Have made several trips down over the winter to check batteries etc. but no winter cruising this year. Installed the new fridge – an Isotherm Cruise 100. First cruise of the season was to Reach Fair.

Came down a couple of times to load up and prepare for the season and the big trip to Market Drayton. Andy and Ali arrived at mid-day and we left for Reach at around 2pm. Stopped for water in Ely and then tramped on under grey gloomy skies to Reach. Through Reach lock and arrived at Reach Hythe at 7.30pm. After a bit of faffing about, we finally tied up on the sheep field; the water as shallow as ever and a full gang-plank length from the bank. Went to the pub then came back for supper at 9pm and bed.

4 hours, 1 lock

A bright day. Ali walked to the shops for papers etc. We did one or two boaty jobs then went to the pub for a couple. In the afternoon, chatted to other boaters and started to set up the bar-b-qs at 5pm. A good evening, not cold. Nick and Sally-Anne off NB Lady Blatherwick won the quiz. After the bar-b-q, A&S went for a nightcap.

                                                                                   Reach Fair 2004                                                                          A study in concentration - Reach Fair boater's quiz 2004

Rain – lots of it. We collected our chairs and the pot-belly bar-b-q from Peter and Jean on NB Arachne and squelched off to the fair. Awful! Everyone was trying to put a brave face on it but it just rained and rained and the event was a total wash-out. After sheltering alternately in the bar and in the IWA tent, we were so cold wet and fed up that we returned to the boat, slipped the lines and were gone by 1pm. (We later learned that the fair lost a considerable amount of money; however the IWA stall did better than last year).

Topped the water up at the tap by Reach lock and then locked through with NB Harlequin; her crew had also had enough and were heading back to Cambridge.

Reached Littleport at 4.30 with the skies beginning to clear. Saw Ali off back to Worcester, winded out of Littleport and carried on downstream to Denver, arriving at 7.30pm and moored on the lock waiting area. Locking is about 8.15 am tomorrow. A carbonara supper was followed by a nightcap in the Jenyns Arms and bed at 11. The weather forecast for tomorrow is diabolical!

5 ½ hours, 1 lock

Awoke to driving rain, a howling wind and white horses on the river. Just the day for the tidal passage. The lockie said it would be OK to go and we entered Denver lock at 8.45am. However our exit was delayed due to a broken-down cruiser in Salters Lode and the tide was ebbing fast when we were eventually waved through. We scraped the sand-bar, hit the fresh coming down the 100-foot and hurtled towards Salters Lode. Andy did a superb turn; only a slight bump on the lock wing-wall (which bumped the fruit-bowl off the work-top in the kitchen and it broke). Left Salters Lode at 9.45 onto the (relatively) tranquil waters of Well Creek. It was still raining and the wind was extremely strong and gusty. Arrived at Marmont Priory lock at exactly mid-day. As we passed through March the wind moderated and the rain eased. Reached Ashline at 5 and tied up on Whittlesey visitor moorings at 5.30pm.Everything and everywhere is sopping wet. We then went to visit Cathy and Andrew, had a couple in the Bricklayers Arms, a steak supper in the Hero of Aliwell and back to the boat at 11pm. The stove still ticking away and things are drying out.

9 hours, 4 locks

A sunny morning but the outlook is for more rain. A call to EA confirmed that they have closed the Nene to navigation and the locks are reversed. We stayed at the mooring all day. Shopped in am, then the rain started. Had a few in the Bricklayers and lounged about in the afternoon. Cathy and Andrew came over for supper. After dinner had to fix the blocked-up sink. Everyone is fed up and irritable. Hope for a better day

                                                            Moorings at Whittlesey, Middle Level Navigations                                             The 'Bricklayers' Arms' in Whittlesey - our 'home from home'

The Nene is still closed. Meg and Cathy went to Peterborough, Andy and Steve winded the boat and returned to March to top up with diesel, re-fill with water, empty the bog and get some booze. Left Fox’s at 3pm. No rain yet despite the bad forecast but we could hear thunder a long way off. Walked up to Cathy’s and had a spag bog supper with them after the ritual visit to the Bricklayers.

