East of England show.

Still moored at Peterborough

Saturday was going to be a busy day for us. We started off by walking to the bus station where we caught the open top bus to the show grounds at Alwalton for the East of England agricultural show. The bus itself was a rarity being an old Routemaster of approx; 30 years of age. As we boarded the bus the first people we saw were Sue and Vic on N/b No Problem, along with Ann and Chas plus 3 dogs, they had caught the train to Peterborough and then the bus. The bus trip only took about 20 minutes dropping us at the main gate of the show.

Once in the gate it was a case of where to look first. As it turned out the Royal Artillery Motorcycle stunt team were just about to start the first performance of the day so that's where we started . As well as precision and formation riding they also performed a 13 man pyramid on 5 motorbikes and then 3 riders took turns to jump over cars starting with 1 and finishing with 4.

Next came the Shire horse's beautifully adorned with immaculate Brewer's dray's and the like in tow. Magnificent animals doing what they do best. This was followed by ponies and traps of various sizes.

While heading off towards the giant steaming traction engines, road roller and fair ground engines we found the vintage car section with 70 to 80 cars of all makes and models on show. A 1950 Ford Anglia even had the original car dealers advertising inside it on display. The new price for the car in those days was £297 but the average weekly wage in those days might have only been £15. As well as the full size traction engines there were a couple of working miniatures perhaps about 1/4 scale correct right down to the smallest detail. Two machines were busy running a saw mill and a hay bailing machine. The saw mill really made the traction engine strain as the saw bit into the log's being fed onto it. There was also traditional fair ground caravans from the steam era and a beautifully restored fairground organ belting out some fantastic music. Made the hair on the back of my neck curl.

As well as all this was the most important part of the show as far as rural folk were concerned, that was all the latest tractors and machinery. For the city folk there was the display of all the vintage tractors and machinery showing how things used to be down and how primitive early agricultural machinery used to be.

Among the exhibitors caravans and motor homes we found 2 ex military trucks of WWII vintage. Upon closer examination we found that they too had been converted into motor homes and one was adorned with rally plaques going back nearly 40 years.

Of course there was the live stock where farmers could check out potential new breeding stock and city folk to get up close and personal with sheep, pigs cattle, horses and alpaca's. It has been found that running a couple of the latter beastie's in a flock of lambing sheep reduces the number of lambs lost to predators such as foxes.

There were so many trade stands that we didn't have a hope of getting to them all and we had to catch the 3.30 bus back to town as we were going out to dinner with my cousin and family. All in all a brilliant day out.

1173 locks, 1711½ miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Back in Peterborough.

1 Lock, 6 miles now moored at Peterborough

As today was market day in Whittlesey the girls went to see what was on offer but were back on board very quickly as the market only consisted of 5 stalls. We had read that this market was of no great consequence due to its proximity to Peterborough.

Even though we were not booked to go through Stanground lock until 2pm we set off just after 11am which gave us plenty of time.The weather was slightly better than yesterday but there was a chilly wind blowing. It was an uneventful cruise and we reached Stanground lock just after 12.30. Madam lock keeper was already on hand and she was quite happy for us to go straight through. We learnt that she had taken over the job from her father who had done the job for 55 years and at 77 years of age he was still on hand helping his daughter. It also transpired that she had lots of cousins living in New Zealand. Their parents had emigrated to NZ but once the children were old enough Mum and Dad returned to Peterborough because Dad missed the football (soccer). Obviously not a Rugby man.

We have a busy week-end ahead of us with the Saturday market first on the list, followed by a visit to the East of England Show ( copy cat Sue) and then going out to dinner with my cousin Pam and family. Sunday we will move up to Ferry Meadows to see what the moorings are like up there. It's just as well we are settled in for the night as it is now pouring with rain, I hope this doesn't create more flooding and disrupt our plans again!

1173 locks, 1711½ miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

What happened to Summer?

1 Lock, 11 miles now moored at Manor Leisure Centre, Whittlesey

When we pulled out of March the weather was fine but cooler than it has been for the last few days. Once out of town we could see the forecasted rain clouds amassing on the horizon which became more threatening as the day wore on. We pushed on hoping that we would be moored up before the rain arrived but that was not to be. We managed about 8 miles before the first light rain arrived but on its tail was a real filthy dirty black cloud that we could see was giving the land in its path a good drenching. We were unable to outrun this cloud so by the time we reached the 20 foot drain we were getting a good down pour. Luckily this didn't last too long and we made Whittlesey in the dry.

The Butter Cross formerly the Market Cross in Whittlesey

The moorings at the leisure centre are only big enough for 2 boats and there was already 1 boat in residence so we have had to breast up. It has narrowed the channel but there is still room for a wide beam to pass.

The old fire station with the council offices between the two doors

All along the way over the last 2 days we have seen where fisherman have been down to the river clearing their favourite fishing holes in readiness for Monday's opening of the new fishing season. Some have even put up sign's stating "No Mooring, site for fishing only 16th June". I was very tempted to stop and amend the signs or even hide them but I was told to behave myself.

Tomorrow is market day here so the girls will wander across the leisure centre grounds before we leave for our booking through Stanground Lock at 2pm.

