Post by JohnV on Sept 14, 2016 10:44:52 GMT
After my first chapter I had to lay Shapfell up in Littleport as I had to go back into hospital for a short while, after a few weeks recuperation I went back to explore further.
A friend came with me in case I had trouble before I regained strength. He is a salty water boater and had never been on the inland waters before.
I needed to fill up with diesel and decided to go to the farm near the start of the Little Ouse so I could stock up with eggs and honey at the same time. I expected then to tour upstream to possibly St Neots. Once my friend saw the Little Ouse he was intrigued by the little waterways so I ended up revisiting most of the bits I had already been to.
I can't say I objected too hard as I had thoroughly enjoyed cruising them and was quite happy to go again.
SAM_0330 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Cottage on the banks of the Little Ouse.
As we came back down the Little Ouse near the main river I noticed another Ormelite cruiser (like Shapfell) at the moorings, I had passed it three times previously and not recognised it because of the tailored cover. I don't remember ever seeing a cover tailored so closely round a boat before ..... it must have cost an absolute fortune when it was new.
SAM_0332 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
"Eve" on the Little Ouse
We then went downstream a bit further and poodled up The river Wissey again. There is a large sugar factory on the Wissey and just above it is a huge open water area of meres unfortunately it is all owned by the sugar company and no mooring is allowed (dropping a mudweight is ok providing you don't want to get off to stretch your legs)
SAM_0343 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Part of the mere with the sugar factory in the distance
SAM_0344 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
partly demolished old access bridge to the sugar factory
SAM_0345 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Further up the Wissey in more restricted waters
SAM_0520 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
the upstream set of moorings on the river Lark at PrickwillowSAM_0500 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
continuous moorer at Prickwillow
SAM_0517 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Old windmill (windpump) converted to a house River Lark
SAM_0316 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Whoops ! wrong photo ......... I'll have to search for the right one !!!
that's better !!!
Isleham Lock (Phil70's stamping ground)
After dropping my visitor off in Littleport I continued upstream (having convinced everyone that I was fit enough to single hand) To Ely again, mooring immediately outside the Cutter Inn
for an evening meal (excellent but not cheap ........ not as bad as some of the prices, especially as it was smack on the waterfront in prime tourist area) then moving on just as it was getting dark to the EA moorings near Little Thetford.
SAM_0352 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
The crowded moorings at Little Thetford .......... I love the huge sky and horizon you get on the lower sections of the Gt Ouse
Turning right at the (in) famous Popes corner, it was suddenly back on the little waterways as you entered The Old West River. I was in no hurry so I spent most of a gloriously sunny day moored up at the second set of moorings a quarter mile above the railway bridge near Popes Corner. continuing on past The Lazy Otter only pausing for a swift pint and then on to the GOBA moorings at Aldreth High Bridge for the night.
SAM_0431 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Not quite as confined as the little rivers but quieter and smaller than the main river
SAM_0430 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Definitely bucolic but I suppose you have to put up with congestion everywhere.
Through Hermitage Lock the next morning and onto the tidal section (tidal ? half a metre change in the summer ......... some pounds on the canals go up and down more than that!)
I didn't stop during the hour and a bit run to Brownshill Staunch but on another occasion I would like to have stopped for a visit in Earith, it looked interesting.
A quick pint in the Pike and Eel Inn and a sandwich and then on to Holywell for the night on the Parish moorings
SAM_0486 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Pike and Eel Inn
SAM_0484 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Holywell Parish moorings
...........To be continued ..........,.
A friend came with me in case I had trouble before I regained strength. He is a salty water boater and had never been on the inland waters before.
I needed to fill up with diesel and decided to go to the farm near the start of the Little Ouse so I could stock up with eggs and honey at the same time. I expected then to tour upstream to possibly St Neots. Once my friend saw the Little Ouse he was intrigued by the little waterways so I ended up revisiting most of the bits I had already been to.
I can't say I objected too hard as I had thoroughly enjoyed cruising them and was quite happy to go again.
SAM_0330 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Cottage on the banks of the Little Ouse.
As we came back down the Little Ouse near the main river I noticed another Ormelite cruiser (like Shapfell) at the moorings, I had passed it three times previously and not recognised it because of the tailored cover. I don't remember ever seeing a cover tailored so closely round a boat before ..... it must have cost an absolute fortune when it was new.
SAM_0332 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
"Eve" on the Little Ouse
We then went downstream a bit further and poodled up The river Wissey again. There is a large sugar factory on the Wissey and just above it is a huge open water area of meres unfortunately it is all owned by the sugar company and no mooring is allowed (dropping a mudweight is ok providing you don't want to get off to stretch your legs)
SAM_0343 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Part of the mere with the sugar factory in the distance
SAM_0344 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
partly demolished old access bridge to the sugar factory
SAM_0345 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Further up the Wissey in more restricted waters
SAM_0520 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
the upstream set of moorings on the river Lark at PrickwillowSAM_0500 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
continuous moorer at Prickwillow
SAM_0517 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Old windmill (windpump) converted to a house River Lark
SAM_0316 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Isleham Lock (Phil70's stamping ground)
After dropping my visitor off in Littleport I continued upstream (having convinced everyone that I was fit enough to single hand) To Ely again, mooring immediately outside the Cutter Inn
for an evening meal (excellent but not cheap ........ not as bad as some of the prices, especially as it was smack on the waterfront in prime tourist area) then moving on just as it was getting dark to the EA moorings near Little Thetford.
SAM_0352 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
The crowded moorings at Little Thetford .......... I love the huge sky and horizon you get on the lower sections of the Gt Ouse
Turning right at the (in) famous Popes corner, it was suddenly back on the little waterways as you entered The Old West River. I was in no hurry so I spent most of a gloriously sunny day moored up at the second set of moorings a quarter mile above the railway bridge near Popes Corner. continuing on past The Lazy Otter only pausing for a swift pint and then on to the GOBA moorings at Aldreth High Bridge for the night.
SAM_0431 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Not quite as confined as the little rivers but quieter and smaller than the main river
SAM_0430 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Definitely bucolic but I suppose you have to put up with congestion everywhere.
Through Hermitage Lock the next morning and onto the tidal section (tidal ? half a metre change in the summer ......... some pounds on the canals go up and down more than that!)
I didn't stop during the hour and a bit run to Brownshill Staunch but on another occasion I would like to have stopped for a visit in Earith, it looked interesting.
A quick pint in the Pike and Eel Inn and a sandwich and then on to Holywell for the night on the Parish moorings
SAM_0486 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Pike and Eel Inn
SAM_0484 by mudlarker2, on Flickr
Holywell Parish moorings
...........To be continued ..........,.