is a full length butty moored alongside and I dread hitting his rudder with my bows. Once out we headed towards March arriving an hour later at the moorings by the park, not quite so convenient for the town but much easier for the dog to get off for a walk. Since we were last here they have erected a sign restricting mooring to 36 hrs. like the town moorings.
The only reason we came this way as its a convenient cruise for the first night, we didn’t want to stay on the moorings overnight and tomorrow night we want to be in Whittlesey heading for the Nene, so in the morning we will wind and retrace our steps for an hour heading west.

Sunday 8 July 2012

We left home by car  at 9 am. this is a good hour earlier than we get away on the boat. The weather wasn’t to bad but local radio was reporting heavy rain. Sure enough we found it on the Norwich bypass.
We arrived at the marina at 11 am. it was difficult sticking to the 5 mph speed limit as we went through the marina, arriving at the boat, there on the seat on the front deck sat our yellow plastic box containing the boat keys, Diana’s camera, all the current boat paperwork plus other bits and pieces.

With the box safely in the car we headed off to Denver Sluice where we hopped to see “nb. Waterway Routes” crossing from Salters Lode to Denver. When we arrived at about 12 the water was quite high and had only just started to flow out, having been held back by the fresh breeze.

Waiting to leave Denver was the Fox Narrowboat that had moored beside us on Friday night outside The Crown Hotel They were due to leave the lock at the same time as Paul left salters Lode passing on the river and at 1230 they were off. Once out of the lock it was hard left and full power. We watched him go down stream flat out arriving at Salters Lode minutes after Paul had managed to turn in the flow and start making his way upstream. From what I could see was that the Fox boat didn’t lift the power until he entered the lock and made a perfect approach.

Paul powered nb. Waterways Routes upstream against the falling tide but even so it took him what seemed a life time to reach us. He held true until he was well up and opposite the landing before turning in towards the lock.  He then crossed parallel to the sluices above the sandbank. This just left him with the problem of swinging the bows into the lock. This is not as easy as it may look, due to the fast flowing water swirling pushing the stern of the boat of the boat towards the sluices. Once Paul had her on her way into the lock he looked more than happy to be off the tideway. We met him the other side of the lock where he moored on the EA 48 hr. before we retired to The Jenyns Arms for Sunday lunch before heading back home.

Saturday 7 July 2012

Last night was a very disturbed night with the passing traffic and we didn’t sleep at all well. The Fox hire boat that had been moored on the outside of us left a little after 8 as they were due to lock out at 11 on a 3 day hire. Day 1 leave march to Outwell for the night, day 2 cross to Denver and upstream to Ely for the night, day 3 back to the Middle Level and return to March.

We set off at about ten in  reasonable weather heading back to our moorings. We rang Maureen from Upwell to tell her we were on our way. The village has now planted up the flower boxes and hanging baskets by the church moorings.

When we arrived at Marmont Priory lock Maureen had it all ready for us and was out waiting, we locked down and there was another Narrowboat waiting to lock up, but Maureen had them wait for another boat she was expecting. Apparently an octaterian who was heavily involved with the restoration of well creek was having a party in Upwell and they were going by boat.
As we passed the wind farm we met Paul and Christine of Waterway Routes http://www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/ he is heading for the Ouse to map and video all the connected waterways.

Also at the wind farm a Cormorant was sitting on the top of a pole making the best of the sunshine.

As we approached March not only did it start to rain but we also encounter heavy blanket weed, when you get this on your prop it just forms a big ball and you lose all drive. There is an elderly boat moored in March and every time we pass I am surprised to see it still floating as there are holes in the bow just above the waterline due to rusting.

One of the owners of a mooring along here have gone to a lot of trouble fixing Go-kart tyres to his quay heading to act as a fender, but we have never seen a boat moored there. It continued to rain on and off for the next hour as we travelled back to our mooring. When we arrived we were surprised to see so many empty spaces with so many people out cruising all at one time.
We packed up the boat and headed off home. It wasn’t until we unpacked the car that we realised that I had left a plastic box on the front deck that contained all the boat paperwork, Diana’s camera and the boat keys. It was  to late to do anything now so it would be a job for Sunday.

