We had been told that the marina office opens at 9.00 so we waited until 8:45 to leave our overnight mooring.
Just after leaving we passed the other GOBA mooring at this location - looks as if it might have been marginally better but we did not really have an issue with where we stayed.
Before long we passed under the Huntingdon Southern Bypass Bridge which was under construction when we were last here. (see)
After this we failed to take any photos! Too busy steering and navigating . . .
Just on 9 we turned off the river into the entrance to the marina. Buckden combines moorings for boats, predominantly river cruisers but a couple of dozen or so narrowboat spaces, most of which are occupied by the people who live here permanently (only a few do so on a cruiser) together with a good number of up market lodges. We were told by one of the residents that one lodge sold recently for over £300K.
As a result the entrance is quite a long, narrow and winding channel before we reached the main mooring basin. We did not yet know where to go and Christine's several attempts to ring the office went unanswered. We decided to move slowly towards the narrowboat section and as we did we were asked to tow another narrowboat around the corner - it was stated that the owner was not really familiar and was have a little difficulty. We were rather concerned but gave in and did as asked. Fortunately all went well except that in casting off to co0ntinue to hs mooring, he waited so long that the strong breeze took him sideways up to a line of moored boats. He eventually managed to get onto his mooring not far from where we stopped.
As there is no arrival platform, as it were - most marinas do have something along these lines - we popped into a mooring slot so that Christine could go in search of the manager. She soon retuned with him only to be told that we were allocated a berth a few slots back the way we had come.
Mike reversed out and backed down sufficiently to be able to turn in but it did mean we were bow in, not so convenient for loading and unloading but not to the extent that it was worth trying to turn about.
Then we needed to fill with water and to empty elsans before Mike could catch his booked taxi into Huntingdon. Yes, today was car shuffle day. The route plan was to catch a train to Peterborough and then change to one direct to Nottingham. From that station is is somewhat over as mile to the marina where our car awaited us.
The taxi was on time and Mike found a very keen booking clerk (just for once he had not booked online) As the journey to Nottingham was not direct he was very keen to sort out a split ticket that save money - in fact it was about half quoted online, which itself is reduced with a Railcard. The train was on time so all looked well.
Alas, when Mike checked online for the platform numbers at Peterborough he discovered that the planned departure had been cancelled as the train company could not find a driver! Services between Peterborough and Nottingham depart every half hour but alternate between a direct connection and a further change at Grantham. The next departure as a slow train so on the timetable arrived only 10 minutes before the following fast train!
The choice was complicated by the fact that the next slow train was now 8 minutes late and so it seemed that it would be better to wait for the fast train behind. However, by the time the slow train arrived, that fast one was also delayed so Mike opted for the slow train on the basis that there was come certainty of actually getting there!
Eventually Mike alighted at Nottingham but could not find and signs to the taxi rank (he had already been urged by Christine to take the easier option!) and so he asked on of the station staff who, it turned out sent him in entirely the wrong direction! (There are two exits from the station)
Walking from what turned out to be a minor back entrance around to the front, Mike spotted a taxi office and asked if they had a car available. 'Five minutes' was the reply. Hoping that this was correct and not just a ploy to hang on to a captive customer Mike waited. In fact it was almost accurate and the trip turned out to be very quick (and remarkably cheap)
After checking out with the marina office, Mike set up the say nav and began the run back to Buckden. Although we had fully charged the car before setting off five weeks ago, we wanted to start tomorrow again fully charged, Christine had identified that the nearest was at Buckden Roundabout so Mike set his sat nav to take him there first.
Alas, only one of the four chargers was working and it was already occupied with another driver queuing for it. Knowing that there were better options in Huntingdon itself, Mike quickly decided (no brainer) to continue to the marina and to have a break before completing the task.
After tea, Mike set out to Sainsbury on the far edge of town where there was a much larger installation - and probably faster. Indeed, after popping in to the store for some rolls for the next day's return, te car was all but fully charged.
Meanwhile, Christine had been sorting out boxes to load into the car but using as few as possible as we were at the wrong end of a long pontoon! She also had cleaned through and just about finished when Mike returned from car charging.
1.0 Miles - 0 Locks
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