Up and down the Lark

This river is only about 7 miles to the lock at Isleham with a further 3 most of which is un navigable past the lock.

It took about two hours to get there near the 4 MPH speed limit or 1,500 RPM. There are flood banks either side of this ruler like river.

We passed several pump houses on the way with huge pipes bent over the bank to pump water out of the productive fen lands below. Turned at the lock and stopped a while for lunch. Ann took Molly up the bank and attempted to walk back along the ridge. It was not long before a rescue had to be made because walking was impeded by thick over growth.

Once back at the new Mile End EA mooring we settled down for the evening.

Next day we both walked along the flood bank with Molly to one of those pump houses. A new installation of three electric pumps Set at the end of a ‘drain’. They were out in the open while the old diesel or steam engines are in a brick building. Outside lies the remains of the old steam boiler tanks. The drain is a few feet below the field, the road is several feet above the field and the banked river is several feet above the road. The top of the bank is also several feet above the river. So I suspect the water is pumped up at least 20 feet. The river then takes the water eventually to the sea. Without the pumps the land would just be under water. As it is the farmers are busy harvesting. Tractor loads of onions, straw bales, grain and root crops coming off the fields.
The old wooden wind pumps could manage to raise water a few feet on a windy day using a scoop wheel. Steam powered beam engines using a scoop wheel could manage 20 feet. 19 Steam engines did the work of 250 wind pumps. Gradually the scoop wheel was replaced by the centrifugal pump and then electric motors replaced steam and diesel power units.

Bank holiday

While in Ely we got that diesel this time at the marina for 95p per litre. Luckily, as we approached the pump a boat moved off. Ely is now full of boats on the river as they have come out for this long weekend. We set off down river to Littleport and about 6 cruisers followed us out of Ely. It was not long before they had all passed us with their big engines and bow waves spreading out behind them. Thankfully there was one space over on the left shore at the Environment Agency moorings while the moorings on the right were full with two narrow boats and three cruisers.
It only took 15 minutes to get into the village which has a few shops including Co op, Hardware, Pharmacy, Butcher and gifts. But there is no Post office. The information board at the mooring told us about the local history. William Harley lived here and in 1860 went to New York in the U.S.A. There his son met the Davidson brothers and created the iconic motor cycle.

This is a stainless steel representation of the original design. A shrine for all those who admire that Harley – Davidson bike. In 1944 the Oxford and Cambridge boat race was rowed on the Great Ouse from near Littleport to Ely. I wonder which University won that year. The river has no bends so it would have been a strait dash to the finish.
When we returned we moved the boat up to the end of the mooring as a boat had left. Just as well because a faulty pump out machine behind us was a bit smelly. By the end of the day more boats turned up filling all available spaces including double parking by the water point! An Environment Agency launch was seen on patrol. They have FM radio communication with most of the other boats and get to know about ‘overstayers’ and undesirable boats on the river. You can imagine the chin wagging going on between the owners of cruisers looking for available moorings. The net result is that there are very few rubbish boats on the rivers. Although EA & BW both get their grants from the government EA do seem more efficient.
All moorings are limited to a stay of two nights so we move off down the river Lark on Monday and hope that at least some boats will be heading back to the marina. The Lark was quite wide in places and the first set of moorings were full.

However we were able to stop at Prickwillow and moored half on and half off at one end accompanied by an abandoned boat in the middle! The other end was shallow with a rocky bottom where the water point was sited.

We paid an educational visit to the Drainage Engine Museum here. Old steam and diesel engines lovingly restored and run on occasions. The fens are now kept dry by electric pumps scattered about the system of drains, lodes and rivers.

