Wednesday 4th September - Buckden

Brought forward engine hours :-    66h 30m

Came up late pm to fetch battery from LH Jones and fit.  Had a short test run 20 mins downstream, moored up for a meal and then back before dark (just).

Now have separate engine and leisure batteries fitted - the new one is the leisure battery.

Engine hours: + 45mins                                                                        RT    67h  15m

Sunday 8th Sept. - Buckden

Called at Hitchin Caravan Centre on way to buy TV mast and aerial, did a few jobs and then short trip as Wednesday.

Engine hours:    +45mins                                                                        RT    68h

Wednesday 11th Sept. - Buckden

Arrived at boat at 20.00, loaded gear, put fridge on mains etc.. and went for a drink or 3.  Bombardier was off again!  Slept on board in marina.

Thursday 12th Sept. - Buckden

Fuel    17½"    Water    Full    Gas bottles - changed to full one.

Several maintenance jobs to do before we can set off on our first "holiday" afloat.  Weather quite bright but misty, hope sun will burn thru' soon.  Have established that fridge works well on mains as have got the temperature well down before transferring to gas (5.8ºC).  Chris has located water leak in the stern, it appears to be the seal on the weed hatch which isn't.  Cast off 11.05  motored round to pontoon nearest to chemical toilet point, tried to replace empty gas bottle but none our size available (6Kg).  Fridge temperature is rising rapidly.  Left marina at 11.40.  Passed a boat (Moody Blue) coming upstream so hoped Brampton Lock would be with us, but when we arrived at 12.20 a boat (La Casita) had just gone in from the bottom and we were joined by a hire boat.(Sunray4).  Thru' by 12.45.  Passed a school of swans having a splashing time trying out their wings and doing canoe rolls!  Arrived Godmanchester lock 13.10 and caught up with Sunray4 who were just going in.  In the field beside the lock there was a large herd of cows (40-50) all on the run and jumping about.  It must be playtime for birds and animals today!  Left lock at 13.25..

Sun has now broken thru' and it's very pleasant.  Fridge seems to be settling down.  Moored at Huntingdon 13.40, had lunch and then went to Sainsbury's.  Left again at 15.55 reaching Houghton lock at 16.45 with boat just going down ahead of us.  Were joined by 50' n' boat and were thru' by 17.15.  Moored for our overnight stop 17.40 on GOBA moorings at Hemingford Meadow.  Still nice and sunny so took chairs and books out onto meadow between cow pats but had to keep moving as sun disappeared rapidly behind trees.  Tried to tighten the throttle as it's started slipping back again - only managed to lose the centrepiece overboard just before Hartford Church.  Visited "The Cock" in Hemingford Grey ½ pub and ½ restaurant - lots of expensive cars in car park.  Pub OK Adnams, Black Dog and Bishops Farewell plus an IPA - had 2 pints of Adnams.  Liz refused to cross a field where a cow was snorting so we didn't get to Hemingford Abbotts.

Engine: 10.45-11.15, 11.35-13.40, 15.55-17.40 = 4h 20m            RT    72h  20m

Friday 13th Sept - Hemingford

Fuel 16¾"      Water 3/4

   Hemingford GOBA mooring      Hemingford Grey Church

Reset Hemingford lock at 10.25 and thru' by 10.45 just as narrowboat from yesterday arrived.

Hemingford Lock

Very pleasant stretch from lock towards St Ives.  Thought it would be quiet now but more boats on the move than we've seen all summer!  

Moored at St Ives, The Waites, at 11:10.  A little girl came looking for Rosie and Jim!  

         Views from St Ives Bridge  The bridge chapel         Bridge and Town Quay

Took advantage of the Heritage Weekend and visited the museum, chapel on the bridge and displays in the Methodist Church.

Came back for lunch on board and moved on at 14:00.  Stopped at Jones Boatyard for gas bottle and topping up water 14:20-14:35.

Resetting St Ives lock took some time as it is quite deep.  Weather is absolutely beautiful, sunny, warm although breezy. Left lock at 15:00.

