Back home at Floods Ferry moorings

We left Whittlesey moorings at 9:30 in sunny but cool weather, descended Ashline Lock and travelled on to Floods Ferry.   I drove the boat most of the way whilst Denise was packing.  There was a lot of vegetation in the water, initially from debris left by the weeed-cutter boat, and further on significant amounts of blanket weed.  We had to stop twice to clear the prop.

We arrived home at 12:45.

Statistics: 6.62 miles, 1 lock, 3hours 15 minutes cruising

Total 3 week journey: 128.53 miles, 52 locks, 63 hours 30 mins cruising

Whittlesey - nearly home

Last night we ate at the Dog in a Doublet. Good beer, including a mild which Denise enjoys, and a moderate meal.  The focus is on flame grilled meat, and there was lots of it in our meal with some thin fries and a bit of coleslaw.

Wind turbines and the Whittlesey Brick Works seen from the Nene

Moored at Wittlesey again

We left our moorings early for us at 8:50 as we were booked to descend Stanground Lock in Peterborough at 12am and had things to do first.  The journey was enhanced by a good view of 2 kingfishers.  On arrival at Peterborough we turned the boat around,  partly filled the water tank and emptied the waste tank.  So Densie is now ready to be left for the winter.

We arrived at Stanground just before our due time and the lock keeper let us through immediately. The lock took us down about 4 ft 6in from the river to the Middle Levels.  Travel thourgh the Middle Levels was slow as the waterway is shallow and narrow with a surprising amount of blanket weed still in the water, presumably encouraged by the sunny weather.  On the positive side the water was full of fish which could be clearly seen from the boat.

We moored at Whittlesey Recreation Ground, where we had stayed nearly 3 weeks ago, at 13:15.  After a rest we completed the job of washing the boat.

Statistics: 10.39 miles 1 Lock 3 hours 55 minutes cruising

Dog in a Doublet - the final lock on the Nene

Last night we had a good meal at the Tap and Tandoor, a gastropub serving an interesting range of small brewery beers and excellent indian food.  I was very impressed when the lady at the table next to ours picked a long green chilli from one or their dishesand put  it straight in her mouth.  She then started making strange noises and her face went red. She had thought it was a green bean.  Sadly her family, us, and the waiter though it rather funny.

A busy day today .  First job in the morning was to clean the top of the boat.  It has not been cleaned for some time and was looking very dirty. That done, after talking to the crew of the boat next to us we decided to fill up with diesel at the nearby Peterborough Boat Centre rather than follow our original plan to go on to March past our marina to fill up there which would have added an extra 2 hours to the journey.

On the way to Dog in a Doublet Lock

The Lock in sight

Moored at Dog in a Doublet

From there we set out for the Dog and Doublet Lock, named after the adjacent pub.  This is the first (or last) lock on the Nene taking the river down to tidal waters. Leaving Peterborough the wide and nearly straight river took us across flat fen country for 4.5 miles which provided little shelter from the blustery wind.  Not too exciting but it had to be done, "because it's there" and is not often visited by passing boaters.

Before

After

We arrived at the EA moorings near the lock at 14:20 having turned the boat around so we could wash the starboard side.  Denise then had the opportunity to touch up the paintwork which had got scratched in the past few cruises.

Statistics: 6m, 0 locks, 2 hours 20 mins cruising.

Return to Peterborough

The weather this morning was pretty unpleasant.  There had been rain most of the night and when we awoke everything was grey and damp.  We waited until 11am before setting out in the hope that the weather would clear.  But it didnt, and there was continual fine rain for much of the journey.

We arrived in Peterborough at 13:20 after eating lunch on the move.  We had planned to go further but the weather did not make us enthusiastic.  Conditions are expected to be better tomorrow.

Statistics: 5.62m, 2 locks, 2 hours 20 mins

Alwalton Lock

Sunset last nght

Another perfect cruising day.  We left late at 11:20 as we are in no hurry and wanted to get to our planned destination of Alwalton after people out for the weekend had left - there are no other moorings in the area.

Between Woddford and Water Newton

A parachute rather than a kite

On our journey I failed again to get a decent picture of a kite but hope the parachutist makes up for it.  We saw several groups of about 6 people floating down after, we think, having been dropped by a small plane that apeared several times.