A family visit

Now we are spending time above Hermitage Lock. Up a few feet above the tidal waters at Earith no less than 28 miles from Denver. Sue n Vic on No Problem have gone back south for a while with family on board. We had our 2 grand children and their parents stay a night. All fed and watered at the Lazy Otter before heading for Ely. Once there we did some shopping and looked inside the cathedral. The children helped make some bread in our machine. Measure out the ingredients, put it all inside and press the button. An hour later out pops a small loaf of lovely fresh bread. Stopped on the way back for a late lunch on board before continuing back to the Lazy Otter where our guests returned home.
A feeling of loss and loneliness overwhelms us now as we wonder what to do next after all that activity. Some essentials like getting diesel, gas and restocking with food will keep us occupied. Mo on Balmaha rang to tell us that they have shot down the New Bedford River on a tidal wave effectively bypassing us and Ely. So we won’t see them for a while. It has been raining a lot this month, not unusual for August so apparently the river Nene is rising.
An idle mind wonders about cause and effect sometimes getting it the wrong way round. The propeller pushes us, but if the water did not move from front to back we would not go forward. Like being stuck on a mud bank? The past is behind us and the future in front as we travel on.

The Olympics

It had to be said. What a wonderful show the opening was that Friday the 8th of August 2008. 08 08 08 are lucky numbers for the Chinese. But the date is a measure of time since the birth of Christ. We watched it all, the artistry, the creativity, the activity, the quality, the style and the history of a nation. So many people were able to perform as human ‘pixels’ creating waves patterns and characters. Reminding us that it was the Chinese who were the first to invent paper, printing and fireworks. The Chinese have shown us what they want us to see. There are 204 countries of the world competing in 302 sporting events as friends. Doing their best to go further, faster and higher. And Nicole Cooke won the women’s cycle race getting her Gold Medal competing in ‘Team UK’.

We are still moving north on the river Ouse. Now past St. Ives, travelling in the morning and watching Television in the afternoon after storing enough power in the batteries. On the way popping into the village of Houghton for supplies and again found lovely thatched cottages with well kept front gardens. It has been very windy these last few days and finding places to more difficult with shallow, soft and low edges.

Cruising down the river

Well we continue travelling down the river Ouse, the end of its navigation at Bedford now far behind us. Met up with Sue n Vic on No Problem at St. Neots and did some shopping. We took our two animals to the vet for a check up and medication. Tara was confirmed blind. We had noticed that she gets about the boat slowly and carefully but is not now interested in going outside. She is however quite healthy for her age.

Near Barford
The river is wide and winding and lined with trees and shrubbery so there are not many places to get off. There is a clearing just past Paxton where we got the bow of one boat and the stern of the other near the bank. The Ouse Valley Way path leads round the gravel pits and lakes to a large Nature Reserve with hides from which to observe the wild life. Despite the damp conditions we did manage to get there for a look round and get a warm drink at the centre before returning.

Moorings in the sun

The Great Ouse Boating Association provide many mooring sites along this grand river and the vegetation is kept trimmed by their volunteers.

This one at Goldington has space for about 3 narrow boats or 3 short cruisers! We try not to occupy the whole length by making one end or the other overhang in the reeds. We have been known to go along side our friends boat No Problem when other boats need to stop. This mooring has a few good walks round a lake and there is ‘out of town’ shopping including Tesco nearby.
We did pop up to Bedford Marina for water and facilities. On our return, now down river, we went through a few locks with a cruiser for company till arriving near Great Barford. ‘Our Island’ was full but managed to get the boat against a high bank with an open field further on.

Cow pats indicated a possible problem but we set up our deck chairs, table and sunshades anyway. The next few days were scorchers. Hung white sheets outside the windows to keep the boat cool inside and set up a fan to keep the fridge cool as the temperature rose. Then setup a washing line using the boat hook and mooring pins and proceeded to wash our curtains which dried in no time at all! Some curious cows did arrive later but soon moved away.

Feedback

When British Waterways ask for feedback from us the information has a habit of going against us boaters with rising costs and lack of resources. They are there to maintain the waterways for us and all the other users but are now losing money because they invested in property. That is not our fault but we will have to pay for it.
Perhaps it would be better to ‘feedback’ to the various boating user groups like NABO, IWA, SOW and RBOA. Then they can ‘feedback’ your views collectively all in one go at the various meeting held with BW. So join up with one of the user groups and get your voice and opinions considered. Let them know what you need and where the problems are.

