A really good day for cruising: the sun was out almost from the start and was reasonably warm but a strong breeze kept us from baking.
As the photo shows we were squeezed in between the landing and the lock itself. One of the boats that penned through yesterday at the same slot as ourselves arrived here a little after we did but found a gap in the reeds just before the lock - we tried it but did not fit whilst they are quite a bit shorter - and a late arrival single hander coming up the lock moored just beyond the landing. He set off this morning before we were around!
The other boat set Ashline Lock for themselves as they walked their two huge fluffy dogs. This lock is not fast to operate and for those coming up has the added 'bonus' of being leave empty. Hence it was rather later than the time we had planned to leave before we could make a start on resetting the lock for ourselves.
The penstocks (paddles) are unusual;, but a bit like a few on the Leeds and Liverpool. The windlass sits on top of each tower and has to be turned horizontally to wind the mechanism open or closed. These were especially heavy, notably when raising.
As we saw yesterday, water is being pumped to top up the level and the bywash was running freely.
At least for us the departure was easier . . . no gates to close.
The adjacent railway line seems to be quite busy even though the service from Whittlesey station is hourly. There were plenty of through passenger and freight services as well. Very close is a pedestrian level crossing which is self operated with a green light to indicate of there is no approaching train. Nevertheless each one has to make an audible alarm nearby residents must have to be able to filter out that sound but to us it was somewhat annoying. Of course, despite the frequency, nothing appeared as we were positioned for a photo!
For the rest of the cruise we were in flat, open countryside, traditionally famed for its production of potatoes and what are called 'combineable' crops. Homes are often quite isolated, sometimes with a few trees to offer a little protection from stronger winds.
Angle Corner is the intersection of Whittlesey Dyke (the through route we were on) and the Twenty Foot River, known as Bevills Leam for the south western arm from here.
Like this one, many houses are quite isolated.
It seems that many, if not most, of the old small farms have now been merged in to much larger groups. This one, E C Brown and Sons now has seven under its ownership.
We were pleasantly surprised to come across this Rural Mooring provided by the Middle Level Commissioners. It is very basic but in an area where more formal moorings are long travel times apart it might be very welcome. We have made a note in case we are one of those in need on our return trip.
Another junction: Floods Ferry. Eight years ago we did turn here on our way to Bill Fen Marina.
Shortly after the junction we crossed the Greenwich Meridian. Not that we have noticed were it not for the sign which the local Rotary Club have erected. Perhaps we may find the sun in a more helpful direction on the way back!
Floods Ferry Marina (really just a set of online moorings) looks rather forlorn and with many slots quite empty. The lodges, mobile homes and touring vans seem to be faring rather better.
Just before we reached Fox Marina we passed the posh looking offices of the Middle Level Commissioners together with a splendid mooring. Passing boaters are allowed to pause long enough to use the water point (but nothing else - that is definitely not what MLC do!)
We then turned into the marina - no photos as we were trying hard to avoid mowing down two paddlers in a canoe, intent of creating a collision it seemed!
We tied up alongside the hire boats but had to wait until the office re-opened after its lunch break. Clearly time to have ours! Christine then went to sort out details and found that our overnight stop was where we were but that we had to move along a short distance to be closer to the diesel point. Although we were not especially down on fuel, in these parts with sporadic opportunities to re-fuel, we top up when we can. Still, the tank did take 46 litres.
Then it was back to where we were! The most pressing need was to empty two elsan cassettes that were very full. This is one of the now few marinas that still charge for such disposals. We were pleased then that we had made maximum use of the fixed charge.
We are staying here tonight as we wanted to be better timed to find a mooring in March itself for tomorrow. Christine has a Zoom meeting and needs a good mobile signal. We had been told that sometimes, despite the flat land, reception is not good away from the towns. We also could do with a little more shopping.
9.8 Miles - 1 Lock
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