Thursday; after a late night with David and Jan we were not up too early this morning, and when we did get up the fog lay thick around us, the sun was just a bright ball promising a good day.

David and Jan left us at around 10.30 to 11.00 heading back toward Bedford as their two week holiday is coming to a close, so it was our goodbyes with the promise of keeping in touch. As they disappeared from view we prepared to move of heading for the Great Ouse and Ely, in glorious sunshine. On passed the Five Mile From Anywhere pub it was all open countryside and cruising on a flat calm river and going with the flow.

We had our first glimpse of Ely Cathedral some miles before the end of the River Cam, which really does look majestic and seemingly sitting alone in the fens. On reaching the head of the Cam we made a right turn with just 4 miles to run into Ely, our plan was to stop short of the city, moor up and go in early on Friday. However that did not happen as we changed our plan and went straight in making for the service area to top up the water tank. On arrival the whole of the wharf and park embankment where lined with moored boats and it looked as if we would not get a mooring, so back through the city and finding a narrow boat of the same length we breasted up with him.

Now as Sally’s Mum and Dad are coming tomorrow we needed to be close in to make it easier for them to get aboard so I took a walk up the wharf and spoke to Eddy (San Diego) and Julia of NB Wildflower. When I told them of our situation they immediately offered to let us slide in between them and the wharf whenever we wished. Yet another great couple of boaters who are more than pleased to help out others (thanks guys). Back at the boat, some others pulled away from the wharf and we were able to take their space, so now with no need to disturb Wildflower we walked up to let them know and spent a while chatting with them.

Walking back we met up with Peter and Lesley of NB Meand’er who we met earlier in the week in Cambridge. Peter is from California and Lesley from New Brunswick in Canada so we had a good time chatting about that great country, as I had spent 4 years there. The main topic of conversation was that of the same language but totally different meanings of the same words (funny and amusing). Have a great time guys and we hope to meet up with you again somewhere on the canals.