There were a number of matters weighing on our minds at the end of the last week, as we were preparing to return to the boat on Monday. The worst case scenario would have been that we had to return home straight away if the boat was not was not ready to live on!
Just after 2 we set off again and aimed to get as far as one of the newish Rural Moorings that have been established to meet commitments made by the Commissioners to spend some of the new licence money on improving facilities for boaters (remember that the Commissioners were set up to maintain the irrigation capability - navigation is a modern extension and widely thought to be a lower priority)
The route from here to the mooring is largely isolated so not too many photo opportunities - but we try!
There are few roads around here so only a couple of bridges and they seemed now to be for access to private property (or so their signs said!)
Many of the properties close to the navigation barely protrude above the level of the banks. As these photos show, the short shower soon gave way to a perfect afternoon - warm but with a fresh breeze. Mostly blue skies.
From time to time, a large block of cloud passed us by but there was never any threat of rain. However, some displayed quite interesting shapes and formations.
We passed Floods Ferry Marina. now predominantly a caravan and lodge facility. As well as static caravans, there were several touring ones.
With the floating duck weed and the like now quickly dying off at the end of their season, the moorings looked a lot pleasanter than when passed earlier in the summer.
The meridian sign, placed here by March Rotary, seems to be being kept in a good decorative state.
And so to Floods Ferry Junction. Up to now we had been following the Old Route of the River Nene but our way now branches off as Whittlesey Dyke. Many of the drains were originally separate projects but now come together under the Middle Level Commissioners for more efficient operation. 
However, it was immediately obvious that this section was built differently and now is lined with tall reeds and steeper banks.
Almost all of the hay stores have now gone over to this cuboid shape presumably as it stacks more efficiently than the older style round bales. Most that we have seen are kept out in the open but this farm has packed most of theirs under a newish roof! They clearly harvested more than this barn can hold as there was another open stack close by.
We arrived at the expected Rural Mooring with the minimum of indication! Not even a name . . . As the photo shows, we could moor easily to the large posts - only room for one narrowboat, possibly two small cruisers - but no real access to the shore. Even if we deployed our gangplank, the climb up the bank is a challenge too far, at least for us and tonight! We will try to take a longer shot of the mooring when we depart tomorrow. But at least it is here, is quiet and meets our needs for tonight! And was empty.
The most pressing matter was the Thetford toilet which had played up when Mike came to do the final emptying at the end of the last trip. This was put on a Job Sheet, now of three items, that the marina undertook to fix before we came back. Indeed, we had a phone call very quickly after we returned home to say that all was now OK but that they could not find any fault with the toilet. This left us wondering if they had missed the problem that we encountered. A boat with no toilet is not really usable!
On Saturday afternoon we went shopping - not a lot as we planned to do most on the day after we arrived back at the boat - there are several sizeable supermarkets in March. Driving back home, Christine suddenly posed the question, "Should we try and leave tomorrow?" After much debate - fall back plans in case of disaster took a bit of figuring out - we decided to get up fairly promptly on Sunday and leave as soon after 9 as we could manage.
With the car already packed apart from fridge and freezer items, we surprised ourselves by getting on the road by 9:15. For the most part, traffic was light - except at service station stops! We made good progress to Cherwell Valley Services but the EV chargers were all but fully occupied, We found an empty slot only to discover why - it is a non-tethered outlet, meaning that it would be slow. At least we have kept our portable tether in the car 'in case' and plugged it in. We went into the service station for the loos and a Costa coffee.
Once finished we returned to the car and were pleased that it had done at least some top up - unlike the adjacent car which when its driver came back had stopped charging soon after they went for their coffee.
We rest the satnav for Fox Marina and set off once more. Part way we spotted a large retail area, with much intended as a service stop. As we came in we also noted that there were several higher rate chargers available. We opted then to have our lunch rolls and by the time we had eaten as much as we wanted, the car was all but fully charged. As it turned out a little later, this was a 'good move'.