Bletchley Park, code breakers
Now for something completely different. The secret is out. We now know what it was all about, there was so much to know but I suspect that there is a lot we will never be told.
Thanks go to our friend John who took us there to see the ‘hardware’. Not only the German Enigma machine, but also Lorenz and Bombe. Mechanical computers which encode and decode messages. What an effort during the 2nd world war to decode and translate to English all those messages which saved so many lives. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Polish for they had already started to decode the signals and gave us the ‘know how’ before Germany invaded Poland.
It was taking weeks to find the ‘key’ and unlock the code so the code breakers invented a computer. The first electronic computer ever! It found the ‘key’ in 2 hours! The encoded messages were transcribed from radio signals to paper tape used by teletype machines. The tape was made into a continuous loop and read at high speed by the COLOSSUS computer. Several were made at the time but to maintain complete secrecy they were all but destroyed.
Despite this some photos were taken and circuit drawings kept by engineers, as they do even now I suspect. British Telecom were converting the phone system to digital and much of the old equipment was ‘recycled’ to remake that first computer. Much of it built by voluntary effort by the members of the Bletchley Park Trust. There is no government funding to keep this valuable National asset which includes the National Museum of Computing.

What are we like!

Is it summer? Well according to the time of year it is but it is a bit cool n damp outside. Some people on holiday will have their shorts and sandals on because they are on holiday. We have joined them insisting on BBQ’s under a cloudy sky.

Godmanchester
Moved on now half way between Godmanchester and St. Neots. One of our private moorings surrounded by trees but able to get the TV signal from the sky. Done all the shopping, filled up with water and diesel and hung out the washing to dry. Settled down for a long weekend not going anywhere and planning a walk about the lakes.

Exploring the waterways

That is what we are doing with our narrowboat Moore 2 Life. Do have a look at our website www.moore2life.co.uk. It contains much more information and pictures about our adventures.
We are now on the Bedford Ouse. Back at Ely it was the Ely Ouse. Joining the two is the Old West River and collectively they are the River Great Ouse. Each river has its own character. The Ely Ouse travels through the fens from Denver to the junction with the Cam. It has high flood banks to keep the fens dry.

The Old West River winds its way through the fens as the banks become lower. After 28 miles from Denver we reach the lock near Erith. It lets us up to the higher level of the tidal section of the Ouse. It is tidal all the way back to the sea down the New Bedford River bypassing Ely. After all the recent rain the Bedford Ouse is running quite fast. A family of seals at Erith have produced a pup this year.
As we travel towards St Ives several locks take us up and away from the fenlands. New moorings in St. Ives were full of boats so we stopped just outside the town. A short walk gets us in for shops and market.

It is here that Oliver Cromwell lived between 1631 and 1636.
The river continues past Hemingford, Huntingdon and Godmanchester.

There are many old mills along the way. The millers were very protective of their water supply and became concerned when locks were built to create the ‘navigation’. The millers were using the green power of the river. One mill at Houghton is now owned by the National Trust and has been converted to hydro electric power. It is producing stone ground flour from crops grown locally. We have just made a loaf of bread from flour made at the wind mill in Wicken Fen and very nice it is too!

Up the Cam

Before we left Wicken we talked a while to a friendly boater couple and were joined by a local walker. He turned out to be a historian of the Fenland community. He talked a lot about the people and families that lived here. As he spoke his accent was slightly Australian and he explained that many people emigrated there from Anglia. We wondered after he left weather he was one of those ‘Fen Tigers’.
We moved slowly out down the Wicken Lode and through the lock at Upware. There we turned left to go up the Cam and into new territory for us. Discovering now rather than exploring. Travelling several miles of natural river to Bottisham lock and through into ‘Cam Conservancy’ country. “Some different rules may apply here”. On a short stretch of river we were instructed to cross over to the left and give way to rowers. A few miles on and the next lock came into view at Milton. A hard edge provided a good mooring for the night.
The next day we walked into Milton to find the wonderful Country Park set around two large manmade lakes. This was an old gravel extraction site with well kept paths to follow with trees and bushes for shade and shelter. Unfortunately the visitor refreshment centre was closed so we found our way out and back to the boat.

Several boats were entering Baits Bite lock and we went to watch. A large cutter was slowly mowing the weed under water and getting a bit close to our boat. There happened to be a lock keeper here and we asked if our boat was in the way. “Well actually you are contravening local bylaws”. We explained that it was a good mooring to visit the Park.

