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.

We've been noted.

0 Locks, 2 miles now moored at Little Thetford,  River Great  Ouse

In the last 2 days it has been noted that we have all had our names and numbers taken, initially by the (presumably) council mooring warden and yesterday by the EA river patrol. We have since found out that the river patrol had a 2007  list of boat registrations for this area and they were looking to see if any of the boats that hadn't re-registered for 2008 were still in the vicinity.

Due to the fact that our 48 hours was up in Ely we have all, Narrowboats No Problem, Moore 2 Life, Kanbedun Again, Kalimera and ourselves moved out of town back up river to Little Thetford for the week-end. We had originally thought that there would be plenty of room for all but the southern end of the mooring is very shallow and none of us can get in there so No Problem has moored off the north end of the moorings in the long grass and Nb Kanbedun Again is breasted up against us. We have also been joined by Nb Om Shanti which is a new comer to our normal circle of friends.

Not long after mooring up I got the paint pot out and put on the first top coat to seal in the sand on the port side gunnels before the sand got washed away. Tomorrow I will put on the second coat but if it is wet I will make a start on the bedroom cupboards.

1168 locks, 1653 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Enchanting Ely

Still moored at Ely, River Great Ouse

Today has been one of , socialising, shopping and odd jobs. As it was market day, the girls from three of the four boats traipsed off to see what bargains where to be had while Christina caught the train home for a hospital appointment,and the men got stuck into some odd jobs on the boats.

I had kept all the timber from the modifications I have been doing on the boat and I had enough to make 2 bedside units to go on the wall above the existing floor units, all I had to do was measure and cut it. I spoke to the guys in the nearby marina about getting some timber cut and they agreed to do it for me. While I had the boat to myself I set about measuring and marking out the timber and then took it to the boat yard for cutting. Derek on Kalimera also had a piece that he wanted cut to size so he gave me a hand to carry my load up to the yard. It took the carpenter 10 minutes to do what would have taken me hours. All I have to do now is a bit of sanding for the final fit and then assemble the whole thing.

While chatting to Sue and Vic this afternoon Sue bought our attention to a Barn Owl hunting in the field opposite, it was just a pity that we couldn't have got closer. We also have a Canadian Geese nursery close by with 22 goslings and anything from 6 to 12 adults supervising while the remaining adult's just carry on filling their bellies.