25th June 2012

After spending a few days in Huntingdon visiting the Oliver Cromwell museum and having a look around the historical town as well as a bit of shopping (of course). Also on Friday we had a visit from Jacinta, the main reason for staying over as our mooring in the town was easy to find and get close to with her car. We all had a walk into town and we got the blame for her buying a new pair of shoes, sorry gal that’s the way it goes. She the treated us to lunch at a very nice Italian restaurant which seemed to take forever, but that was no bad thing as we all enjoyed our selection and took our time over it. (Thanks J). Back at the boat we sat and had a good chat as we had not seen her since the wedding and it wasn’t till around 21.15 that she left for home.

We had planned on leaving on the Sunday but we didn’t, and yes you guessed it, more rain and high winds was the reason.

Back to today, we set off with a scattering of cloud and sun, and our first stop was the water point just before the old bridge. Topping the tank was a bit frustrating as the tap had no way of fixing the hose onto it, so I had to hold it up to the nozzle, also it was a push in tap so that had to be held in as well. I got soaked, my shoes, legs and arms, even at times it would spray up and get me all over (not a happy man), but we did it in the end. I feel a complaint coming on, to the Huntingdon council who provide the facility.

 Sally watering our garden

Tank filled it was off and under the old bridge, closely followed by the A14 flyover, a road much travelled by both Sally and myself over the years. Next came a left hand bend followed by a sharp right, and here as it narrowed the river flow was increased causing the throttle to be opened to make headway through to the Godmanchester lock whilst passing some rather exclusive houses. The rest of the journey turned a little colder as we made our way along by some excellent scenery up to Brampton lock and passing an old mill with it working water wheel, nestling into a bend in the river.

The mill is now a restaurant and the setting for it must put it in great demand and even offering boat trips it its guests. The lock itself was awkward to get into as we had to go around an island to approach it, keeping us well clear of the very turbulent weir, but making the lock difficult to get into, however the last user had left the gates open and we went straight in.

After this we headed for Offord lock as the river widened and slowed its pace, with its lush green flood meadows on either bank with masses of pink footed geese splashing around on the river’s edge.

 Nearing the lock we passed a holiday village with timber built cabins and a service facility for boaters on the main river (one to remember). At the lock we moored up and Sally stayed with the boat while I walked to prepare the chamber and as I got there two boats were just coming in to go down river. Helping them through and chatting as we waited for the chamber to empty before opening the gates to let them out. Next it was our turn and Sally brought the boat in, closely followed by a small boat with three EA guys on board, apparently going to check the river gauge that comes from Grafham water, a part of the rivers flood defences. As we opened up another narrowboat was waiting to come in and go downstream so we left them to it and headed for our planned stop near Great Paxton.

Three EA men in a boat

Once again the river was running wide and we had an easy run up to the GOBA mooring we had chosen to stop at, arriving at around 13.30 and securing the boat. Sally hung out the washing and I settled down to a bit of fishing, however once again the fish eluded me (I am a rubbish fisherman), so it was time to read the last of my books before tea.