Peterborough and New Wine

Sun 4th August  Peterborough

Last night we went to the bar here at Peterborough Yacht Club, where we discovered that the guy behind the bar was someone to whom we had given leaflets about Boaters Christian Fellowship and Canal Ministries, when we passed through in 2011. We hadn’t visited the club, but he had hailed us from his boat and asked what it was all about. We had a very sociable evening with just two other couples.

We had a reply from Daryl, our Wash pilot, to say that another boat will be joining us on our journey across the Wash. The boat is called Ace, skippered by Mark Leakey.

Today Amanda drove up from Poole to join us for New Wine. James went to meet her at the end of the lane, a 15-minute walk. To get her car to the boat there are four gates, two with padlocks, and one with an electronic fob. We unloaded her bags, and set off to New Wine, for a 5pm appointment with a contingent from our church in Aylesbury. It was good to see everyone. After a time of prayer together we found the food court, and then went to the Arena where the main evening event was taking place. Excellent worship, led by Chris Sayburn, and good teaching. The Arena takes 5,000 people.

Main celebration

No boating today

Mon 5^th August  New Wine

Amanda and Hazel went to an art workshop, while James went to a seminar about the theology of worship.  We went to another seminar about Christians in politics. It was good to meet BCF member John Speight. Hazel did some training on praying for people, while James and Amanda went to a more gentle worship experience in “Presence”.

Presence

After an exhilarating day we returned to the boat to find a card on our mat. It was from Rosie Leakey, of nb Ace, saying it was good to see our boat at the club. They said they are going to New Wine tomorrow. We looked in the BCF directory and found they are members of BCF. And they are the ones who are going to be with us on the Wash! Brilliant!

No boating today

Tue 6^th August  New Wine

We went to New Wine and while queuing for coffee we spotted Andy Smith and Rob Munday sitting at a table. Sue and Trish were also in the queue. They are all part of the Canal Ministries team, and it was so good to see them. Andy and Sue are staying on Ocho, Rob and Trish’s boat, at Alwalton Lock.

CM team at New Wine

There was a sudden downpour just after our afternoon seminars, and we thankfully made it to shelter in time. Some people got very wet. When it stopped, we went to our church camping base for a barbecue, where we met some others who had just come for the day.

Before the rain

During

After

Main event

After the main worship event in the Arena we met up with Mark and Rosie. It was good to be able to introduce ourselves, and share plans. We discovered that they were planning to cross the wash on the Monday, as the weather was less windy than other days. We had thought it would be later in the week when the tides were later, but we hadn’t checked the forecast. So now the plan is to go from Peterborough to Dog-in-a-Doublet on Saturday, for a 6am departure on the tide to Wisbech on Sunday. Then a very early departure from Wisbech on the Monday, heading for Boston, with a wait on a sand bank while the tide turns.

Amanda had been in another art workshop and had produced two fine paintings. A young girl expressed great interest in one of them, and Amanda felt she should give it to her. She signed it for her on the reverse, and the girl walked off very pleased, with a painting that was still wet!

No boating today

Wed 7^th August  Peterborough Yacht Club to Ferry Meadows

Although our tickets were for the first half of the week, we decided not to go in today as it was only for one session, and we would have a problem getting back. Instead we had a relaxed morning, turning the spare bed back into a dinette, and having breakfast together, before Amanda departed down the lane with four gates. James walked back with the key, which he gave to Barry, a committee member.

We saw Andy, Sue, Rob and Trish, walking towards Peterborough on the opposite bank. They said that Ocho was now moored at Ferry Meadows, and they were going to the Office (i.e. Wetherspoons). We had considered going to Ferry Meadows ourselves. Ace set off for Peterborough with other friends from New Wine, saying they too would end up at Ferry Meadows later.

We set off ourselves for the short journey upstream, with no locks, through the connecting channel into Overton Lake, where there are two projecting pontoons providing four mooring places.

Leaving PYC

The narrow channel

We saw Ocho in first place, then Grainne Mhaol, last seen on the Wey two years ago, sharing Coxes and New Haw locks.  On the next pontoon was Kamili, seen recently several times on the Great Ouse. We took the final space. An hour later two more boats came in and rafted up together, taking the place of Grainne Mhaol.  James sent a text to Ace to tell them the situation and invited them to moor up alongside us.

Boat movements at Ferry Meadows

Busy mooring

Our four CM friends came back from Peterborough, having come just one stop on the Nene Valley Railway. They came aboard for a cuppa, and during the conversations, it was decided that Trish and Andy would come on Gabriel for the Wash crossing, while Hazel, Sue and Rob would make their way to Boston by car. Then Mark and Rosie on Ace arrived back and tied alongside, so more friendly chats ensued. Eventually they had to return their guests to Peterborough Yacht Club, so they left, and the six of us went on board Ocho for a lovely meal together.

What a good day!

Sunset at Ferry Meadows

0 locks, 1 mile

Next: Two days relaxing in or near Peterborough, aiming for Dog-in-a-Doublet on Saturday, Wisbech on Sunday, and Boston on Monday, weather permitting. Very high winds are forecast for Saturday, and New Wine has closed early.