Another glorious day! We set off around 9.30, just after the other boat that shared the pontoon last night set off upstream along the Washlands.
From earlier this morning, several individuals and groups were out rowing - this boat arrived just as we cast off, turned and recovered their breath as they listened to the comments from their coach - who has a much easier transport!
At the second lock, Clifford Hill, a boat was just ascending. We saw only about three more moving boats all day. At least the lock was ready for us.
Alongside the lock is a memorial stone which (according to a notice) says, "Hon Spencer Compton Esqr. Member of Parliament for the Town of Northampton for the Encouragement of Trade and Navigation Gave this lock". It was too worn to make out. (Or was the inscription on the other side?) Although the navigation opened in 1761, the stone is a modern commemoration of that event.
We passed alongside Billing Aquadrome - a huge expanse of permanent holiday homes and also touring and camping pitches. It is clearly still a very popular place for families to stay. There is a lock and then a road bridge.
Part of the Aquadrome is a marina - its entrance is well hidden just before the bridge (the other side in this photo)
At Cogenhoe Lock we saw the first sign that explains why boaters are requested to leave either the top of the bottom open - to save the fish! Other notices have a more specific instruction - whether going up or down, the guillotine gate must be left raised.
The river often has meandering stretches as it finds its way through quite extensive flood plains.
As we approached White Mills Lock we could see the entrance to a new marina, not long opened. Also, there was a sign on the bank just before the lock landing which seems to offer overnight bankside moorings. No mention of a charge. At least we felt justified in tying up here in order to have our lunch break.
We continued after lunch (by now Harry and Megan had done the deed and were parading themselves through the streets of Windsor. There are many former gravel lakes either side of the river but this one still seems to be in full production mode.
As we were descending Doddington Lock (which took a long time to fill - not sure why) a fuel boat arrived at the bottom and came into the lock as soon as the gate opened so that Christine could re-board our boat from the short lock landing. By that time she was already using the ladder inside the lock but it was a helpful gesture.
We were aiming to moor overnight at the Friends of the River Nene mooring just below this lock - we saw a newer mooring just above but stuck to our plan. This nearly came unstuck as when we reached the lower mooring, three boats were already there with a marginal length for us to try and moor with the help of another boater, However, as we were manoeuvring, we were signalled that the boat the the far end was just about to set off again so a few minutes later we were able to take their place with a full length of bank to use.
The reason we planned to moor here was so that we could walk into the village tomorrow morning for the 11.15 service at the parish church. We explored how to get onto the footpath but we found that rather tall meadow growth lay between the river and it. We later found that a narrow strip has been mown in the other direction to the nearby road into the village. From there a sign indicates the direction of the Nene Way, the footpath we had been looking for. Although it set off from here in passable condition (it is a long distance path so this is just part of it) it soon disappeared into a jungle of very tall grass and cow parsley! Maybe we will have to take the road instead!
6.8 Miles - 8 Locks
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