Prickwillow on the Lark

Yesterdays restful day in Ely finished at an excellent Turkish Restaurant.  After breakfast we had a quick trip to Waitrose as there will be no shops until sometime on Saturday.  Then we moved off to the waterpoint to fill our tank for the first time one this voyage.

Typical Great Ouse scenary north of Ely

Then down the Great Ouse.  The section north of Ely is not very interesting, the river being wide and straight with the countryside beyond hidden by the flood banks.  The one saving grace was that the conditions enabled us to cruise at a fairly steady 4mph, without any real load on the engine.

Moored at Prickwillow

After about 3 miles we turned off the Great Ouse onto the River Lark, a small tributary.  Another 3 miles took us to the moorings at the delightfully named very small village of Prickwillow where we stopped at lunchtime.  We had wanted to moor here again as the last time we had visited breakfast was enlivened by excellent views of a feeding kingfisher which eventually perched on our roof.  Sadly though we have not seen one (yet).

6 miles 0 locks 2 hours 10 mins cruising

Quiet day in Ely

Denise polishing the brassworkwhilst we moor in Ely

Having a rest today after the past 5 days on the move.  There was heavy rain yesterday afternoon and rain again this afternoon, so we dont regret our decision.  From tomorrow the weather forecast is looking much better.

We will be eating out tonight in a nearby Turkish restaurant

Ely

Ely Cathedral from 3 miles away

Only a short 4 mile journey into Ely today.  We left at 10:20 andf had an easy cruise joining the Cam at Popes Corner and then down the deep and wide Great Ouse at about 3.5mph towards the city of Ely.  The cathedral was visible for most of the journey dominating the skyline for miles around.

We arrived at 11:30 and were surprised to see the most desirable moorings empty.  After mooring we walked into the city for the next 4 days shopping and a very good lunch at the Blue Bar, a local bar/bistro.  On our return to the boat all moorings had been taken so we were lucky to get here early.

3.8 miles, 0 locks 1.25 hours cruising

Popes Corner: end of the Old West River

We started off at 9:30 and cruised east along the Old West River.  To be honest the Old West River isn't the most exciting of journeys as it passes through flat agricultural country, often obstructed by the high flood banks. Nothing wrong with it, but little that would lead anyone to say anything other than "quite nice" even at the best sections. 

Hovering Common Tern

Travel is normally fairly slow as the water is shallow but today the pleasure was further limited by the strong wind that made steering the boat hard work.  We did enjoy watching the plentiful common terns hovering over the water and occasionally diving in a usually unsuccesful attempt to grab a fish.

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe

Moored near Popes Corner

By lunchtime we had reached the moorings not far from the end of the OWR where it meets the Cam to re-form the Great Ouse.  We need to go to nearby Ely to shop but as the weather forecast is not good for the next two days we decided to stop here tonight and spend the following two nights in Ely where mooring is limited to 48 hours.

I walked to Popes corner and saw a bird I did not immediately recognise, but was able to take a clear high magnification picture.  Our bird book later confirmed it as a juvenile Great Crested Grebe.

7.78 miles 0 locks 2.5 hours.

Windy cruise to the Old West River

We set off at 9:45.  The weather was overcast  and quite cold with a strong gusty wind which blew us off course from time to time and the river is still flowing strongly after the recent rains.The route took us through St Ives, beneath the 15th C bridge and on to the town's lock.  Furtunately this was manned by a pair of volunteers who got us quickly through.

As we were leaving it started to rain and we were considering stopping early.  However the rain died away and the weather became brighter and warmer. Below the lock the section of river was clearly high as moorings where we had previously had difficulty were well under water.

Flood water flowing therough Brownshill Staunch - the bottom gate is closed below water level!

At Brownshill Staunch the Great Ouse normally descends onto a short section of tidal waterway.  However this time we were surprised to see that the levels were the same and unusually high and water was flowing freely through the lock over the top of the lowered bottom guilotine  gate.  However it was not deep enough for the boat to pass so we still had to lower the top gate and raise the bottom gate to travel onwards.

Whilst we were working the lock another narrowboat turned up and the skipper came for a chat.  He and his Mrs were Dutch, they had hired the boat for a week and this was the first lock they had ever operated and so I took them through the procedure.  Perhaps this was not the best place for a beginner.

Beyond Brownshill Staunch at the village of Earith the river splits into a weir leading to the Old Bedford River, the main channel of the tidal New Bedford River and Hermitage Lock which takes one down below tide level onto the Old West River.  The two Bedford rivers were constructed by Vermuyden in the 1600s when the Fens were drained to quickly remove flood water.  The strength of flow as we turned away from the New Bedford towards the lock showed that they were still doing their job.

 Hermitage Lock is manned as any failure here would flood half of East Anglia.  The lock keeper wasnt completely sure whether the high water would prevent Densie passing beneath the road bridge that straddles the lock.  I slowly drove the boat into the lock watching the top of the chimney fitting.  At first there were perhaps 2 inches clear but eventually I had to stop as the chimney was scraping the underside of the bridge.  Fortunately we were sufficiently far into the lock for the top gates to be closed and when the bottom paddles were raised we floated free.

Below Hermitage Lock the Old West River is completely different to the Great Ouse.  It is  shallow narrow and has very little current.  After cruising for a further 3 miles we moored at Aldreth at 1:40.

11.25 miles, 3 locks, 4 hours cruising

June: Hartford to March

We are moving Densie from Hartford Marina, Huntingdon to Floods Ferry in the middle of the Fens near March.  The journey should take a week but we have two weeks spare so it will be a gentle cruise, perhaps visiting some new places, and taking the opportunity to revisit some favourite moorings.  It is unlikely that we will be this way again as the plan is to go back to the canals next year.

Yesterday we deposited our clothes on the boat and then left a car at Floods Ferry so when we arrive there we can empty the boat and get home. So first thing this morning all we had to do was to pack some food and a few bits and pieces and drive to Hartford in our other car to pick up the boat.

Waiting at Houghton Lock

Hemingford Grey Church

After unpacking we set off at 11am and cruised down the Great Ouse.  Fortunately the river has not been much affected by the recent heavy rain.   The journey took us down Houghton Lock to Hemingford Grey where we moored for lunch. Then another lock and a mile cruising to the GOBA moorings at Nobles Field out in the countryside not far from St Ives at 14:30.

3 miles, 2 locks, 2 hours cruising

End of April 2019 journey

We arrived back in our marina at lunchtime after a 5.16 mile journey with 2 locks.  The weather was fairly warm and there appeared to be more people on the river.   For the first time time this week we shared a lock with another narrowboat.  After a quick snack on board we packed our clothes and unused food and were back home by 1pm.

Total journey statistics: 53.83 miles, 22 locks, 25 hours cruising over 10 days