Easter 2019 - up the Great Ouse

Its boating time again after a gap of 7 months.  We had loaded Densie with clothes, sheets and bedding yesterday.  This morning we bought food for 4 days and settled into the boat ready to set off by late morning.   Then I turned the key in the ignition and nothing happened.  The engine battery seemed rather low so we gave it 45 minutes charge and tried again.  Fortunately the engine roared into life immediately and we were soon on our way in sunny but breezy weather.

Hartford Church

Densie in Godmanchester Lock

After leaving the marina we turned right up the Geat Ouse, through attractive countryside past the riverside church at Hartford and through Huntingdon.  A  mile on we reached Godmanchester lock where we had to wait for a group of boats in front of us going up and another small cruiser coming down.  We entered the lock and moored up, followed by a larger cruiser.

A mile or so after leaving Godmanchester we stopped for the day at Brampton Mill.  A  quick look at the engine battery gauge showed we might have a problem.  I tried to restart the engine  - oh bother! (or words to that effect).   So we are stuck, unable to move the boat.

But no so bad.  We have 4 perfectly good batteries that run our domestic equipment and should be able to make do on 3 for a while.  In the morning we will take out the duff battery and relace it for a good one.  That should enable us to get to Buckden Marina where there is a maintenance company which fortunately, as confirmed by phone, stocks the battery we need.

3.36 miles, 1 lock, 2 hours