Once the lock had cleared we moved on up river, looking out for rowers, passing many rowing club houses and about a mile of various tatty old boats before reaching Jesus Lock.

Here we were able to stay at the official visitor moorings to visit the city and search for supplies. We walked across Jesus Green and into the streets of Cambridge. While Ann went into the shop Molly and I watched people and bikes pass by. Once we had got our supplies we headed back to the boat and had some lunch. The short term moorings were too ‘public’ for us to stay overnight so we headed back down stream to the moorings at Clayhithe near Waterbeach. Next day we continued on back to Ely to meet our friends on No Problem.

Wicken Fen

We moved on up the river Ouse to Popes Corner and turned left up the river Cam. Just a few miles on another left turn at Upware gets us to some ‘lodes’ up through a short lock. The loads are just navigable drainage ditches one of which, after an hour of slow progress arrives at Wicken Fen. This natural wet land belongs to the National Trust much of it being at or below sea level is being allowed to increase. There are many walks along the banks of the lodes.


We saw the wild ponies of the Fenland, a Konig heard which is increasing year by year.
Walking towards the wind mill across the fields gets you to the pretty village of Wicken itself.


It is worth a look round to see the thatched cottages, gardens and village pond.

We were lucky to see the mill working on Saturday, the same day as the Fete.



It is still able to produce flour using the French mill stones. We got some white flour which had been dressed using a wind driven machine. The Fete was entertaining with a dog show all afternoon. Best waging tail & Irish Brace (odd couple) among the categories to get judged. There was an assortment of stalls, roundabout, Punch n Judy, mechanical organ and other attractions.

A walk to Thetford

We walked to Little Thetford village, over the flood bank and down to the field, across the railway and passed the lovely front gardens.

I have always liked the old varieties of rose with their strong sweet scent.

Dominating the scene is a large pink thatched cottage by Green Lane, apparently once a busy pub.

Then we saw this round building said to be a Beacon House built to warn of a French invasion.
We returned to Ely because we needed to go ‘home’ to see family again. So am sorry not much has been written about our adventures on the water. Must say that we are impressed with the train service with plenty of information at the stations and in the carriages.

Heading for Ely

After several days of moving we looked forward to some rest days and headed to the local pub for an expensive drink with Sue n Vic. Then we moved on upstream to our next moorings at Little Port. Nice clean EA moorings with a water tap so we could fill our tanks again. Several miles and no locks on this stretch of wide strait river with high flood banks either side restricting the view of the flat countryside. After days of dry warm weather it has turned cold n damp so we were obliged to light the fire especially after doing some washing!
Two days later we continued to Ely, the city’s huge cathedral on the hill coming to view as we rounded a few bends on the approach. Found a space by the park and let No Problem pass to report more space by the station, plenty of room so we continued on ourselves. Found our friends on Gypsy Rover there as well. Did a quick walk round late afternoon to find a dentist who would check Ann’s sore tooth, luckily finding a private one and got an appointment. Next day we went to the market for local fresh veg. Real carrots with green tops and thin tails, not those bright orange types you get in supermarkets!
Also got some plants for our roof boxes and while waiting for Cassandra to arrive we planted most of the flowers. Need to find a mole hill for more fine earth. Then my aunt arrived with a pot plant and we enjoyed catching up with family news over freshly baked cake and a cup of tea on board.
Staggered to note that our low duty red diesel has now reached £1 or more a litre round here. So we are trying to reduce our engine runs to a minimum. The price is not far off that for road diesel. We are able to use the cheaper diesel because we do not use the roads. But Brussels has changed the rules. Later in the year we will be obliged to pay the higher duty and VAT for moving the boat. Charging batteries and heating can still use the cheaper fuel.
We are only permitted to stay two nights in Ely so we move out to find more moorings at Little Thetford travelling with a convoy of boats. EA have extended these moorings to make room for more boats but failed to dredge the extended section. So we all bunch up one end and leave the new bit for different boats.

