Cruising Log 2005

First visit to the boat since last autumn other than routine TLC visits. It is the weekend of IWA Peterborough’s May Day event at Bill Fen. Being already moored up there – not far to go! On Sunday night we drove to Reach for the Cambridge Branch annual ‘Reach Fair Rally’ and back to the boat afterwards. Packed up and went home on May 2^nd. Two good events for the price of one!

Have been away in Norway and Russia for a couple of weeks and there hasn’t been much time to play boats. We fitted a new starter motor battery and ate supper on board. Very hot evening indeed.

Topped up with water and left Bill Fen at 10am. At Benwick we had to de-weed. A bright morning but a catchy northeast breeze. Got to Floods Ferry Park at 1pm and moored by the slipway. A burger/pizza lunch in the clubhouse and paid mooring fee of £3. Hot sunny afternoon. Andrew collected us at 4pm and we went for a bar-b-q at Whittlesey. Got back at 1am and got a shouting-at from the manager for making too much noise.

3 hours

Another hot sunny morning. Left Floods Ferry after breakfast at 11.20 am. About 2 miles past Benwick, completely weeded up and the blanket weed was so thick we just couldn’t clear it. Tried poling and bow-hauling but no use at all. Eventually decided to wait and see if anyone came along. Luckily NB Felicitous came by and towed us out of the bad bit. Got back to Bill Fen at 2.30pm. Baking hot, 32°C +.

4 hours

A tlc visit; checked everything over as Gary and friends are going out next weekend. Took stove door home to replace the broken front glass.

I set off at 11am with Rich, Jane, Dillon and Becky. Made for Floods Ferry where after a brief encounter with an extremely rude man (manager?) we pressed on to March. The weather was stormy but fortunately we avoided rain. Good food and lots of beer in the George in March that evening.

5 hours

Left March at mid-day after my hangover had subsided! Headed east out of March and turned at the junction with the Twenty-foot river. A beautiful day; made up for yesterday. Becky did a lot of the driving so the rest of us could lounge about.

Not far from Bill Fen we encountered a cruiser in trouble, it had lost its propellor! We did a quick reverse and returned to the marina with the cruiser in tow.

5 hours.

We have decided to move on from Bill Fen. It’s a fab. marina but just too far for us to travel and we have hardly used the boat at all this year. So we are moving to the Fish and Duck at Popes Corner (which now calls itself ‘Popes Corner Marina’).

Andy and I arrived at 11. Sorted out our dues with John and Lynn, dieselled up and left shortly after 12. A gloomy, murky day with no wind. Phoned Mrs.Norton at Marmont Priory who told us we would get to Upwell before dark. The Norton Family locked us through. Stopped to chat to Roger Mungham in Outwell before stopping at the church moorings, breasted up alongside another boat. Went to the Five Bells for an excellent steak and chip supper, helped along by a few pints and conversation with other boaters. Bed around 10.30pm.

6 hours, 1 lock, 100 litres diesel

Left Upwell at 8.30am arriving Salters Lode at 10am. Meg arrived with Gary at 10.30am. Another narrowboat with a lady at the helm travelling single-handed to Cambridge was waiting to lock through with us.

                                                                                                                        Waiting for the tide at Salter's Lode - again

The tide was very high, leaving insufficient clearance under the bridge at high water so we locked through on a fast ebb. We were 50 yards downstream of the lock before we managed to effect a turn. Punched the tide in good style and straight into Denver lock through the groove that EA has dredged through the sandbank.

Met Sally and Jed Love in the Jenyns Arms and chatted with them for a while over a beer or 3 and then set course from the Black Horse. Stayed there overnight and Gary cooked us supper on board.

4 ½ hours, 2 locks

Left Black Horse at 8.30am.Stopped in Ely to empty the bog and wash all the Salters Lode crud off the boat.

                                                                                                                    Crud off the guillotine gate at Salter's Lode lock

Arrived at the Fish and Duck at exactly 12.00. Sorted out the mooring as much as we could, had a couple in the pub and Meg made us a snack on-board. Collected up cars from various places and home. Andy stayed with us overnight.

3 ½ hours

                                                                                                                            New mooring at Popes Corner Marina