A weedy trip to Wellingborough and beyond

Ther weather was like yesterday - clouds first thing which cleared by the time we set off.  Then blue skies with the heat reduced by a cool breeze, followed by a hot afternoon.

Half the weed removed from Densie's prop

Travelling again with Winter Rose, we passed through White Mills, Earls Barton and Doddington guillotine locks after which we hit thick blanket weed, possibly related to the nearby sewage works.  This stuff  winds itself around and around the prop and eventually bringing the boat to a halt.  There is then no choice but to stop the engine, open up the weed hatch and pull away at te weed until the prop is cleared.   This must have taken 15 minutes during which Winter Rose passed us and was able to continue wthout problems.  Having removed all the weed we joined our partner in Wollaston Lock beyond which there was little further weed.

Entering Wellingborough

Beyond Wollaston Lock the scenery became less interesting as we approached the industrial town of Wellingborough.  We moored there in a riverside park at 12:45 for a quick bit of shopping at the nearby Tesco.

Moored at Ditchford FOTRN moorings

After lunch on board we set off again and after 2.5 miles, with the scenery improving as we left Wellingborough we stopped at the attractively situated FOTRN (Friends of the River Nene) moorings before Ditchford Lock.    FOTRN is an organisation set in recent years to improve the availability of moorings for boaters on the River Nene through agreements with the local landowners.

Now that the sun has cooled we will go out fr a walk around the adjacent lake.

Totals:6.28 miles 6 locks, 4 hours 20 mins on the move.