Today's plan was for a slightly easier day with a quiet rural mooring for the afternoon. Our somewhat unorthodox mooring angle was no problem overnight. The stern felt further from the bank than it looks. The work barge from yesterday passed us and gave Christine a cheery wave.
What appeared to be a recently fallen willow tree almost blocked our path but as we knew that the work barge had preceded us we were content to try our luck. There was not a lot of spare room.
Before we set off we noticed that the river flow seemed to be a bit faster than we had been used to. Shortly after setting off we passed the exit flow from Stanwick Lakes: it looks from then OS map that an older route for the River Nene flows through Stanwick Lakes and there was a strong outflow this morning. Of course, we do not know whether this is normal or some short term water management is in progress but certainly after passing by we could easily see that the river was back to the more familiar languid condition.
Rock UK Frontier Centre is an extensive outdoor adventure facility. Two workers were high up on an hydraulic platform doing some maintenance to the climbing and abseiling feature. Despite their distance from us they waved to us even before we managed to wave to them!
The first lock was Irthlingborough with an unusually large 2.4m rise and fall. The problem, however, was that the bottom gate leaked quite badly and we eventually had to give in and open both top paddles before we could get it to make a level.
The extensive Irthlingborough Mooring was entirely empty - as it was when we came down. We were surprised that the work barge crew had been so keen to avoid using this mooring for fear of vandalism as the moorings seem to be well protected by a high security fence and locked gate.
A series of warning signs make sure that boaters approach the next bridge with great care. The bridge dates from the 14C and had various widening projects before the nearby 1930's concrete bridge became the route for the busy A6.
Although the old bridge has 10 arches, only one is available for navigation (the third from the left in the photo) From the downstream side boats have to take a sharp left turn in order to line up with the narrow arch. Today the river was quite benign but in feistier conditions it much be more than care that is needed in order to avoid hitting the stonework.
From upstream it is much easier as the arch is in line with the river and it is after passing underneath that the sharp manoeuvre is needed.
Now here is something different: a lock (Higham Ferrers) with vee (pointing/mitre) doors at both ends. This was perhaps the easiest of today's locks!
There are a few other double pointed locks on the river but Ditchford is unique with its radial bottom gate. Despite this feature, operation is just the same as with the straight guillotine gates.
A double railway viaduct carries the main electrified line from St Pancras, through Bedford (once known locally as the Bedpan Line!) and northwards to Derby, Sheffield and Leeds. The two viaducts were built at different times (1857 and 1883) and they are at slightly different heights. It is said that the newer crossing (far side in photo) was at a lesser incline, easier for freight trains.
Very shortly after we arrived at our hoped-for overnight mooring, Chester House. We knew that it was only just large enough for two narrowboats and we were a bit concerned when we realised that there was already one moored there. They very kindly made a slight adjustment to their mooring lines so that we had plenty of room to tie up.
Miles - 3 Locks
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