Home and bed at 10pm. Another boat, NB Octopus has joined us on the mooring also waiting to get onto the Nene. One other boat on the move today, NB Straw Bear.

6 hours, 2 locks

Another waiting day. EA do not know when the Nene will be passable. Hung about, went to the pub, went for a (surprisingly good) chinese in the evening. After a pleasant day it began to rain later in the evening and it poured all night.

We aborted the Market Drayton trip today. The Nene is still closed to navigation and we have run out of time. Phoned Fox’s yard in March to check that they could put Tambourine up for a few days, then winded and locked out of Whittlesey at 9.45am. A cold, dark, grey morning. Arrived at Fox’s Marina at 12.45 and were given a mooring. After several phone calls between us, Fox’s and Ted’s yard, we arranged for Tambourine to be craned on June 1^st and taken to Ted’s by road. It will be expensive. After lunch, Steve got the train to Littleport to recover the car. A pork casserole meal in the evening and bed at 11.

3 hours, 1 lock

Tidied up after breakfast, took Andy to the station and drove home. A very disappointing week and a lot of extra expense and wasted holiday time. The lady at Fox’s told us that the Nene may not re-open until towards the end of the month and the Great Ouse is closed to navigation above Hermitage lock.

We will come back to March later and prepare Tambourine for crane-out.

Drove back to March today to prepare boat for craning and transport to Market Drayton tomorrow. On the way home visited Bill Fen Marina and were very impressed by what we found. Decided then not to return Tambourine to Littleport; time to explore pastures new. From the MLN we can always get back to the Ouse but can also explore the Nene a bit better and even make the occasional canal trip. We are going to ask the Shotbolts to put us on their waiting list. It will also save us £400 per year which will help.

After some delays for various reasons the re-painting is now almost finished. It looks very fine indeed. Tambourine will be craned back into the water on Thursday next (29^th). We now have a mooring reserved at Bill Fen marina.

Went to Littleport to tell Gary Andrews we wouldn’t be coming back but he wasn’t there so we left a note. Retrieved the back tying-up rope and the ‘Tambourine’ mooring sign and departed.

Arrived at Ted’s Boatyard at Market Drayton at 11.30pm. Eventually found the boat tied up some 100 yards from the basin. Some strange looks from the locals as we unloaded the car and skulked around in the dark. Boat looks great. Had a glass of vino, made up the bed and turned in at 1am.

                                                                                                                               Collecting 'Tambourine' from Market Drayton

Made a quick tidy up and cleaned all the dusty surfaces. Went back to the yard to settle the bill, had a chat with Martin Beer and left at 11am. A warm morning and early light rain had cleared away. Stopped for a chilli lunch at the top of Audlem flight.

                                                                                                                                Lunch-time at the top of the 'Audlem flight'

Saw Bob and Moreen on their new NB Rheidol and said we’d meet them later at the Shroppie Fly. Tied up on the 5-day visitor moorings at Audlem opposite the pub car-park at 5.30pm. Re-hung the curtains, went for supper at the pub with Roger. On our return had a chat with some other moorers and went for a coffee with them on their boat. Bed at midnight. A great day and lots of nice comments about the boat.

6 ½ hours, 17 locks

                                                                                                                                            Mooring at Audlem

Surfaced at 8.30am. Got a paper from the village shop. Met up with Bob and Moreen and had a long chat while they filled with water. Watered up ourselves and then away at 10.30. Lots of boats about and quite a wait at Hack Green locks. Arrived Nantwich at 1.30pm and had lunch in the Canal Centre café. Bought some tying-up hooks at the chandlery. Then a long trek to Bunbury behind a very slow hire-boat that eventually turned off at Hurlston. Then we got shouted at by an SAP through Calveley for going too fast!

Locked down Bunbury staircase with an Anglo-Welsh hired boat going home to Bunbury Wharf. Arrived at Tilstone New Wharf at 5.30pm. Had supper with Roger and Ros, who then ran us back to Drayton to collect the car. Back in Chrishall at half past midnight.