We arrived at the FOTRN moorings at Alwalton at 15:40 which appeared to be full.  Helpfully another boat moved back a few feet so we could just squeeze in with a few inches to spare.

Statistics: 9.77mile, 4 locks, 4 hours 20 minutes

Elton

We set off from Oundle at 9:00 and cruised fairly slowly in wonderful boating weather: blue skies, minimal breeze, comfortably warm but not too hot and the scenery is lovely with trees along one side of the river and pasture on the other.

Buzzard on hay bale.

We had good sightings of both red kite and buzzards.  I have been trying to get a decent photo of the former for some time but still no luck, they tend to move too quickly for one to be able to find them with the highest camera magnification and the automatic focus does not have chance to work well.  However there was more luck with a buzzard, one was stood on a hay bale and did not move as we passed by.

We are now moored at the delightful village of Elton at the unofficial moorings just above the lock along with 5 other boats.  After mooring we walked into the village to see whether we should eat out this evening at the pub, but they were fully booked so another another meal onbard.

Statistics: 6.61 m 3 locks 3 hours 35 mins cruising

Oundle

Wadenhoe Church

Much better weather today, blue skies and very little wind.  We left Peartree at 10:15, travelled through Wadenhoe with its ancient church overlooking the river and down a couple of locks to arive at Upper Barnwell Lock where there is a water tap.  We filled up and cruised on. 

One of the problems with cruising on the Nene is that there are very few opportunities to dump domestic rubbish.  We now have 3 bags of the stuff in the front well of the boat.  FOTRN has an agreement with the Oundle Cruising Club just below Upper Barnwell Lock for members to use their rubbish bins but we could not see anywhere to moor.

Moored at Oundle

We arrived at Oundle at 14:45 and moored at the unofficial moorings near the old bridge into town.  There are signs from the local Angling Society say boaters should leave by 8am.  However I doubt we will be up by then so we will see what happens.

The reason for moorng at Oundle is the nearby Waitrose where we stocked up for the next 2 days.

Return to Peartree Farm FOTRN moorings

Carrying on our journey home we left Woodford at 10:25 and passed through 2 manual locks and 2 electric ones, the final being Titchmarsh where we were stuck last Friday whilst EA implemented a temporary fix to the broken mechanism.  It is now fully working so we did not have yet another manual lock to operate.

Hopefully we wont be blown away overnight!

We arrived at Peartree Moorings at 2pm but had great difficulty getting into the bank as the ferocious side wind blew us away from the moorings and across the river.  With much help from the skipper of narrowboat Iona we were eventually able to pull the boat into the moorings against the wind and secure her with 4 ropes, 2 to mooring spikes and another 2 around conveniently positioned trees.

Statistics: 6.74 miles, 4 locks, 3 hours 50 mins cruising.

Woodford

After dinner last night we did go back to the hide and met the ranger again and also the couple from the boat moored next to us but sadly by the time it was dark there were still no otters to be seen.

As the weather forecast this morning showed the possibility of heavy rain around lunchtime we decided to only move as far as Woodford which we should reach in 2 hours.  Setting off at 9:45 we descended the manual Upper Ringstead Lock followed by the electric Lower Ringstead Lock.

Here I paid a quick visit to Willy Watts  Chandlery to buy some kindling for the fire.  It was difficult to find the place, but the helpful staff at the nearby tearoom pointed out the small door in the next building half hidden in ivy.  Inside the small rather dark room there was a guy on a chair surrounded by boat paraphenalia, that fortunately included a tall pile of pre-packed kindling.  I hope I was not his only customer that day.

Woodford Church

Moored at Woodford FOTRN moorings

We reached the FOTRN moorings at Woodford at 11:45 and shortly afterwards had lunch.  The forecast rain never happened though some very dark clouds passed not far away.  Then we walked up the steep hill to the village centre and enjoyed a recuperative beer at the very good Duke pub.  Returning to the boat there was a notice by the church saying it was open.  As we always like to look around the village churches we accepted the invitation but found that we could not get in.

