Thursday 7th August

Woke up to a bright sunny day and it was bliss to have electricity on tap for all the things we take for granted in everyday life. We both had a long lingering shower and charged every appliance we have got on board.
Hartford Marina is the nicest one we have seen so far. It is very large and they have not crammed too many boats in, so the views are very nice. They have 9 chalets, a handful of watercaravans and about a dozen specially designed "houseboats" as well as the usual river craft.
We could easily have got carried away as we went to view a chalet with mooring, and then a brand new houseboat!! Luckily by the time we got back to the boat we had our sensible hats on again.
We finally left more or less fully charged at about 2pm and spent the next 3 hours on the river with two locks to negotiate.

Church on nthe river at Hemmingford Grey

This part of the river is very beautiful in parts - we also passed under the A14 and it was interesting to see it from the river, as we are usually travelling on it to and from Essex looking wistfully down at the boats going past.

A better view of the A14 than the usual one

"Lottie" in the lock at Brampton Mill

Fabulous hanging basket at The Horseshoe

in Offord Darcy

We finally settled on a mooring by Offord Cluny, just before you reach St Neots. It was still very warm and we set off for a walk to the village and the nearest pub and had a very pleasant couple of hours in the garden.


ONE FOR THE BOYS

I went for a drink at the clubhouse at the Hartford Marina and got talking as you do.
One of the lads said "do you really like boats?" I said yes I do and I have a great love of the water and as long as I am near or on it I am happy. He then asked me to follow him and we went into a workshop. He called out and asked someone behind a large canvas curtain if we could come in. The hidden voice said yes and as the curtain was drawn back I couldn't believe my eyes. In front of me was a re-furbished Wooden Riva power boat in all her glory with just a few finishing touches needed.(replacement of the re=upholstered seats steering wheel etc. The owner has spent upwards of £100.000 on her and the current value is around £600,000. Look at the pics and drool. I am going to try and get backfor the engine test launch sometime next week when I should get some better pics!!!

Twin V8's = 55 mph

What a beauty she is

Wednesday 6th August

We were up bright and early this morning waiting for Cliff to come and fix the boat. We were on the last bit of electricity with the radio going on the blink and the ignition for the hotplates only just working.

Luckily Cliff arrived at 0930 and in no time the fuel pump was fitted and we were £344 poorer. We set off about 11am and our first stop was to fill up with diesel and water. We had been advised that as our batteries had got so low, they would need a long charge to make them efficient again. With this in mind, we decided to book into a marina for the night and hook up to electricity.

Our Old Mate at Earith

The first three marinas were full but finally Hartford Marina reserved us a space. We had one hiccup on the journey when one of the guillotine locks refused to open. We eventually had to get an EA man to sort it, and then we had an uneventful journey.

Once past St Ives we were on new territory. The scenery was really pretty and we will definitely spend longer on the homeward journey. We have decided to go straight to Bedford and then take our time coming back down

We will stop here and explore on the way back

Once settled in the marina, we both had a shower- not possible for the last 2 days!! and spent a quiet evening. It is a very spacious marina and has quite a few caravans on water with a mooring for their boat alongside. Some have a sun deck on the roof!! They cost £85,000 and £3,000 a year ground rent per annum.

Hartford Marina with floating caravans and houseboats

Tuesday 5th August

We woke up to rain and so it continued all day and evening. The boat is moored at Earith Lock and there is a really busy B road with no pavements running past it and into the village. This meant it was almost impossible to go out, especially in such poor weather.
We managed to keep busy and the lock keeper was really helpful, allowing us to charge our phones and dispose of rubbish etc.
We were extra frugal with water and electricity which meant no computer, TV, toaster or freezer.
We spoke to Cliff in the afternoon and he has got the part and will fit it in the morning.
We had a game of Scrabble until it got dark and then it was an early night.

Monday 4th August

The day started off well. It was bright and sunny and we set off at 0930hrs to get as far as we could to retrace our steps to St Ives.
Unfortunately our good fortune was not to last!! We were travelling on the Old West River in a fairly remote place when we ran aground. The boat was on a bit of an incline and as I was sitting on the kitchen floor looking in the food cupboard, I had a bit of a shock when all the jars and tins came tumbling out.
There was quite a stiff breeze but we managed to get off the bank only to find the engine had stopped and wouldn't start again. The wind took us diagonally across the river at first but then took us straight back to where we were and we were aground again.
After a few abortive attempts to get her going again, and with no help in sight, we phoned River Canal Rescue. Thank goodness we had joined before we set off!!
After about 20 mins Cliff from RCR phoned trying to locate us. There was no question of getting the car to us and he eventually found us by foot but of course he could not get on board.
By now the cows in the field were showing a huge interest in our dilemma and I was pleased to be on the boat and not amongst them, as poor Cliff was!
A cruiser happened to come by at that point and Cliff asked it to tow us off. We were very reluctant and in the event it was no match for our weight and we managed to get him aground sideways on the inside of our boat which promptly got carried by the wind again into his bikes, crushing the wheel of one.


