Cruising Log 2001

A bright but chilly day. Ran engine, checked bow-thruster and damp-collectors.

River is back to something like normal flow but navigation now closed due to the ‘Foot and Mouth’ outbreak. We have decided to stay at Littleport and not return to the Pike because the flooding problem there is beyond a joke. At least here the water levels are controlled by Denver Sluice.

Pumped and dried everything but the thruster has decided to stop working. Batteries very low, but engine started OK. Washed the green stuff off the hull and made a list of things to be done at the new mooring to get it right. A mild day with weak sunshine.

Arrived 10.30am and wheel-barrowed all our stuff to the mooring. Started engine but the vee-belt was slipping badly. Dried out thruster, sprayed it with WD40 and got it working again. After lunch we lit the stove, checked the mains electrics and cables at the mooring, aired the bed, chatted to neighbours etc etc.

After a chinese chicken supper, read papers and turned in at 10. Weather cloudy, frequent showers, chilly breeze.

A new mooring at Littleport Boathaven

We were woken at 7am by the dog grizzling to go out. A very strong NW wind but successfully winded in the marina entrance after a couple of false starts and set off for Ely to re-fill with water. However the vee-belt squeal was too bad so we turned about opposite the Black Horse and returned. Re-berthing was an interesting experience in the strong wind.

Spent the rest of the morning making some changes to the mooring, until the wind became just too strong, when the rain and hailstones began we packed in for the day. Bought some coal, lit the stove and settled back with the papers while the wind and rain whistled outside. Played Scrabble in the evening and Steve won – a ‘first’!

½ hour

The weather was as bad today as yesterday so we did a bit of general cleaning and tidying and went home after lunch. The engine vee-belt is knackered and we will have to get another one.

A good boat day. 2 new vee-belts arrived from Beta Marine so fitted one on and did some touching-up of rusty areas on the hull. Home at 5pm for Chinese Theme night at our local pub.

Arrived at 6pm and loaded up for Reach Fair boat gathering trip. Buttered cod supper. A calm clear night but very cold and needed extra blankets on the bed for the first time ever.

A fine sunny morning with a light north-east breeze. Left Littleport at 8.50am; arrived Ely for water and loo empty at 10am. Travelled on to the ‘5 Miles’ and met up with Derek Bradley on ‘Zadok’. Had a couple of drinks in the pub and then worked through Upware Lock (very slow to operate; maximum length probably 60 feet).

A steady run to Reach though the far end of the lode is very shallow and narrow and we stirred up a lot of mud. Wind had increased a lot by this time but we managed to turn at Reach Hythe with no problem. Reversed up the ‘dead end’ and moored behind NB ‘St.Kilda’ (where the gang-plank was a ‘must’, we were more than 2 feet from the side on a steeply sloping bank). Walked the dog, chatted to a few people, steak pie supper and a couple in the pub in Reach village before bed at 11.30pm.

3 ½ hours, 1 lock

The IWA Reach Fair 'Gathering of Boats' 2001

6 May 2001

A stiff cold NE wind all day. We spent the day around the gathering-site or in the pub. A successful bar-b-q in the evening and not as cold as expected, but we didn’t win the quiz.

Merry boaters' bar-b-q at Reach Fair 2001

Left Reach at 9.50am; brilliant sunshine but still the biting wind. Managed to extricate ourselves from the other boats at the gathering and made our way slowly to Upware, passing several other boats all heading for the fair. Worked through Upware lock and motored on to Ely where we lunched, walked the dog and attended to water and loo. By this time the wind was really fierce and we set off again (trying to avoid rowing-boats) with ‘white horses’ on the river and big waves splashing over the bows. Really rough. Had real trouble re-berthing and ended up shunting the boat moored in front of us. Finally shut the engine off at 4.30 pm.

3 ½ hours, 1 lock

Arrived at 7.30 on a glorious hot sunny evening. Loaded up and cooked an enormous chicken stew which we ate on the bank in the sunshine.

