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On the Wissey

Wissington Sugar Beet Works

Cruising through the lake at Wisington

 A slow start today as we were undecided whether to spend a day where we were or to carry on with our journey.  We eventually set off just before midday and travelled up stream in very pleasant mainly sunny weather.  Oddly the river gets wider and deeper as you go upstream and so our speed increased from around 2.5 mph to 3 mph.  The scenery is lovely as the river meanders between low banks through wooded countryside.  Not so good for wildlife though as we only saw 1 kingfisher.

We intended to stop in the village of Hilgay where our Guide indicated EA moorings and a water tap, but we couldnt see much evidence of either, so we decided to carry on.  A possible problem as we last filled up with water in Cambridge 4.5 days ago and there are no other facilities on the Wisey.  However  we have lasted 7 day before so we should be OK.

  Half way on the journey we passed the enormous Wissington Sugar Beet works - impressive rather than attractive, and unfortunately it wasnt working.  Perhaps the sugar beet harvest hasnt started yet.  Beyond the works we were soon in perhaps the most attractive section of the journey where the river passes through a large tree lined lake.

Then onwards over the non-navigable Cut-off channel where the water from rivers feeding the Great Ouse is diverted and sent quickly to the coast when the rivers are in flood.  At 3pm we moored up shortly before  the point where we will have to turn around as we are too long to proceed further.  A bit of an anticlimax as the mooring is a short stretch of riverside barely longer than the boat in a camp site next to an A-road bridge.  Never mind, it's been a very enjoyable day.