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Post by JohnV on Jun 11, 2016 8:01:25 GMT
To steal a title from "Slow boat through England"
Last night I moored to a mudweight (one of my ballast weights with a rope tied to it) near Lakenheath Fen nature reserve, on the Little Ouse.
Superb steak (purchased in Brandon at the head of the navigation) with a green salad washed down by a couple of bottles of Hobgoblin.......... Bliss. To top it all, last night for the first time in my life, I lay in my bunk listening to a strange noise ........ the booming of a bittern.
Life just does not get much better
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2016 8:11:49 GMT
We're planning to go from Northampton to Bedford (and back) via the Nene, Middle levels and the Ouse. Looking forward to it but a bit nervous after our 'interesting' experiences on the non tidal Trent.
Any advice welcome.
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Post by JohnV on Jun 11, 2016 8:31:37 GMT
from my limited experience of the area so far, I have found it benign. I was launched into the Lark at Isleham, near the head of the navigation at Judes Ferry. very quiet, an attractive windy river at the top, which reminded me of how the Stort used to be years ago. So far I have found most facilities are a good hike from the boat (I am still building up strength to walk any great distance) Brandon (head of the Little Ouse) an exception so far, with an Aldi very close to the top mooring (and more importantly to my mind, an independent baker, a small proper greengrocer and a good butcher a short walk towards the town) mooring so far is not too easy (as in spite of the recommendations by Gazza et. al. I failed to join GOBA first) (will do so as soon as I can get organised) but I have always found somewhere and as I said in my first post I used a mudweight to anchor last night.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2016 8:47:06 GMT
from my limited experience of the area so far, I have found it benign. I was launched into the Lark at Isleham, near the head of the navigation at Judes Ferry. very quiet, an attractive windy river at the top, which reminded me of how the Stort used to be years ago. So far I have found most facilities are a good hike from the boat (I am still building up strength to walk any great distance) Brandon (head of the Little Ouse) an exception so far, with an Aldi very close to the top mooring (and more importantly to my mind, an independent baker, a small proper greengrocer and a good butcher a short walk towards the town) mooring so far is not too easy (as in spite of the recommendations by Gazza et. al. I failed to join GOBA first) (will do so as soon as I can get organised) but I have always found somewhere and as I said in my first post I used a mudweight to anchor last night.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2016 8:53:55 GMT
Just joined GOBA. It's a pity there isn't a similar scheme for the Nene and Middle levels. We are used to using a plank if need be. Sounds a very pretty region to explore.
Someone was saying you need a different windlass for some of the manual locks. Is there also an EA key we need to source from somewhere before we set off? All we have is the normal CRT windlass and key.
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Post by macwolfelee on Jun 11, 2016 9:08:15 GMT
Just joined GOBA. It's a pity there isn't a similar scheme for the Nene and Middle levels. We are used to using a plank if need be. Sounds a very pretty region to explore. Someone was saying you need a different windlass for some of the manual locks. Is there also an EA key we need to source from somewhere before we set off? All we have is the normal CRT windlass and key. You need a special windlass for the Middle Level, which you can get from Tina the Lockie at Stanground, where you enter. Depending on where you go, you may also need a Middle Level key, also available there. The EA key for all EA waters is available from Gayton Marina at the top of the Northampton flight, and you can also buy an EA Anglian licence from them if you don't already have a gold licence. Your normal windlass will be OK for EA locks where they aren't electric or operated by a big wheel.
I love the area. Despite being based in Yorkshire, I have spent three of the ten summers since I bought Cygnet in Fenland.
Edited to say that there is a GOBA-like organisation for the Nene - Friends of the River Nene (sorry I don't have the link to hand). It's fairly recent but is busy creating moorings.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2016 9:24:06 GMT
Just joined GOBA. It's a pity there isn't a similar scheme for the Nene and Middle levels. We are used to using a plank if need be. Sounds a very pretty region to explore. Someone was saying you need a different windlass for some of the manual locks. Is there also an EA key we need to source from somewhere before we set off? All we have is the normal CRT windlass and key. You need a special windlass for the Middle Level, which you can get from Tina the Lockie at Stanground, where you enter. Depending on where you go, you may also need a Middle Level key, also available there. The EA key for all EA waters is available from Gayton Marina at the top of the Northampton flight, and you can also buy an EA Anglian licence from them if you don't already have a gold licence. Your normal windlass will be OK for EA locks where they aren't electric or operated by a big wheel.
I love the area. Despite being based in Yorkshire, I have spent three of the ten summers since I bought Cygnet in Fenland.
Edited to say that there is a GOBA-like organisation for the Nene - Friends of the River Nene (sorry I don't have the link to hand). It's fairly recent but is busy creating moorings.
