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.