We were within a couple of miles of the narina when we were faced with signs saying Road Closed - Diversion. We found out later that it was only a short length closure for the weekend to enable the construction of a new roundabout. We dutifully followed the diversion signs which gradually became less and less clear - but it was obvious that we could soon be in Kings Lynn! We resorted to a road atlas supported by the satnav. Before long we were at least on a road (through Upwell!) that had March on its direction signs. Alas, we then turned towards our destination only to be faced with another road closure but limited diversion information. Neither of these closures seemed to have been notified to the satnav companies. We did eventually arrive at the boat but at least 45 minutes after we were just minutes away! If we had not done that second charge we would have been biting fingernails by now.
All this excitement (?) meant that we did not feel exceptionally hungry so our evening meal was re-planned to be a much smaller plate! We did manage to get the toilet working but remained concerned that we might not be able to empty it!
This morning we made sure that we were ready as soon as the office was due to open at 9. Gerald was despatched very quickly to 'sort us out'. He demonstrated that the toilet could be used properly but did advise a specific clean to ensure that the cassette could slide in as smoothly as possible. He also explained in much more detail than on the phone what he had done to the gas issues - we worried unnecessarily but it would have been 'nice' to have been given the full picture up front!
Before long we were able to drive to a nearby Lidl for quite an extensive larder fill. With one exception we collected all that was on our list and that we left to a later date so that we could get back to the boat ready to leave before lunch.
But first we had to fill up the fuel tank and then the terrifying task of paying for all the mooring, fuel, work etc etc.
Of course, as soon as we were ready to leave, rain started - it was not in the forecast, so how dare it? Especially as a boater nearby was starting to work on his external paintwork! (Well, his boat's paintwork, actually)
Just a short distance outside the marina is the main office of the Middle Level Commissioners. They have, since we came here last, added a water point and a sign that says Visitor Mooring, but also ambiguously seemed to suggest that you could only stop to go to the office. But then, there was no obvious way into that building from the mooring! Still, we felt safe enough to risk it to have lunch here!
Just after 2 we set off again and aimed to get as far as one of the newish Rural Moorings that have been established to meet commitments made by the Commissioners to spend some of the new licence money on improving facilities for boaters (remember that the Commissioners were set up to maintain the irrigation capability - navigation is a modern extension and widely thought to be a lower priority)
The route from here to the mooring is largely isolated so not too many photo opportunities - but we try!
A group were just getting into their car as we passed but took time to wave vigorously - and welcomingly - as did we.
There are few roads around here so only a couple of bridges and they seemed now to be for access to private property (or so their signs said!)
Many of the properties close to the navigation barely protrude above the level of the banks. As these photos show, the short shower soon gave way to a perfect afternoon - warm but with a fresh breeze. Mostly blue skies.
We passed Floods Ferry Marina. now predominantly a caravan and lodge facility. As well as static caravans, there were several touring ones.
With the floating duck weed and the like now quickly dying off at the end of their season, the moorings looked a lot pleasanter than when passed earlier in the summer.
The meridian sign, placed here by March Rotary, seems to be being kept in a good decorative state.
And so to Floods Ferry Junction. Up to now we had been following the Old Route of the River Nene but our way now branches off as Whittlesey Dyke. Many of the drains were originally separate projects but now come together under the Middle Level Commissioners for more efficient operation.
However, it was immediately obvious that this section was built differently and now is lined with tall reeds and steeper banks.
Almost all of the hay stores have now gone over to this cuboid shape presumably as it stacks more efficiently than the older style round bales. Most that we have seen are kept out in the open but this farm has packed most of theirs under a newish roof! They clearly harvested more than this barn can hold as there was another open stack close by.
We arrived at the expected Rural Mooring with the minimum of indication! Not even a name . . . As the photo shows, we could moor easily to the large posts - only room for one narrowboat, possibly two small cruisers - but no real access to the shore. Even if we deployed our gangplank, the climb up the bank is a challenge too far, at least for us and tonight! We will try to take a longer shot of the mooring when we depart tomorrow. But at least it is here, is quiet and meets our needs for tonight! And was empty.
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