March to Peterborough

Thu 1^st August  March to Whittlesey

We just had a five-minute journey to our first stop at the facilities, where we filled the water tank and emptied cassettes. Opposite was a boat called Lachlan, and when we had finished, they moved across to do the same.

Leaving the mooring in March

We cruised through March, and past Fox Narrowboats into open country once again. At Angle Corner the Twenty Foot River joins from the right. This might be an alternative route bypassing March, but there is a very low bridge, which prohibits navigation to most craft.

Angle Bridge

Angle Corner

Twenty Foot River

We continued our journey on What is called Whittlesey Dyke for a further two miles until we came to Ashline Lock, which was in our favour. The paddles here need 84 turns of the windlass! Soon after the lock we moored on visitor moorings at Whittlesey. Lachlan joined us later.

Ashline Lock

Moored at Whittlesey

A narrowboat went past in the dark at 1040, with a tunnel light on. There is nowhere much to moor between here and Stanground Lock, more than an hour away.

1 lock, 10 miles. Dep 0850, arr 1225

Fri 2^nd August  Whittlesey to Peterborough Waterfront

Lachlan left from behind us soon after 8am, and we followed a little later. The first challenge was the sharp corner in what is now know as the Briggate River. There is a sign asking us to sound the horn, but there are so few boats around that we just took it slowly and carefully.

The narrow channel in Briggate

The sharp corner

Safely round the bend

After the bend the navigation is called King’s Dyke. We saw some very tall chimneys near a clay quarry, two of which were smoking. This marks a brick works, obviously still in use. Further on there was an intriguing depot for crane sections.

Tall chimneys at the brickworks

Crane depot

We had noticed some beige coloured items on the banks, and when we saw the first one, we thought it was an old discarded duvet or similar. Then Hazel worked out that these were old weeds that had been fished out of the water by the weed control vehicles.

Dead weed

When we arrived at Stanground Lock, Lachlan was on the short waiting pontoon, and another boat was already going through the lock – presumably the late navigators from last night. We had to float around until Lachlan went in, and then we could tie up on the waiting pontoon.

Waiting for Stanground Lock

When we finally went in, we saw a plaque which showed that the lock had been extended only in 1990. Until then only boats less than 49ft could go through.

Plaque

Stanground Lock

After the lock, the navigation is known as Morton’s Leam. We joined the Nene, where, to the right, is the route to Wisbech which we plan to take later. We found Lachlan moored up in Peterborough, and also spotted more tents for the homeless.

The Nene

Lachlan

Tents for the homeless in Peterborough

We were not sure where we ought to moor for New Wine, starting on Sunday. We needed somewhere where Amanda’s car would be safe.  We decided to visit Alwalton Lock by bus and explore the possibilities. After waiting for half an hour near a bus stop, we found that the bus route had changed, so we caught one from the bus station instead.

We arrived in Alwalton and had a pleasant drink and a snack in the pub there called “The Cuckoo”. We walked down to the lock, and found no boats moored. There were thatched cottages and a lovely church, and a tiny post office where we bought ice creams. However, there was nowhere to park a car anywhere near the boat.

The Cuckoo

The Church

Comma butterflies

We took a bus back to Peterborough and returned to the boat. James went to explore the car parks, and they were either expensive short-stay ones, or in rough looking areas. We decided we would try to contact Peterborough Yacht Club in the morning.

1 lock, 5 miles. Dep 0825, arr 0950 Stanground. Dep 1025 arr 1055 Peterborough

Sat 3^rd August  Peterborough Waterfront to Peterborough Yacht Club

Moored in Peterborough

We contacted people in the Yacht Club and were told it would be fine to moor there. We went shopping for a few things in ASDA, before turning around and heading downstream to the facilities, where we filled with water and emptied cassettes.

We then headed upstream past the old Customs House and the floating restaurant, under the bridges and out of Peterborough. We went past the pleasant wooded section, where there is a strange white sculpture, and we arrived at Orton Lock.

The Old Customs House

Floating Restaurant

Wooded section

Sculpture

There were two fishermen between the lock landing stage and the lock, with fishing lines going right across the path any boat would have to take. One boat had just gone into the lock. James went to help and when they had left, Bishop’s Farewell came down into the lock. Despite being told that a boat was coming. The fisherman left his line out until too late, and the hook caught on Bishop’s ropes.

Bishop’s Farewell entering Orton lock

Gabriel and the fishermen

We went up through the lock and moored at Peterborough Yacht Club. Everyone was very welcoming. We were given a key, and James went to explore the road to the club. It is a fifteen-minute walk to get to the gate onto the road where Amanda will need to meet James tomorrow.

Peterborough Yacht Club.

We went to the bar later, and it was being run by a guy to whom we think we gave a BCF leaflet in 2011!

1 lock, 3 miles. Dep 1515, arr 1620

Next: We will be moored here until Wednesday. Amanda will be staying on board with us, and we will go in her car to and from New Wine each day. After that, a few days rest until the Wash crossing.