Day 6

We got a lay in, the cows, rowers, cyclists runners were not going to disturb us this time.  Amassing how quick you can adjust.

We set off about 10 on our way back to Ely. Bloody raining again, well for the first hour it hammered it down.  

  Out came the full thermal waterproofs.

On the way we saw a couple of interesting boats.

A steam powered launch.  The smell was brilliant

And now for something larger

About 4 hours later we arrived back at Ely.  The first mooring I saw (which turned out to be the only one........ honest!) was gonna be home for the night.

Damn our luck ;-)

This was our route today..........

Best route from Jesus Green Lock to A142 Road Bridge - Ely

River Cam (main river)
From Jesus Green Lock to:
	Fen Ditton	2 miles, 6 flg, 0 locks	(total 2 miles, 6 flg, 0 locks)
	Clayhythe Bridge Waterbeach village half a mile northwest	3 miles, 0 flg, 1 lock	(total 5 miles, 6 flg, 1 lock)
	Swaffham Lode Junction Junction of Swaffham Lode with River Cam	2 miles, 4 flg, 1 lock	(total 8 miles, 2 flg, 2 locks)
	Upware Junction with Burwell Lode	2 miles, 2 flg, 0 locks	(total 10 miles, 4 flg, 2 locks)
	Pope's Corner Junction of River Cam with Old West River	3 miles, 1 flg, 0 locks	(total 13 miles, 5 flg, 2 locks)
River Great Ouse (Old West River)
From Pope's Corner to:
	Soham Lode Junction	1 mile, 3 flg, 0 locks	(total 15 miles, 0 flg, 2 locks)
	Ely	2 miles, 0 flg, 0 locks	(total 17 miles, 0 flg, 2 locks)
	A142 Road Bridge - Ely	0 miles, 1 flg, 0 locks	(total 17 miles, 1 flg, 2 locks)

Total distance is 17 miles, 1 flg and 2 locks.
Made up of 3 miles, 4 furlongs of broad canals; 13 miles, 5 furlongs of small rivers; 2 broad locks.
This will take 5 hours, 27 minutes

We made better time due to a tail wind.

Day 5

We spent the day in Cambridge.  We were woken by cows on the common. Mooing at silly O'clock.  Cows in a city center park.

  I swear they came right up to the window to moo!

Our Goddaughter came to visit, then we all went in to Cambridge for shopping & lunch, before she had to leave us for work.  We retired for an afternoon nap, but this was prettymuch foiled by all the activity around us.  To the starboard we had walkers, runners & cyclists.  To the port we had rowers with their coaches shouting instructions from their bikes on the starboard side.

They seem to come in all sizes from 1 to 8 people.

In the evening we took the dogs out for a walk in to another part of the city following the river this time.  We are not big on putting the dogs on leads unless it's for their own safety.  So on a walk of about an hour or so, Teddy went into an Al-Fresco restaurant, Rupert stole some fisherman's bait, went on board and inside another narrowboat, in town they were papped by some Japanese tourists, then on the way back Teddy went in to the kitchen of a pub.  If only people would take proper predations then an Airedale would not have temptation put before them.

Punts on the River Cam

 All mischied out they took to their beds

Shortly followed by ourselves.

Just like this photo.  Good light

Day 4 Ely to Cambridge

The theme of today has to be RAIN RAIN RAIN for all 17 miles.  Never mind, I have a good set of waterproofs and plenty of coffee was supplied by the crew in between hovering duties.

Everytrail Log Linky  has all the trip info.  

This is our mooring this evening

Day 3

We have stayed put at Ely as planned.  We took a walk in to town, Deb managed to buy some clothes and yet more sandals. I bought an ice cream and a tube of silicone sealant.  I will never as long as I live understand why 73 other pairs that were just perfect when bought are now some how less desired.  Anyway what should have been a 1 hour jaunt turned in to 3, with people stopping us to ask about and pet the dogs.  Airedale owners will fully get this!  Then as I am waiting outside the shoe shop Jerry the chap that sprayed the widebeam and my motorhome came along with his wife.  Its a small world considering they live about 50 miles from Ely.

I took loads of photos today.  The first lot were of Teddy playing with another Airedale "Henry" and some more of a rare black swan.  Unfortunately I didn't have a card in the camera. DOH!

Apart from that a really lazy day.  We will be setting off for Cambridge tomorrow.  I will remember to put a card in the camera this time.

Day 2

We were up at the crack of 9am.  I went through the normal routine, kettle on, open the front of the boat for the dogs to go out.  Teddy was first out as usual, and started his day in the normal way.  Off the starboard side, but this morning there was no land.  In he went!  Our normal mooring is boarding on the starboard.  Just wish I'd had the camera to hand.  Anyway he swam round the bow and I hoyked him out.