Thanks for the info.
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Post by naughtyfox on Jun 11, 2016 22:57:11 GMT
How peculiar. We drove through Brandon yesterday. Fenland for us in 2019 I'm thinking.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2016 8:52:44 GMT
We're planning to go from Northampton to Bedford (and back) via the Nene, Middle levels and the Ouse. Looking forward to it but a bit nervous after our 'interesting' experiences on the non tidal Trent. Any advice welcome. My advice is ignore all the twats on CWDF who paint a picture of doom. We may experience a big change in the way the Nene is controlled as they are supposed to be stopping reversing the locks. Time will tell. Other than that it's great, but don't tell anyone I told you so.... John, glad your enjoying yourself one week and we are on our way.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2016 8:58:16 GMT
Just joined GOBA. It's a pity there isn't a similar scheme for the Nene and Middle levels. We are used to using a plank if need be. Sounds a very pretty region to explore. Someone was saying you need a different windlass for some of the manual locks. Is there also an EA key we need to source from somewhere before we set off? All we have is the normal CRT windlass and key. www.friendsoftherivernene.co.uk/m.home.htmlAs mentioned earlier, your BW windlass is fine in our river and the Gt Ouse, Middle levels need a deep reach tapered windlass to operate Ashline lock slackers. Available from Stanground. It's a good design to stop the scrotes tampering with the lock. A colar is welded around the square of the shaft to stop grips being used. The middle levels are ace but plenty will tell you they are boring and featureless - I think that says more about those that make that statement than the levels
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2016 10:58:34 GMT
Just joined GOBA. It's a pity there isn't a similar scheme for the Nene and Middle levels. We are used to using a plank if need be. Sounds a very pretty region to explore. Someone was saying you need a different windlass for some of the manual locks. Is there also an EA key we need to source from somewhere before we set off? All we have is the normal CRT windlass and key. www.friendsoftherivernene.co.uk/m.home.htmlAs mentioned earlier, your BW windlass is fine in our river and the Gt Ouse, Middle levels need a deep reach tapered windlass to operate Ashline lock slackers. Available from Stanground. It's a good design to stop the scrotes tampering with the lock. A colar is welded around the square of the shaft to stop grips being used. The middle levels are ace but plenty will tell you they are boring and featureless - I think that says more about those that make that statement than the levels Thanks for all that Gazza. Maybe we'll get to say hello.
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Post by JohnV on Jun 19, 2016 18:54:06 GMT
Just resurrecting this thread at the end of my (too short) visit to the Gt Ouse.
My visit this time has let me explore from Ely down to Denver sluice and the three tributaries the Lark,Brandon Creek and the Wissey. I have found it an absolute delight to toddle round. The Wissey is truly a beautiful river, mostly very quiet with few moorings ...... the one near the top of the navigation is, interestingly in an adults only camp site.
I did a bit of ditch running there as there was no sign marking the end of the navigation, as there was on the other 2 rivers. I just continued along an ever smaller watercourse with tighter and tighter bends (there are some advantages in being in a 25' narrow beam yoghurt pot.) I had a OS 1:25000 scale map of the area so I was able to plot exactly where I was. I got passed the junction with the river Gadda and up to the first half of Borough Fen passing the largest area of flowering flag iris that I have ever seen. At that point it started to narrow sharply so I backed hard into the bank and let the (quite strong) current turn me round. It was very tight but it scraped round and I then had the fun of going down stream, slaloming the obstacles at sufficient speed to maintain good steerage way ........ exciting ! Phil (of this Parish) puts me about 2 miles above the limit of navigation ........ thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I have found temporary moorings at Littleport (just above Ely) to leave Shapfell while I go back for the hospital, hopefully in 5 or 6 weeks time I will be able to get back here and explore upstream.
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Post by peterboat on Jun 19, 2016 19:29:02 GMT
Good luck with the hospital if you need anything put out a call on here I am sure one of us should be able to help
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Post by JohnV on Jun 19, 2016 19:32:54 GMT
thanks for that Peter
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2016 20:49:57 GMT
Sounds fun John. When you are fit again have a crack at the little ouse abovry Brandon, there's a good mooring at Stanton Downham, how far you can get above that I have no idea. After a stressful week of being glued to the levels website for the Nene we have begun our hols. All credit to the EA they have managed to keep the Nene open after some spectacular downpours! Now Sat at Oundle following a weekend of bar work at the club. Will feel like we are on our way properly tomorrow! Tuesday's Stop is at Stanground to get measured for new dinnete and cockpit cushions and then we are no sleep till Salters Lode on Wednesday
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