Just cruising.

3 Locks, 8 miles. Now moored close to St Neots, Great River Ouse

Leaving Huntingdon was a bit of guess work as to which channel to follow. There are several channels which appear to be wide enough to be the main channel but there are no navigation signs to indicate the correct one. We did pick the right one and soon found the first lock. Approaching the second lock was strange as the navigation sign sends you to the left of an island and a right angle approach to the lock and yet there is a direct approach to the lock on the right hand side of the island. Admittedly there is a weir in the latter section but nothing like what we have had to deal with on the river Thames in the past. However we followed the EA signs to be on the safe side.

Brampton Mill with waterwheel

Godmanchester and Brampton locks were again big enough to accommodate both boats but Offord lock was only big enough to handle 1 boat at a time even though it is 30m long. As we have had a slight change of plans we decided that we could afford to moor up earlier than planned but the only moorings are GOBA moorings along the stretch of river past Offord lock but we have managed to find a nice stretch of bank near Little Paxton which is not covered in stinging nettles and where we could get ashore without to much trouble to moor so we will spend the night here. Paxton Pits which is away to our right is an area of aggregate pits still partly in use and a wild life and nature reserve. Famous for its summer wild flowers and Nightingales it has 27km of walkways around the pits.

Peace and solitude on the River Great Ouse

1145 locks, 1583 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Earith to Huntingdon.

4 Locks, 13 miles. Now moored Rotary 24hr moorings, Huntingdon, Great River Ouse

Well the day started out OK with some nice fine weather. While having breakfast I noticed the boats were moving, however we were breasted up and the other Derek had decided to pull up to the water and pump out point, no problem. After securing both boats again he started the pump out machine but it only ran for about 2 minutes before falling silent. No amount of coaxing would get it to restart, luckily we are not desperate for a pump out. I rang 2 EA phone numbers without success and in the end rang the Hermitage lock keeper and left a message to say that the machine was out of action.

After this little disaster we set off for Huntingdon. The scenery was a definite improvement on yesterday. The river was forever changing from straight and wide to narrow and twisty but that makes things more interesting. We have seen quite a few pairs of Great Crested Grebe's but no chicks yet and the swans have been busy around this neck of the woods with quite a few sitting on nests and 2 lots of cygnets probably only days old. One sighting new to us was of an Oyster Catcher with its bright Orange bill and black and white plumage.

We had a pleasant surprise with the locks because the info books we have, including the one given to us by the EA lock keeper at Bait Bites lock, led us to believe all the locks would have to be done individually but they have all been modified with one wall being recessed so that you can probably get 3 or 4 boats in at a time. Even with our 2 boats at 55ft and 58ft there was still room for 1 more. At the St Ives lock we arrived just as a cruiser was leaving and somebody on the lock structure was waving us in. It was the crew of N/b Charlie Beere waiting their turn to come down through the lock. So with their help we were soon on our way again. At Houghton lock we appeared to be out in the middle of nowhere but there were people all around the lock so we became the centre of attraction for a while.There are several walkways crossing farmers fields but no sign of any housing nearby but there must be something around for all these gongoozlers to be about.

Lunchtime was spent at St Ives which is an ancient town with lots of history. As we have a schedule to adhere to at the moment we will spend more time there on the way back, pity the Milton Keynes /Bedford Link hasn't been built yet. Bring it on!

We had a good run today and arrived in Huntingdon around mid afternoon. We have had to breast up again on the moorings but we are used to that. I think we were lucky to get this mooring because as we were pulling onto the quay 3 boats approached from the opposite direction and we could have easily missed out.

Huntingdon Church in the market square

Now I mentioned before about not seeing any Grebe chicks well I have just spotted a couple out of the window. They are so tiny they are hard to see. I will try to get some photo's.

If you click on the photo and look at the original you will see the chicks on her back

1142 locks, 1575 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

A bit on the boring side.

2 Locks, 16 miles. Now moored at Earith Junction, Great River Ouse

As much as we would have loved to stay on at Wicken Fen we had to start making tracks towards Bedford. After a long chat to Linda on Nb Kanbedun Again and putting some grease into the top bearing on her tiller, it was looking a bit dry and rusty, we said farewell to this lovely little secluded hideaway.