Gentle meandering through uninterrupted countryside, very little sign of close civilisation except for the picturesque village of Holywell with it's thatched buildings and very inviting thatched "Ferryboat Inn"!  But it's too early to moor up for the night (16:00)!  Reached GOBA mooring at Pike and Eel at 16:20 looks very posh.  Didn't expect to get here so soon but moorings further on seem to be few and far between and it would be in tidal section.  Will explore here before deciding.  Found that there is no access to the pub/hotel from the GOBA mooring, we could go on to the Pike and Eel marina/hotel mooring but decided to go back to Holywell where we can explore the village too.  Plenty of daylight left as we moored at Ferryboat Inn at 17:10.

The Ferryboat Inn  Mooring at Holywell    Cottage in Holywell

Very pretty and quiet village with some beautiful cottages/houses.  Had meal at the Inn - reasonable food, good choice but on the expensive side.  Greene King Brewery - Abbot draught.

Engine 9:55-11:10, 13:55-14:20, 14:35-16:20, 16:35-17:10 = 8h 20m

RT 80h 40m

Saturday 14th Sept. - Holywell.

Fuel 16"

No sun waking us up today, cloudy and overcast.  We didn't see the weather forecast last night so don't know whether we can expect it to improve.  Cast off at 09:45 and arrived at Brownshill Staunch 10:30 at same time as Jester arrived on the other side.  They kindly did the honours, both guillotines mechanised, so we had an easy passage and out at 10:45.

Still cloudy with chilly breeze - keep adding more layers of clothes!

Arrived at Hermitage Lock 11:20.  Had to go and investigate as this lock is "manned".  Two boats coming up off the Old West then it's our turn.  Out at 11:30, the lockie didn't offer his net as apparently is usual for "tips".

Now on Old West River - narrow with main road alongside for a while.  This stretch is not very interesting as you can't see much over the banks.  One or two pretty patches but it would all have looked and felt much better with some sunshine.  Many of the flat areas between river edge and flood bank seem to be a popular home for ducks and geese.  Stopped for lunch 13:40 at the site of Twenty Pence Inn that is no more. 

    Old West River near Stretham

 Could do without the rather ripe smell that has been around for some time and now it's started to drizzle although people said it was supposed to be brightening up later.  At the moment that looks most unlikely.  On our way again at 14:45.  Not a very nice afternoon with dampness in the air but at least it's not raining properly.  We did a timed trial over a mile course and found our speed to be just 4 mph.

At Popes Corner did not turn off into River Cam but continued for Ely.  The book says spectacular views of Ely Cathedral - but not today I'm afraid - just a grey building against a grey sky.  Went all through Ely and back but only choices of mooring was right on outskirts by the rail station or on town quay right alongside pub.  Decided outside pub not a good idea so went back to the former and moored at 17:30.

Pub mooring           Ely overnight mooring.

Went for a short "reccy "  to establish location of sanitary point etc..  Had meal "in" and stayed on board for the evening.  There is a pair of black swans on this stretch.

Engine 9:30-13:40, 14:45-17:30 = 6h 55m                        RT = 87h 35m

Sunday 15th Sept. - Ely

Toilet emptied, Water filled.

Day spent in Ely after moving down to sanitary point and mooring again near it.  Walked around Ely, visited Antiques Centre and did tour in Cathedral etc..

Back on board at 16:00 and decided to move on downstream casting off at 16:10. 

     Ely Cathedral from the river on way to River Lark.

Very chilly uninteresting straight stretch until turned in to River Lark at 17:05 heading for EA mooring at Prickwillow.  Arrived at 17:50.  Not even a pub here so spent another evening "in".  There is an engine museum here open 11:00-16:30 (not Weds/Thurs) which we might visit on our way back.

Engine     11:20-11:55, 16:10-17:50 = 2h 15m                RT = 89h 50m

Monday 16th Sept. - Prickwillow

Fuel 14¼"

When we moored last night we took the geese's favourite spot and they kept parading past all evening to see if we were still there.  No sign of them this morning - they must have known I wanted to take a photo!