Slightly concerned about the worsening noise from the boat engine/transmission and may get someone to look at it before we go away next week.

7 hours, 8 locks

Martin Beer of Ted’s Boatyard has looked at the boat. The drive-plate is almost knackered but he reckons it will get us to Llangollen and back. We loaded up and left Tilstone New Wharf at 6pm in convoy with Roger and Ros on NB Turnotheworld. Reversed through Tilstone lock and almost to Bunbury lock to find the turning hole. Interesting but we probably won't try it again. Arrived at Barbridge and got a mooring just before the junction. Roger moved up nearer to the pub. Decided not to meet up at the pub due to the pouring rain. Cathy cooked a spag bog supper and we opened a bottle or two. Andrew and Steve went up to the Jolly Tar for a nightcap when the rain stopped.

2 ½ hours, 3 locks (1 staircase)

10 August 2004

Woke at 9am to driving rain and waited until 11 for it to ease off. Held up at the entrance to Hurleston Bottom lock where a chap had forgotten to raise his fenders and was firmly stuck in the chamber. There is a notice that says ‘Raise fenders’ – but you can only see it once you’re inside the lock….! Water and bog duty at the top lock and then pressed on to Wrenbury with a salad lunch on the move. Decided not to make it to the Willey Moor pub so stopped on the piling beyond Marbury lock at around 6pm. Towpath bar-b-q and bed at 11pm.

                                                                        Hurleston Locks, Llangollen Canal                                                                              Bog duty at the top of  Hurleston locks

                                                                                                    (Picture © Catherine Read)                                                                                                                                    (Picture © Catherine Read)    

                                                                                    Wrenbury Lift-bridge                                                                                                 Swanley lock

                                                                                               (Picture © Catherine Read)                                                                                                                      (Picture © Catherine Read) 

7 hours, 10 locks, 3 lifting bridges

It rained in the night but had stopped by morning. Left at 9 and bumped our way up the locks with their horrid bypass weirs to Grindley Brook. Had a 1-hour wait at the bottom of the staircase for boats to come down (there had been delays due to a collapsed bridge further up) so finished off last night’s bar-b-q- salad for lunch. Bog and water at the top of the flight then on through familiar territory; Whitchurch, Platt Lane, Whixall Moss, and finally pulled in just beyond the BW 48-hour moorings at Hampton Bank at 7pm. Roger has hit something under water and believes his propeller is damaged.

After a chicken and gammon stew thingy, Andrew, Cathy and S walked to the Horse and Jockey at Northwood. Booked a table for a meal on Friday night and the landlord gave us a lift back to the canal. A warm day with squally showers on and off.

10 hours, 9 locks (1 staircase), 4 lifting bridges

Left Hampton Bank at 9am, a nice morning with some scuddy clouds. Stopped for bog duty at Maestermyn Marine and a bar snack at the Narrow Boat pub. Served by a landlord who gave the impression he really didn’t want to be there. Ellesmere tunnel was difficult because of the faulty cam on the throttle control, you can either go too slow or too fast. Delayed for an hour at New Marton lock where a tree branch had wedged between the gate and the cill. An enterprising American hire-boater dived into the lock and removed it. Rather him than me. The canal was extremely busy today. A similar difficult passage through Chirk and Whitehouses tunnels but we pressed on through the narrow windy bits and finally reached the aqueduct at 7.30pm and Trevor basin at 8pm. Moored beyond the road bridge at the end of the basin. Andrew, Cathy and S had a quick one in the Telford, then dinner on Roger’s boat and bed at 11.30. A cloudy day with very heavy rain in the afternoon.

