Saturday 28th June

Bedford to Great Barford

Walked into town first thing as we couldn't get our key deposit back till 9.30.

Conveniently the fist gas bottle ran out this morning so we got a new one before leaving Priory Marina. Went upstream through the town centre and on to the limit of navigation at Kempston Mill.

This came slightly sooner than expected when the bow ran aground. We tried to turn there but couldn't, so we had to back down to the last island and turn below that.

Moored in Bedford and went for lunch in the Pilgrims Progress. After that Ian left for the station to go home.

Back downstream and moored for the night at Great Barford where we got the last free mooring. Lodestar was still there.

Walked up through the rest of the village to check out the other pubs. One was permanently shut and the Golden Cross was advertised as a Chinese Restaurant. However it still had a traditional front bars with real ale, so we tried some. Then back to the boat for a snack. Later on we went for a pint in the Anchor.

Friday 27th June

St. Neots to Bedford

Moved up to the Priory moorings in order to get some milk. There we found a Waitrose so we got a few other supplies as well.

Stopped at Great Barford for lunch in the Anchor. I had been here before by car.

Moored for the night in the Priory Marina in Bedford. It's 1 1/2 miles from the Town Centre but as GOBA member I got a free night there. Not being sure of the moorings in the town we thought it best to play safe, especially as is was Friday.

Went to the White Horse to eat then on to the Crickets Arms, and finally to the Wellington Arms.

Thursday 26th June

St. Ives to St. Neots

Having discovered last night that the Middle Levels windlass is not ideal for the locks on the Ouse, we went downstream to the boatyard above the lock to purchase one. They had a good chandlery and we were able to empty the toilet there.

Upstream again heading for Huntingdon for lunch and to pick up Andy. Andy was waiting at the bridge as we moored. Went for lunch in the Old Bridge Hotel. This was very expensive, but good quality food and of course good beer.

After a short lunch we pressed on to St. Neots. We checked out the moorings at the Priory Centre, but they did not feel safe. Also checked the moorings upstream of the bridge, but there were no boats there either. So we went back downstream to the moorings just outside town where there were now two other boats. We moored in front of Lodestar.

Went to the Lord John Russell to eat but they weren't doing any. They recommended another pub nearby, the Olde Sun, so we ate there. Then went back to the Lord John Russell..

Wednesday 25th June

Ely to St. Ives

After spending a while exploring Ely, we set off at 11.45. Decided not to stop for lunch, but the pub at Popes corner looked permanently closed anyway.

After Popes corner progress was slower and we even ran aground passing one boat. After Hermitage lock and the entrance to the New and Old Bedford Rivers, the river is bigger again and we speeded up again.

Moored for the night in St. Ives on Waits Quay behind Holt Island.

Went to eat in the White Hart which is a CAMRA Regional inventry pub, then to the Royal Oak which is also. Finally to the Oliver Cromwell which is in the GBG.

Tuesday 24th June

Brandon to Ely

Left at 8, winding just below the lock. Swift journey back to Brandon Creek junction where we stopped for lunch at the Ship.

Then on up the Ouse to Ely. Here we had an encounter with a rowing boat. As we approached the marina bridge they were coming downstream on the wrong side of the river. Despite sounding the horn and shouting they did not change course and their oars went under the bow and tipped them over into the water. No damage was done and initially they did not seem that bothered.

We stopped at the marina to get fuel, which was 105p/l! One guy there told us that it was regular occurence for the rowing boats to hit another boat. Certainly no one around seemed to think it odd. They come from one of the Cambridge University boat clubs which is based in Ely.

Then we turned round to moor for the night below the bridge.

Walked up into town and round the outside of the Cathedral to the Town House where we had something to eat. After that we went to the Prince Albert to try the Green King Mild, which is rare these days. We finished off the night in the West End House.

Monday 23rd June

Salters Lode to Brandon

Able to have a lie in today as we had to wait for the tide at 12. We were kept amused watching the Middle Level Commisioners dredging by the waiting pontoon for the lock.

We were in the lock before 12 but had wait for Denver sluice who had 4 narrowboats to come over and there was some confusion over their lengths. Although Denver sluice is a big lock, Salters Lode is not at high water due to the arched bridge.

Left the lock at 12.10, the engine was smoking badly and I realised that we must have picked up some of the weed that was floating in the lock. A quick burst of reverse sorted that out and we managed to turn upstream fairly easily. We crossed one narrowboat coming from Denver and locked down onto the Ouse.