A late rising but another lovely sunny day. Washed the boat down, got some gas and then a short trip to the Black Horse for the Pike and Eel Boat Club meeting. After the usual rounds of beer, sat in the sun and chatted, did a bit of boat-polishing etc. Bar-b-qed some steaks on the towpath in the evening and had a few drinks on ‘Solstice’. Bed at 11pm

¼ hour

A damp and gloomy day but brighter later. Carried on polishing; Cathy and Andrew came over mid-afternoon and we had a couple in the Black Horse. After a steak pie supper we returned to the pub for a drink and a chat with other members of the PEPC.

A grey start with a stiff breeze. Left Littleport for Ely for water and a diesel fill. Saw lot of people we know up and down the river.

Turned below above the upstream rail bridge and headed back to the boathaven arriving at 1pm, whereupon the sun came out. Spent the rest of the afternoon lounging on the bank in the sun and left for home around 5pm.

2 ½ hours

Arrived at 9.30am and loaded up. Gary arrived at 10.30, we finally left at 11.20. A pleasant leisurely run to Denver, arriving at 1.20pm and moored near the GOBA water-tap. After lunch we spent some time ‘on duty’ on the IWA exhibition boat NB ‘Jubilee’ and a few in the Jenyns Arms. Bed at 11.30 after a drumstick supper.

1 ¾ hours

A very hot day indeed. We spent a little time on duty on Jubilee, filled with water, went to the pub etc. Met another couple with Bearded collies, all suffering in the hot sunshine. We chucked buckets of river-water over them all. Left mid-afternoon, Gary steering, back to Littleport where Gary took off for Cambridge by car. Slowly packed up and left for home around 8.30pm.

2 hours

A lovely sunny day. Steve and Mop did lots of painting polishing and other boaty things and bed at 10.30pm after a huge fry-up supper.

More painting polishing and chores. Tidied up the mooring a bit. Back home shortly after lunch.

A hot sultry afternoon. Arrived at 4.30 and loaded up, drove back to Tescos for extra provisions e.g. beer, wine etc. Gammon steak supper and early bed.

Up at 8 and after usual messing around left at 11.15, arriving Ely 12.15pm. Watered up and carried on to the Fish and Duck. Halfway there we got caught in a torrential rainstorm. Managed to get the last GOBA mooring by the railway bridge at Popes Corner. It rained and blew a gale the whole afternoon – atrocious conditions – not clearing up until after supper. At this point we squelched to the pub, had a few drinks and chatted to other boaters.

2 hours

20 August 2001

A chilly morning with scudding broken cloud. Set off at 10am and caught up the world’s slowest narrowboat – we were gaining on him on tick-over and of course just where the Old West is too narrow to overtake anything safely for miles. Eventually we stopped at Aldreth Bridge moorings for lunch to let him get away.

Worked through Hermitage lock with Phil and Linda on cruiser ‘Flipper’ – a new purchase and they’d never used a lock before. Got to the Pike at 5. Met up with several old friends. Called it a day after supper and a nightcap at the pub.

4 hours, 2 locks

Met up with Glen and Sally off ‘Shambo II’ and also Phil and Linda again who had stayed over at the Pike as well. Did the loo and left at 11am. Lunch on Houghton Island. A strong southerly wind by now. Left the island only to find chaos at Houghton lock where they were trying to tow a broken-down boat into the lock and the wind – always a problem at Houghton – was blowing everyone all over the place. Eventually got in the lock but gave the hull a serious thump as the wind caught us, to the amusement of the gongoozlers – bastards.

Arrived at Hartford Mill House at 4pm, located Andy in the bar (surprise, surprise). Had a couple of pints and supper in the Mill House where the local Harley Davidson club was having a big bike meeting.

4 hours, 3 locks

Andy and Meg went into St.Ives for provisions. Left Hartford at 11 am. Decided to go as far as Buckden and haul it to Great Barford tomorrow. A pleasant trip, warm sun, arrived Buckden at 2pm and moored up at the Marina Village. Lazed about for the rest of the day.