                                                                        The 'Narrowboat' pub at Maestermyn                                                                                     Chirk Aqueduct

                                                                               (Picture © Andrew Read)                                                                                                                              (Picture © Catherine Read)   

                                                                        Andrew cranks the lifting bridge at Ffron                                                                          Pontscyllte Aqueduct

                                                                                          (Picture © Catherine Read)                                                                                                                  (Picture © Catherine Read)

11 hours, 2 locks, 3 tunnels, 2 aqueducts, 1 lift-bridge

Winded the boats in the basin arm and re-crossed the aqueduct at 9am. Cathy took the helm from the basin to the end of Chirk aqueduct. Lots of traffic again today but mostly coming up. Lunch on the move but a brief bog-stop at Maestermyn. Just outside Ellesmere we were pushed aground by a hire-boat but managed to get off using the pole in the end. Arrived back at Hampton Bank at 5.30pm, and 1½ hours less running time than the trip up. Walked to the Horse and Jockey for supper and the landlord gave us a lift back again.

8 ½ hours, 2 locks, 3 tunnels, 2 aqueducts, 1 lift-bridge

We left Hampton Bank at 9.30am, nice sunny morning. Roger has made an appointment at Alvechurch Marine at Wrenbury to have his boat hoisted and the broken propellor inspected. Met a couple of prat kids at Whitchurch who shut a lifting bridge right in front of us – we put a canal curse on them and they will get diarrhoea for a week. Did a bog-empty at Grindley Brook. Cathy steered a lot of the way and Andrew took several turns as well. Got pushed aground again but got off with the pole. Finally arrived at Wrenbury and tied up on the upside of the swing bridge shortly before 6pm. A good supper at the Cotton Arms and retired replete at 11pm.

8 ½ hours, 10 locks (1 staircase), 6 lift bridges

S woke at 7 and made the tea – a first for the hol. Went across to the Alvechurch gift shop and wasted money on canally stuff. Finally raised the lift-bridge and left Wrenbury at 10am, leaving Roger and Ros behind to sort their prop out.

A good fast run to Hurlston with lots of people coming up made for speedy lock passages. Stopped for water and bog duty at the top of Hurlstone flight. Worked down Hurlestone on our own – suddenly, no traffic at all! A gentle cruise to Bunbury in the afternoon sun, down the staircase and finally tied up at Tilstone New Wharf at 4.30pm. A pleasant end to the hol. Went to the Dysart Arms in Bunbury for an ‘end of hol’ meal that was so bad we ended up not paying for it.

6 ½ hours, 12 locks (1 staircase), 2 lift-bridges

Arrived at 4.30pm after a rain-soaked couple of days at the ‘National’ festival at Burton-on-Trent. Went to Sainsburys to stock up. By the time we’d loaded up we couldn’t be bothered to go to Beeston to turn round so had a roast lamb dinner, cracked a bottle and watched a video, turned in at 11.30.

After brekky we left Tilstone New Wharf at 9. Down the heavy old Beeston locks and turned round beyond Chas Hardern’s yard. Stopped there for diesel but they hadn’t got any. Emptied bog, had a nose round the shop and moved on again. Had a chat with Caroline Docherty at Stone lock – she and Ken are moving to France. Did Bunbury Staircase with NB Toddling Fourth, a timeshare boat on its way to Barbridge. Stopped on Nantwich embankment for a sandwich lunch. Went to the chandlery and swapped the fender hangers that didn’t fit for some bottles of bog fluid and an ice-cream. Then on past endless rows of moored boats out of Nantwich and up Hack Green locks. Tied up at the S.U.C.S Coole Pilate moorings at 6pm exactly. A sunny day but a stiff chilly breeze. Chicken tonight!

9 hours, 7 locks (1 staircase), 1 aqueduct

                                                                                                                               Evening at Coole Pilate, Shropshire Union Canal

A beautiful misty morning. We left at 8.15 and worked up the first 3 Audlem locks. Stopped near the Shroppie Fly for a bit of shopping and bog duty. Left Audlem at 10.30 and worked the rest of the flight of locks on the one-up, one-down routine as there was lots of traffic coming down. Reached Market Drayton at 3pm and stopped at Ted’s Boatyard to pay for the clutch repair, get diesel, coal (a big relief as the smoke from the cheapo house-coal we got from a garage smells disgusting and is starting to make us feel sick), and some touch-up paint. Left Ted’s at 3.45pm and worked up Tyrley locks, reaching the Top lock at 5.30pm. Tied up on the visitor moorings here for the night. Did bilges, one or two domestic chores, watched a scouse family on a big hired boat having fun trying to wind by the lock and sat down to a huge steak casserole and bottle of wine at 6.30pm. A hot sunny day today; a real tonic after recent weather.

