 Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead. |
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Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.
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From Peterborough Junction to Whittlesey Junction arriving at 11:45 am. The time taken was 2 hours 15 minutes. 4.75 miles and No locks, averaging 2.11 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 2 hours 15 minutes total cruising time, 4.75 miles and No locks, averaging 2.11 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
Set off from home for my first single-handed trip. Turned the boat and headed for Stanground Lock where I was due at 10 a.m. Arrived at 9.45 and went to see the lock keeper and fill in the usual form. His daughter operated the lock and I was through by 10.05. A rather cold trip with some spots of rain. Moored by the recreation ground and went into the shops at Whittlesey for three items I had forgotten. When In came back the narrowboat Racheal (Market Harborough) was moored next to me. Had lunch and stayed the afternoon here.
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From Whittlesey Junction to Floods Ferry Junction arriving at 10:10 am. The time taken was 2 hours. 6.13 miles and 1 locks, averaging 3.56 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 4 hours 15 minutes total cruising time, 10.88 miles and 1 locks, averaging 2.79 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
After a cold night I awoke to a sunny day. Started off through the lock at 8.10. All the moorings were full at Whitlesey so a cruiser had moored on the upper lock moorings and had left the gates open. It moved down to the mooring I had vacated once I was in the lock. A sunny journey down to the junction passing one other boat. Did not stop at the junction.
From Floods Ferry Junction to Ramsey arriving at 12:55 am. The time taken was 2 hours 45 minutes. 14.75 miles and No locks, averaging 5.36 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 7 hours total cruising time, 25.63 miles and 1 locks, averaging 3.80 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
Saw more boats on the Old Nene, mostly boats coming out from Bill Fen but also a Fox's hire boat. At Benwick I passed two boats heading for the rally, one of them Straw Bear. More boats coming from Bill Fen on High Lode. Turned at Ransey and moored on the ricketty landing stage and was shortly joined by the two boats I saw at Benwick. After Lunch I did some shopping at the Co-op. A mostly sunny day with a few clouds in the afternoon. Took photos of the boats as they gathered and saw a knigfisher fly down the lode.
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From Ramsey to Exhibition Bridge arriving at 11:45 am. The time taken was 1 hours 30 minutes. 4.38 miles and 1 locks, averaging 3.58 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 8 hours 30 minutes total cruising time, 30.00 miles and 2 locks, averaging 3.76 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
Started off and waited in a queue of boats while those in front turned and went through Lodes End Lock on the level (gates open both ends). Came down to Exhibition Bridge where we all gathered by the bridge for photographs and to snatch a byte for lunch.
From Exhibition Bridge to Holme Village arriving at 3:00 pm. The time taken was 1 hours 45 minutes. 3.50 miles and No locks, averaging 2.00 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 10 hours 15 minutes total cruising time, 33.50 miles and 2 locks, averaging 3.46 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
| Set off and stopped at Monks Lode, having turned and gone backwards into the Lode in the hope that another narrowboat would come along to breast-up with as there is no turning point at the end of the Lode. All the following boats went on to Holme so I followed them down and turned at the end and moored. Had dinner at the Admiral Wells and was joined by Mr & Mrs Cross. |  |
| Middle Level - New Dyke: Holme Village IWA Middle Level Campaign Cruise - August 2003 |
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From Holme Village to Puddock Bridge arriving at 1:40 pm. The time taken was 2 hours 50 minutes. 10.38 miles and 1 locks, averaging 4.01 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 13 hours 5 minutes total cruising time, 43.88 miles and 3 locks, averaging 3.58 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
Set off from Holme at 10.20. Spent about 30 minutes at Lodes End Lock helping to lock other boats through as the water was not level as it was yesterday. After Ramsey High Lode I saw a kingfisher. Stopped at the Ramsey Hollow Bridge for more photographs and snached some lunch.
From Puddock Bridge to Wells Bridge Junction arriving at 2:50 pm. The time taken was 35 minutes. 3.25 miles and No locks, averaging 5.57 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 13 hours 40 minutes total cruising time, 47.13 miles and 3 locks, averaging 3.67 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
Went backwards for 5 minutes to find a slightly wider place to turn than Ramsey Hollow Bridge. At the junction turned towards Benwick without stopping.
From Wells Bridge Junction to Angle Corner arriving at 5:40 pm. The time taken was 2 hours 50 minutes. 10.00 miles and No locks, averaging 3.53 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 16 hours 30 minutes total cruising time, 57.13 miles and 3 locks, averaging 3.64 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
As I turned at Wells Bridge "Seamus and Kate" followed behind together with another narrowboat. Saw a Reed Bunting and two kingfishers before Benwick. Did not stop at Angle Corner.
From Angle Corner to Ashline Sluice arriving at 8:10 pm. The time taken was 2 hours. 2.25 miles and 1 locks, averaging 1.63 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 18 hours 30 minutes total cruising time, 59.38 miles and 4 locks, averaging 3.43 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
Wasted about 30 minutes trying to find moorings before Ashline Lock but could not find anywhere tht was satisfactory. Got to the lock behind Hardwick. Had some trouble with the lock as a lot of water was coming from the top gate and only one of the bottom paddles could be used. The man from Hardwick came to help and eventually we cleared some rubble from the top cill and cured the problem. All the moorings at Whittlesey were full so I moored beside Hardwick.
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From Ashline Sluice to Peterborough Junction arriving at 12:05 am. The time taken was 2 hours 15 minutes. 5.25 miles and 1 locks, averaging 2.78 lock/miles per hour. Totals for this voyage are 20 hours 45 minutes total cruising time, 64.63 miles and 5 locks, averaging 3.36 lock/miles per hour over the whole voyage.
Set off slowly from Whitlesey to be at Stanground lock at noon. Passed one narrowboat near Whitlesey. Saw a hare and two moorhens nests with eggs as I approached Stanground. Came through the lock early. A warm sunny day to end the Easter trip.
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Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.