The run down the Wicken to the Reach Lode was again on the slow side due to the river being so narrow. Before we went through the Reach Lode lock we took advantage of the water point to top up the tanks. After this the trip to Earith was a pretty dull and boring sort of affair. Other than a few sunken boats, one of which was on the GOBA moorings at the Lazy Otter, and 2 had EA Infringement notices attached, the only excitement was at the narrow section just past the Lazy Otter where we met a very large cruiser, not quite a Gin Palace, coming towards us at speed in the centre of the navigation. Well we held our ground and at the very last moment he moved over narrowly missing Nb Kalimera in the process. We thought that by his behaviour that he must be the owner of the river.

As today's heading suggest's the Old West River is not a beauty or scenic spot and there are not a great deal of moorings either so we pushed on until we reached Hermitage lock at Earith where our timing couldn't have been better as 3 narrowboats had just come through from the Great Ouse and the lock keeper signalled us to carry on into the lock, so we were through, one at a time, fairly rapidly. The lock keeper told us where to find the new EA moorings and facilities where we are now moored.

Where do we moor then?

Earith lock and traffic light.

1138 locks, 1562 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Eco Friendly boaters.

2 Locks, 9 miles. Now moored at Wicken Fen, Wicken Lode

We were in no great hurry as we left Clayhithe at about 9.30am. The sky was overcast with a very cold stiff breeze blowing. As we headed off to Reach Lode lock we passed several small craft all flying the red ensign and all powered by electric propulsion. They were an assorted lot with dinghy's, canoe's and one that had the decking covered in 7 solar panel's making it very eco friendly. Anyway they all seemed to be enjoying their day out on the water. Their AGM was held
this weekend at the 'Five Miles From Anywhere Inn' at Upware yesterday and today they were all travelling to Cambridge and back.

Interestingly the Lock keeper at Baits Bite Lock had told us the River would be very busy in Cambridge today as there was a big boat race on. Good luck chaps.

Once we reached Upware we turned right into Reach Lode where the lock is a double guillotine type which made things interesting. First thing was that the bottom gate was already partly open which it does automatically 15 minutes after the last lock operation as part of the flood control. Secondly we had to lift all the fenders on both boats so that we could both fit in the lock together because it was a bit of a squeeze. Once the girls starting operating the lock red and green lights starting flashing telling us when to enter and exit the lock, oh what fun.

Once through the lock we only travelled a short distance before we turned onto the Wicken Fen. Now this was something different again as the waterway is probably not much more than 3 - 4 feet deep and only about 15 - 16 feet wide in places so we hoped that we didn't meet any boats coming out. Our speed was kept to the minimum with the engine barely going above a fast idle. At the navigable end of the waterway is a wide 'Y' junction with another creek which is plenty wide enough to wind our boats. There was already a boat on the moorings but they were just preparing to leave so there was plenty of room available.

We were just getting lunch when we became aware of another boat in the winding hole and we found it was the lady on Kanbedun Again who shared the moorings at Waterbeach with us last night, unbeknown to us she had followed us. To make things easier she breasted up with Kalimera and still left plenty of room should any more boats arrive, but I think with Cambridge FC playing at Wembley today that is not likely as the locals will all be glued to the TV or at the match.

Later on Dot and I, accompanied by Christina went for a walk up to the Wicken Fens visitor centre to look at the wind powered water pump and then into the village to see the restored windmill. It was interesting to note all the rods and wires which make the windmill sails fully operational. From there we found the public footpath which took us across the wetlands and back to the boat. At the wetlands it was interesting to see the twitchers (bird watchers) getting all excited over spotting Lapwings, Ring Plovers and a Shoveller duck. The Lapwings were busy chasing off Crows. Oh that's too much excitement for 1 day, I think I need a rest.

1136 locks, 1546 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Charismatic Cambridge.

Still moored at Clayhithe, River Cam

Kings College Cambridge

This morning the 4 of us walked into the village to catch the bus into Cambridge so that we could do some sightseeing in this historic city of learning. We caught the Go Whippet bus into town which unbeknown to us ran 15 minutes before the Stagecoach bus which we had planned to catch and uses a different route.