9 ¼ hours, 25 locks

Up at 7.30 and reversed back to the water-tap for a top-up. Then breakfast and we left Tyrley at 9.30. A steady journey through Woodseaves Cutting (very cold and dark) and on towards High Offley. Ran aground a couple of times when passing other boats but nothing severe. The moorings were full at the Anchor at High Offley (at mid-day!) so we carried on to Norbury and tied up on the embankment at 1.00pm.

                                                                                                                                                        Norbury Junction

Had a pint in the Junction pub (more friendly than last time we were here) and back to the boat for a huge salad lunch and a snooze. Such a lovely warm sunny afternoon we decided to go no further. Went for an ice-cream at the canal shop, bought some pots from the itinerant potter moored outside the pub. Canal seemed much quieter today. The weather has been glorious.

4 ½ hours, no locks

After the usuals we left Norbury at 9. Quite difficult through the cuttings; very dark and the air was misty; the occasional shafts of sunlight getting through the overhanging trees almost blinded you briefly. We just didn’t see the black narrowboat coming towards us and had to take some very quick evasive action. What he thought about us I daren’t think but all we got was a glare. Arrived in Brewood at 1 pm. Had a quick one in the Bridge Inn then Steve went shopping and Meg cleared up the boat a bit. A pleasant afternoon; warm but overcast. Checked batteries, oil, bilges etc and all OK. Omlettes for supper and a video before bed. A good day.

4 hours, 1 lock, 1 tunnel, 1 aqueduct

Left Brewood at 8 am – another sunny morning. Arrived at Autherley Stop-lock at 9.30am where Andy and Ali had arrived only about 5 minutes before. Left at 10 am after loading up. Andy has the helm.

We had Mrs.King and her friend Joan Cordrey on board with us. Worked up the ‘Wolverhampton 21’ in about 3 hours and stopped at the top for lunch. Steve collected his new cabin roof lights from Malcolm at Associated Cruisers and then took Mrs. King and Joan to the station to get a taxi back to Autherley. Meg and Steve got the train back to Crewe to collect the car. Ali and I set off on the trek to Gas Street. A nice run through interesting waters. Only one fly in the ointment; at 5.30pm the engine overheated so we had to pull in for ½ hour. Arrived at Gas Street at 7.30. There were no moorings in the basin at all – all reserved for trip boats and disabled. Told Ali to walk with a limp but she refused. So moored beside the NIA. Had a pint in the ‘Pit Stop’ pub and somewhere else. Back to the boat for pasta, bacon and a bottle of wine.

12 ½ hours, 25 locks, 1 tunnel.

Up and about at 7.30. Good nights sleep. Boats are on the move already! A lazy breakfast and clear-up then wandered into Brum for food and papers. M&S opened at 11am. Left Ali to go back to Worcester to see the rugby game. A couple of pints and then went to the BW shop for maps and info. The young lady was very helpful. Set off up the Worcester and Birmingham heading for Bourneville. Very pretty run. Had been told it would take 3 ½ hours but did it in 1 ½ (Gas Street 1pm, Bourneville 2.30pm). Understood there was a bog-emptier here but no such luck. Crossed legs time! Ali re-joined the boat at 1815 (Worcester lost), with her chauffeurs and took them for a short trip up to Stratford Junction and back. Moored at the secure moorings on the other side from the train station. After two hours and several phone calls got the alarm at the Cadbury factory turned off. Two very late travellers passed us at 10.30pm; they just kept going, obviously behind schedule!

1 ½ hours, no locks, 1 tunnel

Departed Bourneville at 0730 to turn round; back past Bourneville at 0815 and on to the junction with the Stratford Canal. Stopped at Lyons Boatyard for diesel, water and bog-empty – very nice people there.