Friday 6 July 2012

After the lovely evening we had last night with the great sunset and a BBQ the weather forecast was spot on and in the early hours it started to rain, a brief spell of drizzle about 10 30 and then heavy rain again until about 2 30 this afternoon.

We set off at 1030 and made our way to the lock, there was already a Narrowboat there and they invited us to come alongside, it had a very nice Andy Russell paint job. I got talking to them and it turned out that on there way over from Salters Lode they had spent a night on the sand bank because they turned for the lock to soon.
A little after 11 and the lock keeper said there was a boat coming across from Salters so we would soon be on our way. The other boat very kindly said I should go first as I was on the outside which I thought was very good of him, so in the lock we went. Eventually the lock keeper gave me the all clear and I moved slowly out of the lock, hard right around the sandbank but no sign of the boat coming down. I went as slow as possible until the flow caught my bow and we were off, just then he emerged from the Salters lock and looked to be traveling very slowly upstream. I made my way down just on tickover and then put the power on to enter the lock, I still didn’t get it quite right and had to push upstream to get the bows in. Once back on the Middle Level we moored up and walked back to watch the other boat arrive and wish them well on their trip back to the Nene.
By now it was just passed midday so we decided to get changed and have lunch, then wait for the weather to improve which it did around 3 ish. When it did we made another start. The weed was much better than I had expected and we only picked up small amounts on the prop which soon spun off. The wind picked up and the sky  continued to blue up. The temperature went from 13 up to the low 20s and the sun came out.
We moored for the night outside The Crown Hotel which unfortunately is right by a main road, but I have been over and booked a table for tonight and as they have 3 beers for me to try we should be OK.

Thursday 5 July 2012

Yesterday evening as we were sat on the front deck eating our dinner in the warm sunshine we were treated to a short display by the Red Arrows and I hadn’t even told them I was coming. Later a hire boat went up through the lock and into Brandon, but I think they only went just above the bridge before coming back and locking down again.

As it didn’t look like rain I slapped a bit of primer/undercoat on the rust patches that I had treated on Tuesday.

Yesterday may have been birds and the Red Arrows, today was rain and Horseflies.
When we went out this morning the roof of the boat was covered in small dead flies, the weather was cloudy, warm and very humid, not conducive to putting a colour coat over my undercoating, so that will have to wait.

We left at twenty past ten heading up towards the weir and then driving the stern into the lock entrance, allowing the flow to carry the bows round and downstream,  this meant we were well clear of the cruiser on the end of the moorings. No sooner had we cleared the moorings and the Horseflies started to attack us. They were unrelenting until we were almost at the aqueduct when it started to throw it down with rain, even so the flies kept the pressure on. It was here that we caught up with the EA weedcutter, luckily he turned round as we approached to work his way back upstream so we didn’t get stuck behind him. The rain didn’t last  too long but it was never far away. We pulled over to try to examine the Stop Lock but the water was to shallow to get close, but it could only have been one set of gates  more like a flash lock as the stone work is very short.

At Botany Bay I attempted to get up the arm to the sluice but the weed was making it hard going so we backed out again, we will try in the autumn or spring when hopefully the weed growth is less.
With the very clear water on these rivers weed growth is quite a problem and it grows very rapidly.

We passed under a very substantial farm bridge just as a spray unit was passing over, when we came up yesterday there were three 4X4 crossing, needless to say one found a puddle just as we were underneath.
We stopped at Little Ouse services to fill with diesel at 90p per Lt. and it started raining again. Once out onto the Gt. Ouse we headed for Denver, the sunlight picking out the silos in the distance were quite impressive.

Just prior to Denver there are some cows on the bank and regardless of whether they are brown or black they have a white bar along their spines, any one know what bread they are.

Once back at Denver I contacted the lock keeper to find out locking times to Salters Lode tomorrow and it looks as if we should be away about 11 am, its a big tide so we will have to wait for some water to flow out until Paul can get his gate open. This evening has been the best part of the day ending in the most glorious sunset.