Due to the fact that it was exam time all the colleges were closed to the public so we had to make do with just a quick peek inside the gates at the magnificent interior quadrangles and gardens that are hidden behind these halls of learning. It no wonder that education at this level is expensive as the upkeep on the buildings must be astronomical let alone paying the tutorial masters.

One of our objectives for the day was to find the section of the river where all the punts operate. Even the wet weather didn't dampen the spirits of many who had come to enjoy a leisurely punt ride up and down the river. It was fun watching novices being instructed in the art of poling and how to control the punt without falling in.

At around lunchtime the skies decided to open up again and rain so we took cover in a coffee bar for lunch after which the weather improved until we were on the bus back to the boat when there was another downpour. As the last Go Whippet bus for the day had left we had to use the Stagecoach service for the return trip and although it was a different route it didn't take any longer to make the journey and yet it was £2 dearer.

Now I would like to thank of all you who have taken the trouble to email us with the name of the butterfly we showed a couple of days ago. I would also like to thank Jason who took the time to text the info to his Mum Christina, our travelling companion, who passed it on to us this morning.

1134 locks, 1537 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

We Came, We Saw, We Left

2 Locks and 12 miles. Now back at Clayhithe, River Cam

After heavy overnight rain it had eased to light drizzle by the time we set off for Cambridge just before 9am. Other than a couple of of rowers and 1 narrowboat it was quiet trip. At Bait Bite Lock, ( who dreamed that name up,) we met the lovely lady lock keeper who gave us some new maps and an information pamphlet and had a good chat about this and that. This is another easy lock as it is electric/hydraulic so only the digital finger gets a work out.

As we neared Cambridge the presence of run down live-aboard's started to become obvious just after we passed Two Trees boatyard. We also found a new water point with a stainless steel standpipe on the left bank just before a new white walk/cycle bridge which is not yet officially open .

After watering up we carried on past the depressing site of more and more run down vessels all the way to Jesus Green lock. On the bank beside the swimming pool the 48 hour moorings were full of boats that looked to be more permanent than temporary and only a couple of moorings were available on the opposite bank below the weir.

The grass on the bank had only recently been cut and being wet we could see it being traipsed all through the boats. We did speak to the lady on N/b Kanbedun Again who was on the water point by the swimming pool and she informed us that she had been moored by the weir for 48 hours and found no problems. Despite her reassurances we opted to return to Clayhithe where it was quieter and probably the best mooring site on the river Cam.

Regarding the state of the resident boats in Cambridge we have read that repairing and maintaining of boats while on their moorings is forbidden so its no wonder that the boats are in a hell of a state. Do the council or river conservancy expect the boat owners to race off to a boat yard which are few and far between around here or take the boat out of the water every time something needs fixing? Come on guys get real, I feel certain that if the boat owners were allowed to work on their boats on the moorings some of them would at least be a lot cleaner and tidier than at present. As Cambridge is renowned for its water sport and the river I'm surprised that more pride is not taken in the river frontage. All the rowing clubs have clean and well kept premises along the bank so why not the rest of the river?

Mr and Mrs Duck and family, not usually seen together

1134 locks, 1537 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Train Trip to London for the day

Still moored at Waterbeach, River Cam

Today we left Derek and Christina in charge of the boat and we went into London by train. Its very handy here at Waterbeach as the station is only a 10 minute walk away whereas at Cambridge the station is a long way from the river. With 2 changes, one at Kings Cross and one at Vauxhall it took 2 hours to reach Wimbledon where we met up with Tracey for lunch at her favourite watering hole , The Walkabout.

On the return trip we took a different route and travelled with Thameslink from Wimbledon to St Pancras International and just had a short walk to Kings Cross to catch the First Capitol Connection home.

We seemed to have missed most of the forecasted rain but Derek told us that it had been raining in Waterbeach during the day. This evening we are again being rocked by the swell from the rowing skiffs that are out training, coxless 4's, coxed 4's and 8's have all been flying past our window this evening. Still we shouldn't complain as this is one of the things that Cambridge is famous for and that is only 6 miles down river.

Yesterday on our travels we spotted a Great Spotted Woodpecker and found his nest hole. So last evening I went back armed with my camera and managed to get these lovely shots. Unfortunately some better shots didn't come out quite so clear so I will go back again with my tripod and have another shot and see what transpires.

1132 locks, 1525 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006