After leaving the sluice we turned downstream to find the facilities which were tucked away between the sailing club and the relief channel sluice.

We had decided to skip doing the relief channel to catch up on our schedule. Instead we had lunch on the move and headed upstream to the junction with the Little Ouse and go up that to Brandon, which is the head of navigation on the Little Ouse.

We made good speed up the Little Ouse and it was only when we got near Brandon that the current increased due o the narrowing of the river.

Moored below the lock at Brandon. We couldn't go though as it is only 40ft long. We were the only boat there.

Walked into Brandon along the river and to the Bell for a pint. Then to the
Brandon Bridge Hotel to eat, and finally to the Great Eastern.

Sunday 22nd June

Upwell to Salters Lode

Up at 745 and away at 805 to make it to Slaters Lode for the tide at 11. There had been a lot of heavy rain in the night but now it was sunny and windy.

Arrived in plenty of time but by now it was very windy which would make doing the turn to go upstream from the lock very difficult. Initially I was tempted ot go, but after watching another narrowboat only just make it, I decided not to.

Walked into Downham Market for lunch in the Crown Hotel which had very good food. After a short wander round the town we caught a train to Kings Lynn. Here we had a good look round, had a beer in the White Horse, the to the Stuart House Hotel to eat, another beer in the Live and Let Live, and finally back to the Hotel for another beer. Caught the last train back to Downham and walked back from there.

Saturday 21st June

March to Upwell

Brief shopping trip then left March at 10am. The weather soon turned awful, windy, raining and misty. Turned left onto the Twenty Foot River to go as far as the low bridge at Infields. Turned back and onto the main drag towards Upwell. We stopped for lunch by a wind farm. We just let the wind hold us in the side and had some soup.

On to Marchmont Priory lock which I had rung up to book, but being early wasn't a problem. This lock takes you up onto Well Creek.

Moored for the night on the visitor moorings in Upwell and filled up with water. Went to the Five Bells pub nearby to eat but their kitchen was being refurbished and they advised us to go to the Crown Lodge Hotel which is on the far side of Outwell. There we had some good beer and very good food, Lamb breast.

Then we walked all the way past the boat to the Globe, which was an Elgoods pub. Finally we went to the Five Bells.

Friday 20th June

Peterborough to March

Had a couple of hours to look round Peterborough before setting off at 11. Turned off the Nene into Kings Dyke and towards Stanground lock which I had booked for 11.30. After filling in the paperwork and purchasing the windlass and key, we went into the lock to go down onto the Middle Levels. No problem with depth of water in the lock but the lock keeper said that levels were slightly high. Which could present problems at some of the low bridges.

Managed to moor in Wittelsey for lunch to go to the Boat pub for lunch. This also served beer into glasses in the cellar. To our surprise they were doing basic food so we ate there too.

Had a quick look round the town and walked back via the lock.

Carried on via Ashlin lock along Wittlesey Dyke and turned onto the Old River Nene at Floods Ferry. When we got to March we moored by Town Bridge. Went to the Acre pub by the navigation to eat, then to the Oliver Cromwell Hotel, and finally to the Rose and Crown, which is the pub in the good beer guide.

Thursday 19th June

Fotheringhay to Peterborough

A leisurely 9am start to get to Wansford for lunch. It had been very windy during the night with some mysterious bangs, but there was no apparent reason. It was still quite windy, but at least the sun was shining.

Moored below the old bridge in Wansford in what turned out to be the grounds of the Haycock Hotel. Ate in the expensive hotel then went to try the beer in the Paper Mills pub opposite.

Onwards downstream, sharing the nwxt two locks with another boat.
Spotted a new mooring at the Nene Valley railway.

Stopped to empty the loo in Peterborough then moored for the night nearby.

Went to the old barge, Charters.
This is now run by the Oakham brewery and the food is now provided by a Thai restaurant on the upper level. So we went to the Drapers Arms to eat. Although this is a Wetherspoons, it is in the GBG. They even had live music and we were asked if we wanted our beer served with or without a sparkler!

After eating there we went to the Oakham Brewery Tap. This also has Thai food but not in a seperate area. Then we walked to Goodbarns Yard, but they did seem to have much beer and there was a loud band playing. So we walked south of the river to the Palmerston Arms. This is a Batemans pub and is unusual in that all beer is served into glasses from the casks in the cellar, which is behind the bar with a large window.

Wednesday 18th June

Islip to Fotheringhay

The boat alongside us started its engine at 730 as arranged, and left to go upstream to get to the River Stort. We backed out and turned downstream.