The Middle Levels

This area describes part of East Anglia between the two main rivers Nene and Ouse. We had travelled on manmade ‘drains’ to March. The original course of the Nene passes through March and beyond making our journey more interesting. The Post Office in March was less than helpful so arranged our posting to go to Upwell. We had seen several wind farms in the distance and were very impressed by their appearance and huge size as we passed by several units near the river. No smoke or steam to make clouds, just slowly turning quietly converting the breeze into electrical energy.

Are these 'green' chips?
We arrived at Upwell in time to collect the post and found several shops selling produce from the local farms. An excellent fish n chip shop providing our evening meal. Next day we continued to Salters Lode in time to catch the tide. It is here that the navigation returns to the higher levels of the river Ouse. The tidal Ouse below Denver is the link we have to use. The tide lock systems at Salters Lode and Denver are under the control of the Environment Agency and other waterways are here to prevent flooding and feed water to Essex.

We got our instructions from the lock keeper. Sue n Vic went first as their boat was the longest and needed the tide at the highest level. Due to some delay they found the tide on the turn and just managed to get away. We had to wait for a boat to arrive from Denver and watched as they struggled almost getting stuck on a sand bank!

Then it was our turn. We were a little concerned but managed to get out ok and passed another boat coming down. The tide did not seem to be going out very fast so there was plenty of time.

Once up on the Ouse we found it wide and calm so after taking on water we found moorings for the weekend.

Onwards to the Fenlands

After several days of rain the river Nene started to flow more rapidly and rose several inches. The water was falling over the lock gates and creating lots of foam which blew over the boats in the wind. Alwalton lock has a mooring to one side where the river heads for the weir. Several boats were seen moving up and down during the bank holiday weekend. We spent the time walking down the Nene Way by the river and into Alwalton village.

We left on Tuesday heading for Peterborough through a couple of locks and 6 miles of winding river. After taking on water and dumping rubbish we moved away from the city moorings. The local parkland was in need of ‘tender loving care’ and stories of unruly behaviour making for a feeling of insecurity. Having booked our passage into the Middle Levels we stayed the night outside the Stanground Lock. That special lock prevents water from the Nene entering the lower levels of the Fenlands especially when in flood conditions.

After a night of thunder storms the level was up even more by the morning. The lock keeper had us going through early due to the rising water. As it happened we only just got under the foot bridge with a centimetre clearance. Sue n Vic had to go in backwards because as with most boats the stern is lower than the bow.

Once in, one at a time, we were lowered in the lock and able to exit on to the Fens. There was a chance that other boats that day may not be able to pass through! For about a mile we had the boats tied abreast in order to get No Problem backwards to a turning point.

Then it was full steam ahead for about 5 hours against the wind to reach March in the afternoon.

Our life support system

Going slowly means that we have to conserve what we use and think about where it comes from. Good old Tesco and the internet help with food and going to town also helps. But the boat needs water and diesel. There are water points on the Nene at an average of about 8 lock miles apart so that is no problem as we are within one or two days from a supply. Our tank can last 10 days or more. But there are very few diesel outlets. In fact the only one we have used is at Oundle Marina. The next one we used in 2006 was at Ely and is about 6 moving days away. So that defines how long we can stay in one place. Our tank needs topping up every 2 or 3 weeks, a month at the most. It is nice to be able to hang around for a while to explore. Usually like to stay put on Sundays and we were invited on board No Problem for lunch. Good job we do not need to move yet because it has rained hard most of the day.

Cruising again

Back on board after that trip home we got into cruising mode and moved to Fotheringay and filled up with water. Stayed one night at the castle moorings where Mary, Queen of Scotland planted thistles and lost her head. The river has calmed down and we had a pleasant trip on down to Elton the next day. The mooring has a high bank to climb out on and some cows for company. There seems to be more narrowboats about on the river but certainly far less than on the canals. One boat called Scarweather stopped nearby. Been looking out for it as the owners are known to Ann’s cousin. Ann helped with their ropes and we were invited on board for the evening.
A few days later our next stop was at Wansford. As we approached the bank we saw a train cross the bridge ahead of the mooring. The Nene Valley Railway runs to Peterborough from here. A different sort of rail trip in wide coaches made in Denmark pulled by a steam engine. We got on board and got off at Peterborough. There before us was that Hover Train prototype. Built back in the 1970’s and designed to ‘float’ on a special track. It had no wheels and used magnetic linear motors which lifted the train and pushed it, friction less, at high speed. I remember seeing demonstrations of the principle on ‘Tomorrows World’.