Statistics: 3.46 miles, 2 locks, 2 hours cruising

A quiet day at Stanwick Lakes

Densie moored at Stanwick Lakes

 We are not moving today as we want to have a good look around the nature reserve/country park. It successfully blends a day out for all the family providing Adventure Playgrounds and picnic areas with somewhere of great interest to wild life enthusiasts, especially bird watchers.

Walking around the 700 acre site in the morning we talked to a couple who had seen cattle egrets, so we looked in the most likely areas but saw nothing.  We did also talk to a ranger who showed us where otters may be seen in the evening.  So we are planning on an early dinner and a stroll just before sunset.

Cattle egret with cow(camera set to 30X magnification)

In the afternoon I had another walk to areas of the reserve we had not visited in the morning and was very pleased to get a distant view and photograph of a cattle egret pecking around a large cow, so not much chance of a mistaken identity.  Cattle egrets, which holiday makers to the Mediterranean will have seen perched on the top of cattle, were rare visitors to this country but have recently moved in permanently and this area is one of very few places where they bred this year.

Statistics 0 miles, 0 locks, 0 hours spent cruising

Stanwick Lakes FOTRN Moorings

The weather forecast for this morning showed a stroing likelihood of rain so we itended to spend the day moored.  However by 10:15 there had been no rain thoygh thre nearly had been a glimpse of the sun, so we decided to move on, travelling slowly back home.

A better view the radial gate at Ditchford Lock

The A6 crosses the Nene...

..avoiding the old bridge

We reached our planned destination at the FOTRN Mooring  in the Stanwick Lakes Nature Reserve near Higham Ferrers at 13:05 just as the rain started.   We had just pointed the boat towards the bank when another narrowboat arrived.  Fortunately we could both just fit in the limited space available, although it appears our bow is aground.  We intend to spend the whole of tomorrow here so we can look around the reserve.

Statistics: 4.79 mils, 3 locks, 2 hours 50 mins travelling

Wellingborough and back (a bit)

The Nene near Higham Ferrers

We set off from Irthlingborough at 9:40 in brght sunshine although the temperature was a little chilly.  With half a mile we went through Higham Lock which, unusually for the Nene, had mitred wooden gates at both ends with standard paddle gear.  Beyond the lock the scenery improves as the river enters a couple of miles of woodlands with high trees and dense overhanging vegetation.  At times it was more the Amazon than Northamptonshire.

Radial gate at Ditchford Lock

This ended too quickly as we approached Ditchford Lock.  This is of interest in having the only radial gate on the Nene.  The lower gate consists of a quarter cylinder that rotates through 90 degrees on a horizontal axis.

We arrived at Wellingborough at 12:40, had lunch on board, and then walked to the nearby Tesco to buy sufficient groceries to ensure we wont need to shop again until Oundle in 5 days time.

On returning to the boat we  turned the boat around and then moored again to fill our water tank and empty the waste tank at the useful but sadly rare facilities before setting off back down the river.  We have moored about a mile out of Wellingborough on a short stretch of countryside FOTRN moorings.

Statistics: 7.25Mile, 4 locks,3 hours 55 minutes cruising

Irthlingborough

After breakfast we walked the half mile into the small town of Thrapston.  The range of shops was limited but fortunately it was the day of the monthly farmer's market.  So we bought some sausages and cauliflower for dinner this evening.

Returning to the boat we set off at 10:40 continuing our journey upstream on the Nene. Although the wind had died down the journey was unexciting and slow as the river was narrow in places as it meandered through the wide agricultural flood plain.

Mike raising the guillotine gate at Denford Lock

3 of the 6 locks were manualy operated.  As the photo shows we did take turns in rotating the flywheel perhaps 100 times to raise or lower each guillotine gate.

We arrived at Irthlingborough moorings at 15:40.  These are situated in a depressing area, formerly Nene Park, the base of Rushden & Diamonds football club which went bankrupt in 2011.  The former arena and practice ground are still both derelict and the large carparks completely empty.

After mooring we walked to the nearby Aldi where we stocked up for the next few days.

We did not get very far

When we awoke this morning the weather was cold and windy.  We tried to set off at around 10:00 but as soon as we untied one end of the boat the wind blew it away from the bank and we had quite a struggle to pull it back in.  We could not see any easy way of untieing both ends and us being able to get back on so we gave up, lit the stove and waited for conditions to improve.

