Aldreth

Today's Navigation : River Great Ouse 

As we expected from the weather forecast yesterday, we awoke to heavy rain. At first it was intermittent but gradually became more persistent. There was a possibility of a dry spell for a few hours from lunch time so we stayed put until it was more certain.

Being very overcast, you can expect that usable photos are hard to come by and those we have have generally been brightened up a bit. This one shows that many of the houses in the village have thatched roofs.

Mike took the opportunity to prepare tonight's meal in case we opted to cruise later than usual.

Just before 1 o'clock, the rain cleared and we made a hasty departure. Mike made himself a filled baguette to have as 'lunch on the go'. The cruiser that moored behind us last night had already departed as they were concerned about finding some where to fill their water tank. It seems that someone (or someones) had used a lot for their showers! The boat here had just arrived and they immediate made a hasty dash across to the pub for lunch.

After about 40 minutes cruising - largely in the dry - we arrived at Brownshill Lock (formerly Staunch) which was set against us. We tied up on the upper lock landing whilst Mike went close the bottom guillotine gate (this lock unusually has one at each end) and then started the fill operation at the top end. These electrified gates only open the gate a crack at first and then have a timer to show when it is thought safe to open fully. This is mainly important when boats are ascending.

Whilst this was happening, Mike walked back to the boat to arrange for Christine to ring the number displayed at the lock to advise the lock keeper at Hermitage Lock that we were on our way. She also volunteered to operate the rest of the gate moves. Just as she set off to the lock, rain returned but Mike was able to pass her a raincoat at the lock before she became too wet! The result - only one photo of the lock was taken.

We were now on the partly tidal section fed by the New Bedford River that runs dead straight (with just one little wiggle) to Denver, bypassing Ely. Part way we could see the remains of a former railway line that must have been quite an impressive sight when first opened as the river is quite wide at this point. It carried the Ely, Sutton and St Ives Branch, a separate company but operated by the Great Eastern Railway. It struggled from the outset to make a profit and ceased to carry passengers in 1931 and closed completely in 1964. Like the ferries we mentioned yesterday, it was the victim of road traffic.

That is the New Bedford immediately above Hermitage. Although it is strictly open for navigation. the sign on the bridge bars Hire Boats from using it. Most likely that is because the exit at Denver is tricky and probably better done after consultation with lock keepers at either end. Those who have done it report that it is, in any case, rather boring!

The layout of  Hermitage Lock, with a large road flat bridge across the centre makes it difficult to have much contact with the keeper - but what did was friendly enough. Today we came through with not a large drop in level.

Shortly after the lock we passed the entrance to Hermitage Marina - as you can see, some patches of blue sky were starting to appear and until we moored later it was a pleasant cruise.

If it were not for the road that runs close by the river we would not have know what to do when faced with this instruction!

We were now travelling much slower. On the previous section, at the same engine revs as yesterday we cruised at 4.5 mph rather than 3.0 - 3.5 earlier. The river did not appear to be running much faster not the level much higher but there musty have been enough of both to make a difference. Between Hermitage and Popes Corner (where we will merge with the River Cam) the river is very much narrower and shallower so that our speed not was typically 2.5 mph. However, this was built in to our estimated timings and we arrived at the GOBA moorings at Aldreth Drain about ten to fifteen minutes ahead of expectation. We had the whole mooring length to ourselves, just the next boat length from on the way up.

8.0 Miles - 2 Locks