Back to the real word we walked down the high street to find refreshments and the market where we stocked up with vegetables and meat from the local farmers. Returned to the boat by steam power to enjoy a BBQ outside as it was warm n dry and less windy than the day before.

Public transport

We went all the way home, a 5 hour journey on a bus, train, underground and another train. All for less than one days car hire! The bus was free for us and booking early on line got us a good discount complete with reserved seats. Our friend Sue did that difficult job for us sorting out the best route and timing the connections. It all went like clockwork with plenty of time to walk between bus and trains. The train north of London operated by National Express was packed both ways. It would have been ‘The Flying Scotsman’ years ago and ours was probably faster. Had to tolerate the crowded underground going down in those noisy tunnels trying to navigate our way to the next train. We used the Northern and Piccadilly lines. Our train tickets were used in automatic barriers to gain access from start to finish of our entire journey. South West trains were only half full so no need to find those reserved seats.
Went home to celebrate our son’s 40th birthday. A family gathering enabling us to catch up with their activities and play with our grand children.

A summer’s day

Travelling by boat with all mod cons means that you can be where you like without the road stress. Especially when everybody is out and about on a bank holiday! If the sun is hot and there is a cool breeze you can sit outside like it’s your own garden by the banks of a river or canal. At Wadenhoe the car park is full at the local pub and many have gone off in boats. We sat in the garden between pub and river enjoying an expensive burger bun washed down with strong drink. A few trees providing welcome shade.

Next day we moved the boats up and were obliged to tie up alongside a boat hogging the water point. When we connected our pipe to the tap the boat owner inconsiderately puffed blue smoke towards us as he started his engine! Once both our tanks were filled we moved to the bank and waited for the Tesco delivery. The rest of the day was spent cruising down river through four locks and five miles to Ashdon.. Had fun and games getting in and out of Oundel Marina for diesel, gas and facilities on the way.

Moorings and post

Continuing our journey with Sue n Vic we passed through a couple of locks and down the Nene to Little Irchester. Here we stopped for water while the girls went off to stock up with bread n milk etc. As we approached those ‘new’ moorings the boat ground to a stop on something underneath! The old Victorian mill of Whitworths is still making bread here bit is quite noisy so not a place to stay overnight. Three more locks passing many manmade lakes and old gravel pits get us to Rushden & Diamonds football ground at Irthingborough. Thankfully playing away this Saturday. E A have provided boaters with a long stretch of mooring where at least 6 narrowboats can stay for 48 hours. Just enough room for us as 4 were already there. Dot came out from ‘Gypsy Rover’ to catch our rope. We stayed only to use the facilities and get a midday sandwich before continuing to Denford, a lovely mooring with a field for the dogs. We all walked the mile to Ringstead to pick up some post. This PO mistress being so helpful and remembering Sue n Vic and Lucy collecting post 2 years ago.
Our post has been returned from that man at Cogenhoe. Our next stop is at Thrapston so we rang that PO to ask if he would keep our post. “You have to come and see me first” was his reply. Called Post Office Counters to complain about our postal problems and got them to tell Thrapston to hold on to our post. ‘Poste Restante’ and ‘To be called for’ is a service that the PO provide but it seems that some PO masters do not cooperate. After a few anxious days we eventually collected our post a full two weeks after it had been originally sent.

We had moored at the ‘new’ moorings near Islip Mill. Room for 3 boats and occupied by 2. We squeezed in with No Problem along side. By the time we left 7 boats were tied 3 abreast. The river is getting popular.

The river has been high after several days of rain and one boater reversed back to the mooring, unable to get under the next low bridge. So before we left we removed our satellite dish and other tall objects from the roof. The level had gone down a bit and we just got under those bridges.

The next lock at Titchmarsh Mill was overflowing so much so that the boats were in danger of being pushed out before the guillotine had been fully raised. Only the two ropes tied to the back bollard preventing disaster as we went down. All aboard and let go to drift out with the flow.