By 13:00 the wind appeared to be a bit less strong so we tried again.  First tieing the centre rope to a convenient tree we were able to safely undo the ropes at each end.  Then with Denise on the boat steering the stern into the bank I  untied the centre rope from the tree and quickly leapt aboard.

Waiting at Titchmarsh Lock

Once on our way there were no further problems from the wind and half an hour later we arrived at Titchmarsh Lock.  There was a boat waiting to ascend but the guillotine gate was down.  On talking to the waiting boat's skipper we discovered that the lock was broken and the Environment Agency were sending someone to have a look.

 Two EA guys have now been working on the mechanism  for the past 1.5 hours - one drive shaft has become separated from another and they did not have a replacement part.  And of course we have just had a heavy rain shower.  So we may have to stay here on the lock moorings overnight.

Statistics 1.14mile 0 lock 35 mins travelling

Edit 18:00:00
EA completed a partial fix to Tichmarsh Lock by replacing the guillotine gate electric drive with a manual flywheel.  We set off again at 16:45 arriving at Islip Mill moorings at 17:55.

Total Statistics: 3.11 mile, 1 lock, 1 hour 45 mins travelling.

Peartree FOTRN Moorings

Last night  we ate the The Falcon in Fotheringhay.   The menu was based on traditional pub food but the specials included some more adventurous dishes.  Denise had steak and Kidney Pie whilst I enjoyed brown shrimp and crab linguini.  Both were very good,and  were well complemented by a couple of glasses of local beer.

Fottheringhay Church gfom the river

Denise operating Perio Lock

We knew today was going to be a long journey as there are few moorings in this stretch of the Nene.  Fortunately yesterdays wind had died down and the weater was sunny but cool as we left our moorings at Fotheringhay Castle. We passed by the church and took a photo as we do every time we visit and cruised on to Perio Lock which is manually operated.  The photo shows Denise turning the large flywheel used to raise and lower the heavy guillotine gate.

Then onwards past Oundle through the agricultural scenery of the Middle Nene, pleasant though t not as attractive as the Lower Nene near Peterborough.  After 6 locks we arrived at Wavenhoe where in previous years we have moored at the excellent Kings Head.  Sadly this has now closed and its future is unclear. 

Add captionMoored at Peartree FOTRN Moorings

A mile beyond Wavenhoe we moored at the Peartree Moorings run by FOTRN.  Friends of The River Nene are a memebrship organisation set up to work with local land ownerst to create new moorings for boaters travelling on the Nene.

Statistics: 11.97miles, 7 Locks, 6 hours 10 mins cruising

Fotheringhay

Entering Wansford Lock

It was raining when we awoke and did not clear until around 10am.  We left Wansford Station moorings at 10:25 and cruised steadily in intermittent sunshine and a strong blustery wind through Wansford Lock and onto Yarwell Lock where we were able to fill up with water again.  Then through Elton Lock and Warmington Lock, the first with no power assistance, to arrive at the historic village of Fotheringhay.

Moored at Fotheringhay

Fotheringhay Castle Mound

View from castle mound

 We are moored right next to Fotheringhay Castle where Richard III was born and over a centuary later Mary Queen of Scots was executed. Sadly all that remains is a large mound and other earthworks.  From the top of the mound there are extensive views over the surrounding countryside and over the village to the amazing church.  You will have to wait until tomorrow for a good picture, though there are others from previous years in the blog.

Statistics: 9.45 miles, 4 locks, 4 hours 20 minutes travelling

Up the Nene to Wansford Station

After a couple of nights in Peterborough we are on the move again.  First job though was to empty our waste tank and top up with water.  The facilities are free at Peterborough and not widely provided elsewere on the Nene so best to take advantage before moving.

On the Nene, outskirts of Peterborough

Milton Ferry Bridge

Water Newton Lock

We left Peterborough at 10:20 travelling west.  Quickly leaving the city centre the river took us through glorious and isolated scenery under a blue sky with little sight or sound of the busy roads and suburbs that surround Peterborough.  Three locks on the journey, Orton, Adwalton  and the very pretty Water Newton Lock overlooked by the church and a large mill, now converted to flats.

