Boatwif

So often the Captain jokes that the alarm clock is set for quarter past six in the morning. On Monday night at King’s Lynn it was for real.  Despite a stunning sunset a wind drove the incoming tide hard up against Cleddau’s hull that night. Slap, slap, slap. It seemed to go on for hours and when sleep came it was soon broken by the 0615 alarm. Final preparations for the cruise (or rather sea voyage) were made. Wash chart,...

Plans for the Wash Crossing began firming up in Ely. Moored nearby was Chouette, her crew booked too with Daryl Hill for a Wash Crossing from King’s Lynn. What good fortune to prepare for an adventure with them, members of the Macclesfield Canal Society and veterans of the tidal Severn and European waters too… Early start on Monday morning was required to catch the tide. Would all the preparations be enough? There had been much Googling of the Great Ouse channel to...

Some places you are just glad to return to – Ely is one of them! In high summer the lesson to learn on the rivers is grab a mooring when you see it. So two nights were spent breasted up against Tentatrice midway between the Ely High Bridge and the Ely to Cambridge line railway bridge. Moorings alongside the popular Ely frontage were all taken and on Saturday sharp-bowed glossy white cruisers vied for prime position outside the Cutter Inn,   ...

Post festival on Monday there was much to be done – the packing away of a gazebo which despite its missing connectors and roof poles had provided both shade from the beating sun and shelter from beating rain.    Outdoor chairs, picnic blanket, surplus cool boxes, the gazebo and car were returned home – and Exemplary Neighbour then returned the Cleddau and Tentatrice Captains to the boats, by Jaguar! Rumour was rife – “There’s a queue of fifteen boats down at...

So on Friday after six months of planning, seven weeks of travel, 141 locks negotiated and 310 miles of canal and river navigation Cleddau had nearly reached the venue for Bedford’s 17th biennial River Festival. There was just the Pyramid (the Oasis Swimming Pool) to pass, a few low bridges to creep under  and a lock to queue at.  Allocated mooring sites 76/1 and 76/2, by midday it was safe to declare that Phase 2 (Braunston –Bedford leg) of the...

        After weeks of river cruising the Cleddau crew were back in canal-land last weekend. 17 months ago there had been one of those Keep this date free emails:  keep the July 12th/13th 2014 weekend free for an Event to mark my 40th birthday, was the message issued by Techno Son-in-Law.   The Event, two years in the planning, had no requirement for dinner jackets or ball gowns but a dress code of scruff gear and kit for getting wet…        ...

Great Barford to Bedford        An early departure was agreed for Wednesday from Great Barford – there were three locks and seven miles to go to the Priory Marina in Bedford.         Late on Tuesday afternoon Boatwif glimpsed a flash of white (and some black) sidling past the cabin window.  Boat Dog from Tentatrice had decided to absent himself from the stern deck of his boat and to position himself comfortably on the grassy bank overlooking the river. From here he...

Great Ouse: Godmanchester to Great Barford        At 8pm on Sunday at Godmanchester litter was piled high by the park bins and spread thickly across the areas favoured by the local teens. But, magic! By 10am on Monday morning all was gone. Just the steel frame of the stage area was left to be dismantled after Godmanchester’s Gala on Saturday and Picnic in the Park on Sunday.  No crowds jostled on the Chinese footbridge now and no boats lined the riverbank...

            “Have your camera ready” would be suitable advice for any first time traveller along the river between St Ives and Godmanchester.             By late morning on Saturday Cleddau and Tentatrice were pulling back from the St Ives Bridge, allowing some rowers through, before passing under the centre arch, close to another of St Ives’ yellow bicycles.             Within a few miles there would be a glut of church towers and spires: All Saints Parish Church, the stubby tower of Hemingford Grey,...

             From about a mile out of Ely you can look back and appreciate the immense size of Ely’s Cathedral. There will be fond memories of this summer’s Ely days. It’s a compact town with a village feel – and many lovely buildings. There are busy spots of course, as well as quiet corners. Look at this little space, quite near the waterfront. Observe the car – a neat but distinctive Morris Minor. It’s often parked there. For a while...