The journey to Wadenhoe was calm and peaceful after that excitement and we stopped below the church for the weekend. The stone and thatched cottages here are well kept by a trust arrangement.

The things you see

Sheep and lambs are investigating a swan on the banks of the river Nene. Then the swan chased them away. A heard of cows and bullocks gathering on the muddy edge of the river. When the farmer arrived in his van they all turned to watch. The strange sight of two boats moving. Saw them as we were walking back from the lakes of Summerleys Nature Reserve. They turned the corner, under the bridge and stopped just beyond our boats.

We knew them. The magic of the internet, reading boaters blogs and following the progress of Dot and Derek on Gypsy Rover travelling with their friends Derek and Christina on Kalimera. We were soon all aboard No Problem for tea, cake n biscuits!

An Environment Agency patrol boat went by and then on Sunday we might have thought we were back on the canals with many boats going by.

Cruising down the river

It is so different, not just because that wind has blown away. The boats are short & white, the river is wide & deep, there is no towpath and the river follows its natural course. Flood defences are obvious with manmade banks to allow the water to spread out and automatic weirs to control the flow. We passed through a flood barrier to the first guillotine lock on the Nene. Two top gates with the water falling over them and the massive sheet of steel raised to allow the water to pass through. A bypass weir letting most of the flow go that way.

Billing Lock (not the first)
All we need to do is press a button to lower that sheet of steel and the lock just fills up. Open the gates and drive both boats in, closing the gates behind them. Crack open the guillotine and suddenly the boats jerk forwards as the water goes down. Once the steel is fully raised the boats and crew leave. Three locks and three miles get us to Cogenhoe (Cookno), our stop today.

It was here that we had our post sent. Various phone numbers found on the internet failed to make contact. Went up to the Post Office only to find that our post had been ‘returned to sender’! They did not understand or know that ‘Poste Restante’ meant ‘to be collected’. It was unfortunate that we could not contact them first but now have their correct phone number.
Cogenhoe has an old Mill where the river bypasses the lock, the old millers using ‘green’ power to make the flour. There is a Chalet Village set high above the river level with boats moored below and we filled our water tank here.

The longest day

We joined Sue n Vic at the top of the Rothersthorp locks which take the canal down to Northampton and stayed the night. Woke early in the morning only to find that all the water had been drained between the locks. A lazy boater had failed to close the gates or paddles the night before. An hour later than planned we were on our way thanks to the BW men coming to help. Our thanks to Paul who also came to help both us and No Problem down the locks. 17 locks in 5 miles got both boats down to the city by early afternoon in time for shopping at Morrisons, passing under the ugliest M1 motorway bridge ever seen. The lower half of the canal is quite rural with the River Nene along side. Then as we approached the outskirts of that city it got rough with rubbish and ‘poisoned dwarfs’ chucking stuff in the canal. “Do not need their aggravation”. Health and safety is ignored as they jump around the empty lock. Carrying on down on to the river we passed under a low bridge to moor near the walk bridge. We have decided to pack away our ‘biminy’ for the summer as there are too many low bridges over the rivers.

Progressed on through a few more locks to the open and exposed River Nene heading East against that cold wind in our faces, finally finding a safe haven at Weston Favel opposite the washlands.

But not before Sue n Vic pulled us off the mud when that wind had blown the boat away from the pontoon!

Looking after the birds

We stayed at Bugbrooke for a few days. The little birds are making their nests in the hedgerows. Our cat’s fir is providing them with cosy warm bedding. Watching as a Blue Tit gathered it all up and flew away with a beak full. Went for a walk round one of our favourite villages in calm sunshine with a Sky Lark singing over head and took our glass bottles to a recycle bank only to find that it was gone. Had found it many years ago just by the church car park and had used it many times in the past. Then later found that the recycling bins at Gayton Junction had also gone. Apparently BW chose to charge the provider so they stopped! What is it about this government, trying to encourage us all to be good about our rubbish and then not helping.

Moving on is better ?