                                                                                                                            On the Stratford Canal    (Photo © Alison Foote)

A straight run to Hockley Heath with a couple of fun drawbridges along the way. Had a couple of pints at the Wharf Inn and then back on the water at 1330, starting the descent of the Lapworth flight. This is a pretty canal, as is the lock-flight but with vicious out-flows which had some of the hired boats in all sorts of trouble. Ali and I have got a good system together for locking through and the entire flight of 19 locks were sorted in only 3 hours. Then we were on to the Grand Union for 20 minutes, and hauled over at the Tom O’The Woods pub for the night. Very pretty here and a very nice pub. Ali tried to kill us both with the world’s hottest chilli but thanks to a splendid bottle of wine, we survived it. Bed at 10.15.

10 ¼ hours, 19 locks, 1 tunnel

Away at 0915 and did the 4 miles to the Hatton lock flight. These are double locks and having worked through 3 of them we realised that it was possible to go through with only one gate open. All except the last 7 were worked by ourselves; we shared these with a boat heading for the Middle Levels! Stopped at the Cape of Good Hope pub at Warwick and then through Cape locks. Stopped as we approached Leamington to do a Tesco run, and then at the ‘Fusilier’ pub for a drink but decided not to overnight here. Stopped above Foss Top Lock at 2020. Baked spuds, mince and cheese. Bed at 10.45. Ali is rather sun-tanned and knackered.

10 ¾ hours, 27 locks, 1 tunnel, 2 aqueducts

Kicked off at 0850, lovely morning. Wood lock, Welsh Road lock, Bascote staircase and Stockton flight. After some encouragement, Ali locked through two locks on single gate; didn’t touch the sides! Up to Calcutt locks and did diesel, water and toilet at Calcutt Boats; prior to this we had stopped at the top of Stockton locks for lunch at the Boat pub. Lots of boats around today. On to Braunston and stopped just past the Oxford canal junction at 1900. Ate out at the Mill House pub – very good.

10 ¼ hours, 19 locks, 2 aqueducts

Minor repairs to the air cleaner – stupid design! - but sorted out now. Ever had one of those days? Lost the chimney cowl (again) lost my baseball cap (believed left in a pub somewhere), lost the really nice lock-key (the one that doesn’t give you blisters) – all replaced except for the baseball cap which was manky anyway. Had to resort to buying them despite attempts to lift them off passing boats! Also purchased a gas-bottle key (at great expense!). 0950 start and we double-worked through Braunston locks to the tunnel. Very busy with one guy on a mission coming towards us at great speed - how we didn’t hit head-on is a miracle! But we made it through without a scrape. At Buckby Top lock stopped for a couple of beers at the New Inn. Then we double-worked through the 7 Buckby locks, the heaviest so far; poor Ali working her legs, arms and shoulders off! Then a gentle trickle down to Weedon with Ali at the helm for an hour or so. No problems but very busy; lots of boats out.

Moored below the Hearts of England pub (been here before!). Couple of pints, a chinese carry-out, back to the boat, wine and bed at 11.20. The TV works on its internal aerial around here!

7 ¾ hours, 13 locks, 1 tunnel

Departed Weedon at 0940, just started to rain; not too bad, just dismal. Took for ever to get to Nether Heyford; lots of moored boats and a few on the move despite the weather. Reached Gayton at 1330; watered up and did the bog and topped up with diesel at the marina. Gayton was dead and the few boats we saw weren’t going to Northampton. Given the time, and the prospect of even worse weather to come we elected to go a bit further and hold off at Rothersthorpe – but the banks are so overgrown it wasn’t possible. Pressing on, it became more and more obvious that we were going to end up in Northampton. The Northampton GU arm needs clearing badly; some stretches are so bad its difficult to see a navigable path! The water is as clear as crystal though. Locked through Northampton town lock and looked for the moorings shown on the map, but when we reached the pump-out, we realised we had gone too far. Reversed for about 750 yards, a bit carefully as I wasn’t sure how deep the water was – but really quite easy with the bowthruster. Don’t like it here much so will not leave the boat tonight and have chained it up. Journey’s end at 1930.