We arrived at our destination, Wansford Station, at 14:15 where we were lucky to find the short length of moorings empty.  They are situated  next to the terminus of the Nene Valley Railway where there are engine sheds and sidings.  Often one can see working steam engines which are used to provide a passenger service to Peterboough.  However old diesel engines wre being used and no steam engines were runninghnone had been started up when we visited, perhaps because their operation is restricted by the danger of cinders causing fires along the railway track.

Statistics: 8.61miles, 3 locks, 3 hours 50 mins travelling

A day in Peterborough

We are in no hurry this holiday so are spending the whole day in Peterborough for a bit of shopping and to stock up for the next few days as we will not be near any supermarkets.

Statistics: 0 miles 0 locks 0 time spent cruising

Peterborough

We left Whittlesey moorings at 9:20 and soon reached Briggate Bend, the tightest bend on the whole navigable waterways.  Last time here Denise managed to go round without stopping or hitting the sides.  Today I achieved the same feat.

At 11:15 we arrived at Stanground Lock which takes one up from the Middle Levels to a branch of the River Nene.  A failure here could divert the River Nene down the Middle Levels and flood the Fens so the lock can only be operated by the resident lock-keeper.  We had booked passage with her for 11:30 but as soon as she saw us she opened the gates and took us through. 

Selecting a mooring site at Peterborough

A mile further one we reached the main river at Peterborough where we will stay for 2 nights at the long stretch of moorings in the parkland near the Key Theatre.

Statistics: 5.40 miles, 1 lock, 2 hours 55 mins travelling

Another Journey - up the Nene and back

After a 2 month break we are out on Dense again.  Our plan is to travel across the Middle Levels to the Nene at Peterborough and then cruise gently up the river for a week or so.  Then we turn round and go back to our mooring at Floods Ferry.

We left home at 10am to drive to the marina arriving some 45 minutes later . By midday the car had been unpacked, the boats water tank filled and we were ready to go. We did think about eating lunch  first but we estimated the journey to our overnight mooring at Whittlesey as 3 hours and by that time there was a danger that the mooring would be full, and there are no alternatives.  So we set off and had lunch on the move.

 I have written before about the Middle Levels so nothing more to say than flat, rather boring and shallow in places, though in the bright sunshine the scenery looked almost attractive at times.

Post settings

On the Middle Levels near Floods Ferry

After ascending Ashline lock, the only one today, we reached Whittlesey recreation ground moorngs at 3pm. There were already two other boats there but we were just able to squeeze half the boat alongside the official mooring, so good enough for one night.

Statistics: 6.6 miles 1 lock 3 hours travelling

Back home

Sorry for the delay waiting for final figures....

We left March at 10am to go to Foxes Narrowboats a mile away to empty our waste tank and for a fix to the fuel filter which was leaking diesel.  Then onto our mooring for the next year at Floods Ferry out in the Fens about 3-4 miles outside March wth another kingfisher seen en route.  We hope to be out again in August/September.

Today: 4.2m 0 locks 1 hour 30mins travelling.

Total for 2 weeks: 103 miles, 8 locks, 37 hours travelling.

March on the Old River Nene

Just as we are near journey's end the weather is improving.  The wind has diecd down and the sun is visible in a clear blue sky.  And today was good.....

First thing we filled up with water and then went to  St Peter's, the village church which overlooks the moorings, as today is the start of the Upwell village flower festival when local groups decorated the church with flower arrangements which this year were on the theme of Films.   The flowers were well presented but for me the star attraction was the church itself.

Upwell Church from the Nordelph gallery

An angel on the church roof.

We had tried to visit the church on other visits but it had always been  locked.  This time there was time for a good look around.  The most spectacular part was the angel roof dating from the early 13th century, said to be the most beautiful of its kind in East Anglia if not the whole country.  Wooden angels carved into the roof overlook the attendees   Other items of interest  included the memorial to 67 parishioners who died in 1832 in a cholera epidemic and the gallery at the back of the church reserved for inhabitants of Nordelph who were taken to the Upwell church each Sunday on a horse-drawn barge, a distance of about 4 miles.

