Stanwick Lakes Nature Reserve

After one really good day the weather is cloudier, breezier and cooler than yesterday with occasional showers.  However nothing to spoil another enjoyable day cruisng.

The A14 crosses the River Nene at Thrapston

We set off from Pear Tree at 9:10 and continued upstream through 6 locks on our own, 3 of which were manual. We could have moored at Woodford at around 1pm but decided to carry on as we had no wish for a stationary afternoon.  At 14:50 we arrived at Stanwick Lake Nature Reserve, another FOTRN mooring where we will spend the night.

Pear Tree mooring

A perfect day for cruising, very sunny without being over-hot, light breeze rather than strong winds, and a calm river with no troublesome flow.

Tansor Church just visible from the River Nene

Red Kites were frequently seen overhead

We set off from Fotheringhay at 9:15 and  cruised pass the stunning church - photograph available in our September 2019 blogs.  Another narrowboat followed us and we travelled together through the attractive scenary ascending 4 locks - Perio  manually operated), Cotterstock, Ashton (another manual lock) and Lower Barnwell.

A fine bridge provides access to the 17th century Lilford Hall

They left us at Oundle Marina and we carried on alone through Upper Barnwell, Lilford and Wadenhoe Locks to arrive at the FOTRN (Friends of the River Nene)  Pear Tree Farm mooring at 15:30.  We had passed a number of other boats, mainly cruisers,  on our journey and were worried that the moorings would be full as there are no alternatives within easy distance.  Fortunately there was enough space for us as another narrowbat had left about 30 minutes earlier.

11.62 miles, 7 locks, 6hrs 15 mins.

Fotheringay

The rain has gone now and boating is a real pleasure, especially as the scenery is very attractive. We set off from Wansford Station at 9:45 a few minutes in front of Indigo Dreams, a 60 ft narrowboat, who shared our mooring last night. At first we were making a good speed of 3.2mph but after a mile or two this had slowed to around 2.2mph.  There is a noticable flow on the river which increases as the river shallows as one appoaches a lock upstream.

We arrived at Wansford Lock and had to stop on the lock moorings as a very large broadbeam narrow boat - perhaps 12ft wide and 70 foot long was descending in the lock.  Soon after, Indigo Dreams turned up shortly followed by another narrow boat. Fortunately there were no problems when the broadbeam left the lock despite the congestion and we and Indigo Dreams were able to enter.  They left the lock first as they have a larger engine and we did not want to slow them down. Fortunately another boat was waiting to come down so we did not need to stay to reset the lock - on the Nene one is required to empty locks after ascending.

Then onto Yarwell Lock, where again the flow of the river slowed us down to 2.2 mph.  Indigo Dreams were in the lock waiting for us with some ice creams which we gratefully accepted.  At the top we agreed that they could go ahead whilst we stayed behind to empty the lock.
Then onto the final 2 lock at Elton and Warmington both of which we did on our own.  Denise had operated all the locks upto Warmington so I volunteered to work this one.  Very generous I thought as this is our first manual lock of the trip and is very hard work.  Luckily after I lowered the gate and opened the top paddle  a small boat arrived carrying about 9 young men who offered to close up the lock for us.

Moored at Fotheringhay Castle

1.5 miles later we arrived at our planned moorings next to the earthworks of Fotheringay Castle.  Indigo Dreams had also chosen the same spot but there was plenty of room for us both.

9.18 miles 4 locks  4 hours 35 mins.

Rain over - on the move again

We got up early (for us) this morning as we wanted to make some progress on our journey.  It had 2overnight but stopped around breakfast time.  The first job was to fill up with water and empty the waste tank.  This completed by 9:25 we set off up the Nene in partial sunshine and a breeze.

Leaving Water Newton Lock

After after rising through 3 locks and lunch on the move we moored at our intended destination of the Environment Agency moorings at Wansford Station, the terminus of the Nene Valley Railway,  at 13:40.  The moorings are rather short with only room for about 1.5 boats of our length, but fortunately they were empty.

As we were now moored on the port side Denise was able to wash the other half of the boat as we were moored on the starboard side in Peterborough.

We stay in Peterborough

Showers were forecast throughout the day so we have not moved. Straight after breakfast Denise went to the nearby Asda for some more fruit and crumpets for this weekend's breakfast.  We should now have all the food we need for another 5 days or so.  Despite the forecast the afternoon has been dry which enabled us to wash the boat for the first time in 10 months.

Peterborough

First thing in the morning I had a set of jobs to do on the boat. Both times I started the engine since we began our journey yesterday there was a screeching noise for a minute or so.  I guessed a fanbelt was slipping and so it proved. To tighten it was a simple job of loosening the already slightly loose single bolt attaching the primary alternator to the engine, adjusting the alternator and retightening the bolt.  Problem solved.

Next I thought it prudent to open the weed hatch to check the propellor.  Despite the waterway being somewhat weedy the propellor was clean.  Then a final check of the engine - there was plenty of oil and cooling water and finally a small amount of silicon grease was put in on the rubber bearing holding the propellor shaft.  Amazingly the engine is running very smoothly despite having only being run for about 90 minutes in the past 10 months.

The weather forecast was OK for the morning so we left our mooring just before 9am heading towards Peterborough.  Sadly the forecast was wrong and we spent most of the journey in our waterproof jackets and trousers.  Much as yesterday, the scenary was uninteresting and flat.  We arrived at Stanground Lock on the outskirts of Peterborough just before our booked passage at 11am.  The lock-keeper was ready for us and let us straight in.  I have been concerned that the waterways would be busy following the end of lock-down.  However this does not seem to be the case, the lock keeper said only 2 or 3 boats were passing through each day.

Densie moored at Peterborough

Stanground lock took us up from the Middle Levels which are below sea level to the River Nene and 30 minutes later we were mooring up in Peterborough where we will spend the night.

5.3 miles, 2 hours 25mins cruising

Escape from lockdown

After 10 months off the boat we are on the move again.  We have left our mooring of the past 12 months at Floods Ferry near March in the fens and are relocating to Dunchurch Pools Marina near Rugby, a journey of 2 weeks or so.

All the clothes and electronic gear was packed yesterday so first thing this morning aafter transfering the contents of the fridge to coolbags we loaded up the car and drove to Floods Ferry.  An hour later we were ready to leave having loaded the bags and food onto the boat and filled up with water.

Typical fenland waterway

As soon as we left the marina it started raining and continued on and off for the rest of the journey. Fortunately the rain was not  too heavy and we kept dry in our waterproofs. The scenery is rather uninteresting, especially in the rain, with long straight sections of somewhat shallow drainage channels through the very flat farmland.  3 hours and 6 miles later we ascended Ashline lock at Whittlesey we we have moored for the night.

6.6 miles, 3.25 hours travelling