Moved off at 10:20; weather murky and grey again, I wonder how many layers of clothes I'll need today?

Continuing upstream we soon found ourselves in a procession of three narrow boats.  Arrived at Isleham Marina and had to ask where the GOBA mooring had been relocated to as it was not shown on the map.  Found it and moored up at 12:15.  Decided that this was probably not the best place for staying overnight as there is a lot of noisy aircraft activity from nearby Mildenhall USAAF base.  Set out on a walk to the village but when we got to the road and could see the village it seemed much further than the mile indicated.  Decided not to bother as the shops would probably be shut for lunch by the time we got there.  Returned to the boat for lunch.  Aircraft noise has stopped - must be their lunchtime too!  Underway again at 13:30 retracing our steps heading downstream hoping to have time to visit the engine museum and get back to Ely for tonight.  This stretch really is long, straight and boring with nothing much to see but banks; especially to do twice in the same day.  The wind has re-appeared too and the sky is still grey, grey and more grey.  Got to Prickwillow at 15:10 .  Went round the Drainage Engine Museum where we had a lovely cup of tea and the lady put on the heater to help us warm up!  Very interesting Museum - if you like that sort of thing.  Left at 16:30, made good time and moored in Ely at 18:00.  On the way in to Ely, saw a strange sight, well I think it was.  The railway runs parallel to the river and on just one particular site between two of the overhead wire gantries there were rows of birds perched on the wires.  What was so attractive about that one particular spot?

Had a very nice carvery meal at the Maltings restaurant at £6.00 each, it closes at 8.00 pm, then found Tesco for few extra supplies, open 24hrs.

Engine    10:15-12:15,13:25-15:10,16:30-18:00 = 5h 15m    RT 95h 05m

Tuesday 17th Sept. - Ely

Fuel 12½"    Water filled    Toilet emptied.

Today was decision day - to continue or go home and seek some sun.  Weather a bit brighter, hint of sun behind the clouds.  Decided to to continue to Cambridge.  Re visited the Antiques Warehouse and bought a mustard pot.  Took boat to sanitary point and soaked both it and myself in attempting to fill the water tank, you need two people here, one on the push button water tap and one keeping the hose in place on the boat.  Eventually on our way at 11:15.  Sun keeps trying to make an appearance.

On to River Cam at Popes Corner at 12:15 and got to Five Miles From Anywhere pub, Upware, at 13:05 where we found "Jester" fishing.  Moored up for lunch and had to become "patrons" to justify the stay!

Ready to move on at 14:15 having made the decision to go down the lodes.  had a slight problem getting the lock sorted but eventually through 14:30-14:45.  On seeing Wcken Lode - described as very narrow - we decided it was not for us.  We were amazed then to see "Reflections" a 58' narrow boat turn in.  I hope they know more than we do about possible passing & turning places.  We continued and took Reach Lode which got narrower and narrower and just as we questioned what if we meet another boat, one appeared round the bend, fortunately only a little rowing dinghy.  They said that "Reflections" had also been down there earlier!  

Absolutely nothing at head of navigation - not even allowed to moor - so what's the point of knowing there's a pub somewhere about!  Turned to retrace our steps at 15:50.

          Some shots of Reach Lode on the way back out.

Have actually been without jackets until now, although the sun has only appeared fleetingly.  Turned into Burwell Lode at 16:30.  Got to Burwell to find narrow boat  already moored but managed to squeeze in front and moored at 17:30.  Shared a cuppa with our neighbours who came from Newmarket and have had their boat for a month - which explains the paint touching up they had been doing!!

    Head of navigation Burwell, the pub is round to the right!

Went for a walk round the village and had a drink in the Anchor Inn - Greene King, Abbot Ale etc.. bar meals and restaurant, but decided to eat in.

Engine    10:45-11:00, 11:15-13:05, 14:15-17:30 = 5hrs 20m    RT 100h 25m

Weds 18th Sept    Burwell

Water ½ +         Fuel 12"