It was cloudy all day with some rain and the wind started to rise.

Moored on the excellent unofficial moorings above Ashton lock in a weir stream. Walked into Ashton, home of the world conker championships, and to the Chequered Skippy. As we had been led to believe, the food here was excellent. I had Lamb followed by Elderflower Cheesecake.

After that we carried on to Fotheringhay where the land owner allows mooring for £3 a night either side of the bridge. We moored by the remains of the castle.

We had a good look round the village, and even the church which was open. The we went to the Falcon pub which turned out to be in the Michelin pub guide. I had a starter. Wood Pidgeon Terrine, which was very good. Having sampled all three beers we retired to the boat for a nightcap.

Tuesday 17th June

Wellingborough to Islip

Early start to get to Woodford for an early lunch. There were more boats around today. It was cool but mainly sunny.

One of the locks had a radial gate rather than a straight vertical gate.

When we arrived at Woodford the moorings were not marked so we overshot and had to go back to moor in a field below the church, which apparently was the right place.

Went for lunch in the Dukes Arms. We had a main course as they were cheaper at lunchtime and we were expecting to be in an unknown pub that evening. I had the Venison stew.

In the afternoon we decided only to go as far Islip and Thatcham where we would be able to get milk and there would be a choice of pubs.

Fortunately we had been talking to a local boat crew so we knew how to find the mooring. It's tucked away just above the bridge. It was already full with 2 narrowboats so we breasted up with the longer one. Later on another narrowboat came alongside us.

Walked through Islip and across the river to Thatcham to check out the pubs and buy the milk. We also had a pint in the Masons Arms, a Charles Wells pub.

Later we went for a meal in the Woolpack which was better than we expected. The food especially was very good. We took advantage of the 2 course early bird menu. I had a Chicken Ceasar Salad followed by Sorbets.

Walked to the other pub in Islip but found this to be permanently closed. So we went back to the Woolpack.

Monday 16th June

Locked down onto the river and turned left to explore the Westbridge Arm as far as the first bridge. Then we turned and went downstream.

For lunch we went in to Billing aquadrome and managed to moor near the Billing Mill pub. They had run out of real ale so we resorted to Bulmers Pear and a sandwich and then pressed on for Wellingborough. We had one manual sluice lock today and it was quite hard work.

Turned round and moored at Wellingborough. Walked to the Locomotive for a drink first. Then we went to the Old Grammarians Club hoping to eat there, but we out of luck beacause it was Monday. Then, as we had to pass the Coach and Horses On the way to Wetherspoons we called in and they were doing food. So we ate there instead.

Sunday 15th June

Started before 9 in order to get to Gayton for lunch. Stopped briefly to empty the loo at Gayton junction then on down the Northampton Arm to Gayton Marina. Here we filled up with fuel. Unfortunately they managed to get 87l in. Unfortunate because it was 96p/l! Bought a 31 day Environment Agency licence too and some Fuelset.

Then we moored opposite the marina and walked to Milton Malsor where we ate in the Greyound. This turned out to be a Chef and Brewer pub, the one that Mark took me to after looking at Freedom for him.

Partly due to slow service at lunch we were late setting off down the locks to Northampton. However we made good progress, but we worked hard to do it and arrived in Northampton much earlier than expected. Moored at Cotton End wharf. Went for a drink in the Malt Shovel then to eat in the Wetherspoons. Then to the Lamplighter, which is closed Sunday evenings, Racehorse, and finally to the Wig and Pen.

Saturday 14th June

Left Rugby and up Hillmorton Locks and on to Braunston. Went to the Plough for lunch then on to the Wheatsheaf.

After lunch we turned onto the Grand Union and went up the locks at Braunston, sharing them with another boat. Then through the tunnel and on to Norton Junction, down Buckby locks and on to Weedon. Went to eat in the Heart of England the then walked to Lower Weedon where drank in the Plume of Feathers and the Maltsters Arms.

Friday 13th June

I'm currently unable to send emails from my phone, hence the delay in sending blogs so far.

Left Brinklow Marina on my own at about 5pm to pick up Ian in Rugby, which I managed to do near the footpath to Brownsover. Carried on and moored opposite Clifton cruisers. Walked back along the towpath and down onto the Browsover footpath to go into town for the evening. Went to the Wetherspoons to eat, then to the Merchants Inn which was quite busy. Then to the Alexandria, and finally to the Victoria.