Elton to Peterborough

I woke bright and early as usual and spent the first half hour in the familiar routine of stoking the fire, making the first coffee of the day and getting washed and dressed ready to meet what the day has to offer. By 7:30 I was pouring the second coffee and waiting for the sun to rise and lift the outside temperature above its current 2c. I set off around 8:30 through Elton lock and headed down the river towards Peterborough.

The next lock had a water point so I stopped to fill the water tank. The water pressure forced the hosepipe out of the filler cap and I instinctively tried to catch it. Unfortunately I chose to catch it between my knees with the hose pointing upwards. After a brief and very cold enema I replaced the hose in the filler and retired to the boat to change my now soaking trousers. Ironically this is the same lock I lost my chimney on my last trip.

So with a full water tank and clean trousers I leave the ill fated lock and enjoy the rest of the day trundling gently to Peterborough enjoying the late Autumn sun and golden colours.

I reached Peterborough in mid afternoon and stocked up on essential supplies and settled down for the evening. I'll head up to Ferry Meadows tomorrow.

Oundle to Elton

After heavy rain overnight I woke to chilly overcast morning. I drove home to drop off some things I don't need on the boat any longer and pick up a couple of things I do want. I return around noon just as a heavy shower passed through. The weather cleared up by 1pm so I cast off and headed down to my next planned stop at Elton.

I enjoyed the half hour cruising through beautiful Autumn scenery on my way to the first lock at Cotterstock. The clouds were building ahead of me and were looking quite ominous by the time I stopped at the lock.

Another heavy shower arrived while operating the lock so I took the sensible option of retiring to the galley and putting the kettle on while it passed. 15 minutes later I was on my way again with a hot coffee inside me. Shortly after passing through the next lock, Perio, I was rewarded with a splendid rainbow which was one of the most vibrant I've ever seen. The photo doesn't really do it justice, there is even a faint second rainbow to the right of it.

With my heart lifted by this lovely view I carried on past Fotheringhay which has a stunning church overlooking the river and of course the mound of the old castle which was the birthplace of Richard III and where Mary Queen of Scots was incarcerated and eventually executed.

Fotheringhay Church

 

By the time I reached the next lock at Warmington, sadly not on-sea, the sun was setting behind me and reaching my overnight mooring at Elton before dark was getting a little tight.

Late afternoon at Warmington lock

 

After a further half hour I reached Elton lock and could moor up for the night just as the sun was setting across the fields. A lovely end to another fun day on the water.

 

A quick trip on the Nene

After a few weeks ashore I was beginning to pine for the gentle rocking of a boat on the water. I have caught up on a few jobs at home and felt it was time to do the same on the boat. I replaced the fridge, at great expense, and had to carry out a little woodwork to fit the new one into the galley (kitchen). Then had a few mundane jobs to do: sealing a joint in the cratch, sealing the chimney joint, cleaning the engine room and sorting a minor water leak (from the engine not the hull).

Having completed a few jobs I decided to take her out on the river as it's a dry day.
After stocking up on food and coal I slipped the mooring at around noon and set off down the Nene to the first lock only a couple of hundred yards from the marina.

Lower Barnwell Lock

Although it's dry there is still a chilly wind and as mooring spots are a bit few and far between I decided to moor up early and spend the night just below the A605 bridge on the outskirts of Oundle.  The next mooring spot is Elton which I would struggle to reach before sunset.

Mooring for the evening

Not sure yet how long I'll stay out as I don't want to get trapped like last year. Will have to play it day by day.