Sue n Vic joined us to go up the double locks at Braunston. Waited for one boat to come out of the lock as more boats queued up behind us. Once in the lock we saw that yet another single boat was waiting to come down. “What an unsociable attitude and waist of water.” At least 4 other boats came down the next lock, taking it from us twice before we could go up. All that water going down past the bottom lock without any boats going up. We would all enjoy ‘locking’ if only boaters would help each other. The uninitiated seem to be so independent. Oh well, once at the top we only met one boat half way through that tunnel which is still restricted by the land slide.
Moorings at Norton Jn. were limited and we were obliged to moor alongside No Problem for a while. Then we took a bus ride on the Daventry Dart. A bus full of ‘free riders’ with their new bus passes. The poor driver not getting a penny from us so just hope that the government is funding the bus company. Otherwise there will be less busses to catch.
Back on the boat we moved on down the Buckby flight of locks now open after a prolonged winter maintenance program. Stopped at the bottom and consumed Ann’s homemade vegetable soup with Sue n Vic joining us at the table. Later in the day we continued on to Nether Heyford and met up with Terry n Myra on Juno. Then we enjoyed a Sunday roast at ‘The Sun’ in Nether Heyford.

Family visit

The boat was returned to water and we replaced an empty gas bottle for a full one before leaving the services of ‘bottom lock’. Gosty Hill came by and filled our diesel tank once again. Now preparing for a visit. Ann went up to the village to get fresh meat from the local butcher and made a lovely stew which cooked all day on the diesel fire. Toys out and bedding rearranged for our guests. The boys are still small enough to sleep in their own sleeping bags. Woke next day to find it had snowed over night.

Our grand children were soon outside making a snow man before breakfast. Just enjoyed their company on board watching TV, reading and drawing together before they left in the afternoon.

Another alternator failure
Before family left we realised that although the engine was running the batteries were not being charged. Luckily our solar panels were slowly topping the batteries up once the TV was turned off. Rang Justin Green at Marine Services who suggested bringing the boat back down to the bottom lock, plug into a land line and he would have a look. Only half a mile but heads were turning as we travelled with the alarm beeping and some smoke issuing from the engine compartment. Justin removed the faulty alternator that evening. Our Beta engine came fitted with a 70 amp domestic alternator with a Beta Controller designed to improve battery charging. The original alternator had burnt out in 2005 when it was less than 2 years old. This one lasted 30 months. Justin told me that Beta no longer supply the ‘controller’ so agreed to replace it with an ADVERC battery management system.

Time for maintenance

Some jobs in life need doing to protect an investment but require incentive, ability and a round ‘Tuit’, whatever that is. “Must have found all three because paint has been applied to the boat”. A bright sunny calm day and a hard edge with cut grass was essential to make the work possible. A few days later we moved on to turn at Napton Junction and found similar conditions to paint the other side. Sue n Vic on No Problem were doing the same. While the work was being carried out a boat came by with a friendly ‘toot’ and stopped. It was Maffi on Milly M. A boater never seen before, but well known on the internet among the boating bloggers. He stayed a few days so once again there were several bloggers having a meeting. Eventually we all parted as we headed to Braunston to be taken out of the water for ‘blacking’ and a safety survey. “Yes our boat is already four years old and is due for another certificate”.

Had to make sure that nothing can fall over inside when the boat is pulled up out of the water. It will be out of the water for a few days so we checked that we had enough water in the tank. Cannot run the engine so will use the land line for mains power. This will keep the batteries charged and heat water. Must remember not to let water out of the sink, bath or basin. “Don’t want our painter to get wet!”. Justin pressure washed the sides, applied two coats of ‘black’ to the lower sides and after 2 nights we were back in the water.
While on dry land Hadar went by going up the hill. Then our friends from back home came to visit with their campavan moored in the marina. Jo n Keith had stopped half way up the flight and walked back down to see us. Our social life continues despite the maintenance. Nice to see them all.
I had removed the weed hatch lid and cleaned out the box. Replacing the rubber seal is an important part of keeping the boat afloat. The Boat Safety man made his inspection and gave us a new certificate. The only problem was low gas pressure. No wonder our gas bottles lasted so long! Another job for Justin to sort out then we will be able to burn toast faster.