3 hours, 2 locks

Took on water and left Buckden at 9.30am. Fast trip to Barford, all locks with us, arrived 2.30pm. Tightened vee-belt and went for a pint at the Anchor; just as we got back the rain started. When we opened the bow doors after the rain we were invaded by flying insects. Andy borrowed a fly-spray from the boat next door which sorted them out and we kept the doors shut for the rest of the evening. The next morning there was a carpet of dead greenfly on the floor of the cratch that we had to sweep up.

5 hours, 5 locks

Left Barford at 10.30 – beautiful morning and lovely run to Bedford; only one other boat on the move. Checked into marina at 1.30pm, watered up and moved to berth where we would stay for the weekend while we visited the National Waterways Festival in Milton Keynes by car. Very impressed with the friendly and efficient people at Priory; all ways round a much better place since BW took over.

3 hours, 3 locks

Visitor moorings at Priory Marina, Bedford

A delightful day at the ‘National’. Met the Parkers off ‘Bobbles’ and several other friends and acquaintances. Ali cooked a big stir-fry supper on our return.

Andy and Ali took the boat out for the day while we returned to the ‘National’ with Catherine and Andrew. The boat trip nearly ended in disaster for Andy and Ali when the engine fuel leak-off pipe fractured and the engine stopped – fortunately, within the marina on the return trip. This was repaired with the help of the Priory Marina engineer who was actually on his way home for the night at the time. Full marks and grateful thanks to Priory and a pox on the crappy mod that Beta had done on the engine – apparently to meet the requirements of the BSS! Some safety feature. We slung the broken leak-off pipe away and coupled the tank return straight into the last injector – it worked fine. (and, as of July 2006, has done ever since).

Then Meg cooked a superb 4-course meal for 6 while the rest of us went to the pub. Catherine and Andrew left after supper.

4 hours, 2 locks

Stayed at Priory all day and lazed about. Andy and Ali left for home after breakfast.

Re-filled with water, did loo etc and left Bedford at 10.30. Worked through locks with a cruiser from Bedford Boat Club which made things easier. Tied up at Great Barford at 1.30pm. Sat in the sun, had a couple of sundowners in the Anchor, and so to bed.

3 hours, 3 locks

    Back at Great Barford again!

A poor weather forecast but still a lovely morning. Left Barford at 8.30 heading for Buckden via a shopping stop at St.Neots. River deserted until Eaton Socon where we stopped at the Rivermill for an ice-cream. Then on to St.Neots, arriving at the town mooring at 12.30. Went to the bank for cash and to Waitrose for food; returned to find the boat surrounded by a bunch of young kids asking lots of questions. Nice kids really but bored to tears. Set off for Buckden after a salad lunch and arrived Buckden at 4.30pm. Paid our dues, read the papers, then changed and went to the club-house for a drink.

8 hours, 5 locks

Left at 9am on a misty cloudy morning, destination Pike and Eel. At Hemingford lock the hitherto deserted river became alive with boats with a huge queue waiting to come upstream. Sun came out at lunchtime and it turned out to be a pleasant day. Tied up at the Pike around 3pm.

3 hours, 2 locks

A very lazy start and ambled through to the Old West where we were pestered by several hire cruisers struggling to overtake as they rushed back to Ely. Decided to have lunch on arrival at Popes Corner and got to the Fish and Duck just as it closed!

Went for a long dog-walk across the fens after lunch.

3 hours, 2 locks

Last day of the hol; ambled back through Ely and exchanged insults with some of the PEBC reprobates congregated on Town Quay in Ely. Reached Littleport at lunchtime.

A lazy clear-up and return home after a great couple of weeks.

1 ¾ hours

Took Ken and Liz our friends from Australia down to see the boat, arriving mid-day. We knew the Pike was flooded and had heard the river was closed to navigation because of strong streams. Well not at Littleport. We chugged up to the Black Horse for lunch and back again. River flow was quite strong but nothing extraordinary. A lovely day and we could have done more with it if we had got decent information about the state of the river.

½ hour