A Long but Lovely Day

It has been a long days cruising today. First on the Tidal Great Ouse,  then the 100ft drain and finally back on the Great Ouse.  We find ourselves tucked away in the lovely Waits moorings in glorious sunshine in St Ives.

Moving On

We have had a lovely day in Kings Lynn but today it is time to move on and head up river once the tide has turned and run in for a while.

Lovely Run

We have enjoyed a lovely run across the Wash this morning and are now tied up in Kings Lynn for a day of relaxation before heading off into the unknown tomorrow.

Passed With Flying Colours

Naughty-Cal passed her safety test this morning and now the holiday feels like it has started.

Ready and Waiting

Naughty-Cal is ready to go.

She is just waiting for the skipper.

They Heard We Were Coming

The EA obviously heard that we were coming and have started to systematically sabotage all of their locks on the Great Ouse!

As of yesterday four locks were out of action!

St Ives Lock has been manned during the hours of 10.00am to 4.00pm and closed outside of those hours for a while now due to a fault with one of the gates but on the 7th and 8th July will be shut completely. No great misfortune there as we could have worked around that.

Until yesterday Brownshill Staunch (in the picture opposite, photo taken from Google) also developed a fault and was shut until further notice. Now this lock closure causes us more of an inconvenience as it closes our intended route up to St Ives and beyond. If this lock isn't reopened in time we need to have a route rethink.

St Neots Lock was also closed yesterday due another gate fault. Now this closure doesn't really cause us any concern as we had never intended to stray this far upstream, however unless Brownshill Staunch is reopened the last lock closure at Bottisham on the Cam may close off our Plan B route option.

It looks very much like we will just have to take cruising the Great Ouse as it comes. If locks are closed we will have to find an alternative route and destination. Adds a bit of excitement to the mix, so long as we can actually leave again after our seven visitors days are over!

Taking Advice

So yesterday was a scorcher of a day wasn't it? And today looks set to be even hotter!

Last night after work it was still a bit on the warm side for gardening but we knew that we had to get it done and out of the way before we go on holiday so we braved the heat and finished off the grass and the hedges. I must say, despite us not really giving it 100%, it was too damn hot, they have come up looking remarkably good. So the gardens are now ready to be left to their own devices until we get back.

I rang Denver lock yesterday to run our plans past the lockie there for Monday. He really is a very nice chap and gave me lots of tips and advice on the trip. We talked through our timings for the cruise up the Ouse and I'm glad to say that we were both only ten minutes between us with the timings. My workings out had us setting off ten minutes before the lockie would suggest from Kings Lynn, so we know have a slightly revised leaving time of 8.45am which will see us get to Earith in time for a spot of lunch.

Only two more days at work for me and tonight as a bit of a treat we are heading out to The Strines Inn again for a spot of lunch after work. Saving me slaving away over a hot stove again. Yesterday on the hottest day of the year so far, we decided to have a roast chicken dinner, not the greatest idea we have ever had, so tonight someone else can have the pleasure of cooking instead.