1172 locks, 1705½ miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Sigh,Yawn, Boring.

3 Locks, 26½ miles now moored at March town Moorings, Nene Ouse Link

As our booking at Denver sluice wasn't until 12 noon there was no great hurry to leave the Windmill moorings this morning. After topping up the water and washing the boats we eventually left about 10am which turned out to be a bit premature as it only took us 45 minutes to reach Denver. Upon our arrival at the lock moorings we found a boat moored smack in the middle making it impossible to moor in front or behind him. As we tried to moor behind this boat Dot called out to the 5 beer guzzling occupants if they would mind shifting up so we could all use the landing. This they did without any argument and then carried on drinking.

Twelve noon came and went and it wasn't until 12.40 that anything started to happen. There were 5 boats heading for Salters Lode and 2 in the other direction so it was quite busy. The trip across to Salters Lode was uneventful except for the fact that the entrance to Salters is poorly marked and I turned a wee bit too soon but we made it unscathed.

The trip through Upwell and Outwell was slow due to low water levels and weed. It is also very boring when there is nothing to see. The Middle Level Commissioners had 2 of their weed cutting and clearing boats out doing a spot of channel clearing but this didn't help us much.

Once we got back out onto the river Nene again we were able to open the throttle a bit and as it was quite windy all the wind turbines along the way were working which was rather mesmerising with all the blades swishing around in unison.

We eventually made March by 6.30pm where we found only enough room for us to breast up at the back of the moorings with our sterns in the bushes. One of the other boaters came along and said that 1 boat further up was unoccupied, loosely moored and swinging out across the channel so if we secured his boat and it sort of mysteriously moved up a bollard he would move up and we could then moor properly. This we did and I then went off to the chippie for Shark and Taters for tea. It was too late to think about cooking.

1171 locks, 1694½ miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Denver Bound

0 Locks, 13 miles now moored at Windmill Moorings, River Great Ouse

This morning was spent doing little odd jobs inside the boats where nobody could see us because Cambridgeshire County council who administer the Ely moorings don't allow the moorings to be used for maintenance or repairs except under emergency conditions.

After lunch Christina on Nb Kalimera returned from Paignton where she has been since Friday. She had barely got aboard when the ropes were let loose and we were away. We didn't go far to start off with, just to the other end of town where there is water and a pump out facility. As soon as our tanks were empty or full as the case may be, we set off with the intention of getting as close as possible to Denver so that tomorrow will only be a short cruise to make the midday appointment to cross back to the Middle Level.

The crooked house - This photo doesn't show to what extent it is

After a lovely late afternoon cruise in brilliant sunshine we eventually made land at the windmill moorings, Hilgay just before 6pm. We have been told the name windmill comes from an old pub that use to be here but has since been demolished. These long summer evenings keep catching us out as we tend to think that it's earlier than it actually is. Just as an example, it is 10pm as I write this and yet outside it is only just starting to get dark.

The last couple of mornings I have been woken up about 5 am with brilliant sunshine pouring in through the curtains.

Don't these look inviting? Christina's gift to me wasn't what it seemed the lovely 'cakes' turned out to be rock. Dot nearly died laughing as she was in on the joke.

1168 locks, 1668 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

The party's over.

0 Locks, 2 miles moored back at Ely,  River Great  Ouse

(Monday) After a delightful week-end at Little Thetford spending time with Sue & Vic and Ann & Chas, Monday morning came around too soon. Our newly found friends on Om Shanti, Mick & Lynda were first to leave on their journey to Great Barford. Mick is a Hertfordshire boy as is Derek so that had lots to chat about.

We stayed as long as possible but by late morning it was our turn to say farewell and push off back to Ely. Once back on the Ely 48 hour moorings Dot went into town and Derek (Kalimera) and I went off to Jewsons for some timber mouldings. While walking past Tesco's we saw 2 people sitting in the cafeteria waving their arms around like a pair of Looney's. Initially we ignored them as we thought nobody know's us around here but when we got up close we realised that it was Sue and Ann who had caught the bus in from Little Thetford.

When Dot returned to the boat she said " Guess who I bumped into in town" and of course it wasn't hard to put 2 and 2 together and work out that she had also met up with Sue and Ann somewhere in town. They just keep popping up when you least expect them.

Today has been a real scorcher weather wise and probably the hottest day this year. Needless to say it was too hot to even think about doing any jobs around the boat, it was a case of just trying to keep cool.

1168 locks, 1655 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Little Thetford

Still moored at Little Thetford, River Great Ouse

Today has been showery all day but it wasn't enough to deter Sue, Anne and Dot from going on a long hike to Stretham and back via little Thetford village. In the meantime the men folk carried on with repairs and maintenance. I made a start on the bedside wall unit which the Ely boat yard had cut for me. There were still some minor modifications to made but it went together reasonably well and looks as if it is original. It also cost me a heck of lot less than some quotes I have been given by various boat yards. Once the other unit is finished I can dispose of a lot of timber that we have been storing on the boat to be able to do all the modifications.

The old windmill now a private dwelling in Stretham

Sue, Anne and the girls admiring another interesting home in Little Thetford.