Tom pushing off the cruiser that had been blown round
onto the shelving bank

Off at last but a bent bi cycle wheel and a queue

forming

Another two cruisers arrived but there was no hope of getting past so they were bobbing about nearby and then a hire narrow boat came with 7 lads of 20 on their annual holiday. Cliff asked them if they could tow us to somewhere where he could get on, but in the meantime they ran aground too.
I can have a little chuckle now about the pandemonium that we had caused but at the time is was very stressful.
Anyway the lads poled themselves off, then attached their boat to us and poled us both off and we set off.


All tied up an raring to go (well the lads were looking forward to it)

Three hours later we arrived at Earith and were met by Cliff and waved the lads off to enjoy the rest of their holiday!! Anyway the fuel pump needs replacing and evidently it was totally coincidental to running aground. (Tom breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't anything to do with him) Unfortunately they have to get it from Wroxham and we won't get it fixed until Wednesday.
We are now moored on the landing stage at the entrance to Earith Lock and as we can't start the engine our batteries are low and we must conserve energy.
We went for a walk into Earith and into a local marina where they have a resident family of seals. I was really lucky that two of them were basking in the sunshine.
An early night tonight - I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Sunday 3rd August

We decided to have a quiet day today. After breakfast we moved the boat back to a remote mooring on the River Cam and settled down for the day. It was fine but not sunny. Tom's first job was to tune in the TV as he wanted to watch the Grand Prix. Luckily he got on the right station quite easily. We both spent the majority of the day doing very little until 3pm when we decided we really must make ourselves go out.
We set off on what I thought was a five mile round walk but unfortunately I had read the map wrong. However it was really lovely walking through the fields following the path of the river - it looks so different on foot.
We were doing well until we met a herd of cows in one field and that was enough to make me turn back. We got back to the boat at about 5.30pm just as it started to rain.
It then continued to rain for the rest of the evening - it is really nice to have a lazy day once in a while.

2nd August

Woke up to pouring rain this morning but it soon cleared. We had arranged to meet Jennie and the boys and Lottie and Lee at 11am in the "Five Miles from Anywhere" pub car park. We were only 5 minutes away, so set off about 10 to be there in plenty of time.

We were lucky that there was a mooring available and in no time at all they had all arrived and we were on our way. Unfortunately David couldn't come as he is working in Vancouver and is not back until Monday.

All too soon it started to rain - not too heavily at first and the boys were able to take a turn on the tiller.

I'm The Skipper

No I'm The Skipper

No I'm The Skipper !!

However on our arrival at Wicken Fen, the heavens opened and we all got drenched. It was our first experience of having 8 people on the boat in the rain, trying to eat but believe it or not, it wasn't too bad and we weren't under each others feet.

Oh please! please! please! stop raining

Tom inflated the kayak and the boys took turns in having a go, despite the rain. By 2pm it started to look brighter and by 3pm we had glorious sunshine for the rest of the day.

Kayak Inflated ready to go

They are off

Jennie, Lottie and myself set off for a walk but none of the boys wanted to join us. When we returned, they had all got a home made fishing rod with a lump of sausage as bait, that Tom and Lee had made them.

Fishing from the boat with home made rod

Bridesmaid Revisited

Tom kept them amused but unfortunately none of the men managed to catch anything. It was time to have another go in the kayak and I ventured in, although not too confidently. Jennie couldn't as she broke a bone in her hand recently when she fell off her bike. Lottie and Lee declined, although they would have got in if the weather had been nicer earlier.

No fish, not even with a proper rod!!!

Christine looking set fot the Olympics

The time flew by and we turned back at about 6pm and again all the boys had a turn on the helm to get us back at about 7pm. We were really lucky that there was a mooring still at the pub and they have said we can stay overnight.

Just time for a quick drink in the pub garden and everybody had to think about getting home. We were all tired (except the boys of course) but had had a terrific day with lots of laughter and catching up.

The Day ended all too soon but some good memories

The boys are now going to start saving as they want their own narrowboat!!

Friday 1st August

It was a much more comfortable day today, although quite windy. We had to get back to Upware, which is where we are meeting up with everybody tomorrow.
We set off at about 10am and found the river was quite deserted. It is amazing how the weather can change everything. We only had one lock to get through and we were the only ones going through. Luckily when we arrived at the moorings, there was plenty of room - now we only hope that when we get back tomorrow night there will also be a space for us. We are literally in the middle of nowhere but we only have to take the boat up river for five minutes to get to the pub landing stage where we are picking everybody up tomorrow.
We have been going back on ourselves the last couple of days but intend to move forward on Monday- sorry no photos again.