After leaving our mooring at 10:50 we proceeded slowly through the village to Marmont Lock which took us down (yes, even more down) to the Old Course of the River Nene which now flows through an artificial channel from Peterborough straight to the Wash but before the Fens were drained followed a far more meandering route.

A wind turbine towers over a nearby tree.

A narrowboat passes a wind turbine

The lock was soon followed by an impressive wind farm, the photos give some idea of the size of the turbines.  Then nearing our destination of March we were finally able to tick off kingfishers from our must see list for the year as three were seen within a mile or so.  We arrived in March at 13:30 after lunch which we had eaten on the move.  The moorings are often full here, but we were lucky that one, only slightly larger than our boat, was available.

7.15 miles, 1 lock 2 hours 45 mins travelling time

Through the Middle Levels to Upwell

We are now off the main rivers and onto the narrow, shallow drainage channels of the Middle Levels.  Our average speed is down from about 3.5mph to 2.5 mph and everything is much quieter and more peaceful.

View over the Fens from Well Creek

Typical Middle Level waterway

We left Sadlers Lode at 9am and travelled across the Fens along Well Creek.The waterway is attractive There are no high flood banks to obscure the view of the extremely flat low-lying scenery. Our satnav shows an elevation of about 5 foot above sea level.  But the satnav sits about 4 foot above the water level and the water level is well above the level of the land beyond the immediate vicinity of the Creek.

Entering Outwell

Outwell Church

Moored at Upwell

There are 3 waterside villages, Nordelph and the twin villages of Outwell and Upwell, the latter together stretch for about 2 miles along both sides of the waterway.  We moored at 11:20 just outside Upwell Church where there is a well kept flowerbed alongside the delightful moorings.

This afternoon we  took a bus to the nearby town of Wisbech, the self-styled Capital of the Fens.  It was a medieval port which is now some miles from the Wash.  Some old buildings remain but it is more a working town than a tourist destination.

5.99 miles, 0 locks, 2 hours 20 minutes

We did not go to Downham Market

Our plan for the next couple of days was to travel down to Denver, which is apparently the largest flood control facility on the country.  There we would join the Relief Channel, the flood bypass for the Great Ouse, to Downham Market for a bit of shopping. However the journey from Hilgay mooring to Denver Sluice was unenjoyable as we were faced with a strong cold headwind.   The weather forecast shows similar winds for the next few days so we decided to leave the Great Ouse today.

Great Crested Grebe on a precarious nest, we saw 1 egg

Waiting outside Denver lock

After arriving at Denver at 10:30 the lock keeper told us that after 1pm we could go through the tidal section of the Great Ouse below Denver to Salter's Lode Lock to take us onto the Middle Levels.  Before this time the river would be too shallow.

In Salters Lode Lock

Our departure was delayed to 14:30 when we ascended onto the tidal river.  The journey to Salters Lode was straightforward.  However entering the lock was not because its entrance is at a sharp angle to the river which had a strong incoming tide.  The technique with a rising tide is to travel past the lock entrance, turn the boat around, travel up with the tide. and then a quick turn off the river gets one into the lock. But it all requires careful judgement and timing.

I turned a bit too early and by the time the bow of the boat was near the lock entrance the tide was pushing it well off course.  Fortunately with some extra engine power and forceful steering I was able to just avoid the entrance wall and get the boat safely into the lock.  Later the lock keeper explained my error but said that the two previous boats coming down had both hit the wall.

We have moored at Sadlers Lode for the night.

3.5 miles 2 Locks 1.5 hours moving

Back on the Great Ouse

Views of the Little Ouse

Last night it rained heavily and did not stop til lunchtime when we set off again down the Little Ouse.  Thanks to the rain the water level was up a bit and we made reasonable progress going with the flow despite an increasing head wind.  Two and a half hours and 7 miles took us to the junction with the Great Ouse where we turned right to go down stream.

Once on the main river the wind became stronger and colder and the final 3 miles were very tiring.  However we did manage a moderate speed and moored up at Hilgay, where we had stayed last Fridday night, just before 4 pm.

10.55 miles, 0 locks, 3 hours 20 mins travelling