9 ½ hours, 17 locks, 2 aqueducts

Away at 0830 from Northampton; very windy but at least dry. Motored down to Cogenhoe caravan park to meet up with Meg & Steve.

After a drink at the Caravan site club-house, took A&A to Northampton station to get the train home. In the afternoon did various boaty jobs and went back to the club-house at 9 pm for a night-cap. Steve had a bit too much and a hang-over beckons tomorrow!

3 ½ hours, 4 locks

                                                                                                                                    Moorings at Cogenhoe, river Nene

Another very windy day. Had lunch with Tim and Roberta off cruiser ‘Tranquility’ who are stuck with starter motor trouble. Rescued a guy called Jeff who had lost control of his boat in the wind. Eventually managed to tie him up. He has never owned a boat before and is single-working a new 50-footer from the midlands to Bedford! Poor chap; he didn’t seem to be enjoying it very much.

Gary and his friends arrived at 6.45 pm and after giving them a brief tour, Meg and Steve drove back home, Steve taking Gary’s blue Mini to garage it at home for the week.

2 hours ‘battery charge’

Gary and his friends took the boat from Cogenhoe to Peterborough on the Nene, through Stanground Sluice onto the MLN (Kings Dyke) to Whittlesey, in convoy with Jeff to give the poor old boy a helping hand.

They got stuck at the very low farm bridge at Titchmarsh due to rising water levels but managed to get through the following day. They arrived in Whittlesey after dark on the evening of the 16^th.

On the morning of the 17^th they carried on through Ashline lock, parting company with Jeff when they turned right at Floods Ferry on the Old Nene to Ramsey High Lode. They arrived at Bill Fen marina mid-afternoon. The Shotbolts were away and the guy looking after things had not been warned of our impending arrival so he directed us to a temporary mooring. Andrew took Gary back to Whittlesey and Steve drove Gary’s friends back to Northampton to retrieve their car.

We all went out for a chinese in the evening, stayed at Cathy and Andrew’s overnight and returned home the following day.

Time: 5 days; approximately 40 hours

Locks: 28

Detailed log to follow shortly, we’re promised - but don’t hold your breath.

We moved the boat to its permanent mooring on the other side of the marina. They call the far lagoon ‘Windermere’ – no prizes for guessing why. Generally cleared up after the previous crew, fitted new fenders, changed cruising ropes for mooring ropes and so on. Met some of the neighbours; they seem to be a friendly lot at Bill Fen. They showed us how the electricity works; we have to get a little meter gadget from Mrs. Shotbolt.

½ hour

                                                                                                                A new mooring at Bill Fen marina, Middle Level Navigations

A perfect day for boat polishing. Steve arrived at 10.45 and washed the boat down. Polished up with the ‘Autoglym’ polish purchased at great expense from Ted’s Boatyard - which is excellent for removing scuffs and grazes and goes on and off very easily, not too much ‘elbow grease’ needed! Fitted new chimney cap, touched up a few paint chips, mainly on the roof and around the gas-locker. Left at 4.30pm to drive to Chester. An ideal day for the job; sunny but with a cool breeze.

2 hours ‘battery charge’

After a meeting in St.Ives on behalf of the IWA to discuss the dreaded ‘Busway Bridge over the Great Ouse’ with Cambridge CC officials, Steve arrived at the boat at 11.30 and found he had left his boat keys at home. An extremely windy day. Retrieved spare key from the marina office and collected an electricity meter thingy. Changed the engine oil and filter, topped up the anti-freeze, filled the dehumidifiers, sprayed the thruster well with Rocol moisture repellant and pumped out the water tank. Dried out the bilges, touched up one or two small bits of paintwork. Boat is now more or less ready for the winter. Returned the keys and left Ramsey at 4.45pm.

2 hours ‘battery charge’.

A quick visit on the way back from a business meeting in Peterborough to run engine, check dehumidifiers etc etc. Also ran central heating up to warm the interior a bit. A light calm evening and fairly mild.

2 ½ hours ‘battery charge’