We are currently moored at the lovely waterfront in Ely.

One of my blog readers Andy is also fitting out a wide beam here.  We met today having emailed a few times about our respective projects. It was nice to meet him and can't wait to see his boat progress.  He says he is going to start a blog soon.

This is Anyd's boat

This was our route today:-

Best route from Denver Sluice to Ely  (only route!)

River Great Ouse (Old West River)
From Denver Sluice to:
	River Wissey Junction Junction of River Wissey with Old West River	1 mile, 1½ flg, 0 locks	(total 1 mile, 1½ flg, 0 locks)
	Brandon Creek Junction Junction of Little Ouse or Brandon River with Old West River	5 miles, 5 flg, 0 locks	(total 6 miles, 6½ flg, 0 locks)
	River Lark Junction Junction of River Lark with Old West River	5 miles, 3 flg, 0 locks	(total 12 miles, 1½ flg, 0 locks)
	Ely	4 miles, 1 flg, 0 locks	(total 16 miles, 2½ flg, 0 locks)

Total distance is 16 miles, 2½ flg and 0 locks.
Made up of 16 miles, 2½ furlongs of broad canals.
This will take 5 hours, 1 minute

It took only 3 hours as our boat goes faster in deep water.

We will probably stay put at Ely for Monday and set off for our destination Cambridge on Tuesday morning.

Currently we are moored on the starboard again so hopefully Teddy will not start the morning with a dip.

Out For The Week On The Skinny Boat Day 1

A bit of a haul today. We were due to set of yesterday and break the run at March overnight, but the wind was so bad getting out of the marina would have been an arse, so we stayed put.

We set of at 7.30 this morning. We stopped at midday for a comfort break for the dogs. We had to trog on as we had to lock through Salters Lode buy 4.30pm. As we are 63' we have a limited window as the full lock will only take 60'. It means going through when the tide on the other side of the lock is level and both gates can be set open. Anyway we did it just.

Tomorrow we are going for a short one and stopping at Ely. A great waterfront.

This was our route today.....................

Best route from Ramsey to Denver Sluice

Middle Level Navigations (Ramsey High Lode)
From Ramsey to:
	Saunder's Bridge Junction of Old River Nene and Ramsey High Lode	1 mile, 1 flg, 0 locks	(total 1 mile, 1 flg, 0 locks)
Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene)
From Saunder's Bridge to:
	Well's Bridge Junction of Old River Nene and Forty Foot River	0 miles, 7 flg, 0 locks	(total 2 miles, 0 flg, 0 locks)
Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River)
From Well's Bridge to:
	Chatteris Road Bridge A141 road	6 miles, 0 flg, 0 locks	(total 8 miles, 0 flg, 0 locks)
	Sixteen Foot Corner Junction of Forty Foot and Sixteen Foot Rivers	1 mile, 6 flg, 0 locks	(total 9 miles, 6 flg, 0 locks)
	Horseway Village Bridge B1098 road	0 miles, 2 flg, 0 locks	(total 10 miles, 0 flg, 0 locks)
	Welches Dam Sluice Junction of Forty Foot River with the Old Bedford River	2 miles, 0 flg, 2 locks	(total 12 miles, 0 flg, 2 locks)
River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River)
From Welches Dam Sluice to:
	Delph Bridge Welney Village (A1101 road)	6 miles, 0 flg, 0 locks	(total 18 miles, 0 flg, 2 locks)
	Salter's Lode Junction Junction of Well Creek with Great Ouse and Old Bedford River	6 miles, 2 flg, 0 locks	(total 24 miles, 2 flg, 2 locks)
River Great Ouse (New Bedford River)
From Salter's Lode Junction to:
	Denver Junction Junction of Old West River and New Bedford River	0 miles, 3 flg, 0 locks	(total 24 miles, 5 flg, 2 locks)
River Great Ouse (Old West River)
From Denver Junction to:
	Denver Sluice	0 miles, ½ flg, 0 locks	(total 24 miles, 5½ flg, 2 locks)

Total distance is 24 miles, 5½ flg and 2 locks.

Made up of 24 miles, 2½ furlongs of broad canals; 0 miles, 3 furlongs of tidal rivers; 2 broad locks.

This will take 8 hours, 5 minutes which is 0 days, 8 hours and 5 minute.

This was almost spot on!

Work On The Boat Has Resumed

I have finished the motorhome conversion now, so its back on with the boat.

I have started with the roof hand rails.

I made them as a back to back pair for 2 reasons. 1st is to make an exact pair, the second and main one is equalize the welding forces to prevent distortion. Once they had cooled I split them down the middle separating them.

Not yet fixed as the welder is still inside the shell

I have also started on the integral water tank.  The first job was to cut an inspection access hole in the front deck.  I have made a rather large one as re-painting this is not going to be pleasant when the time comes so this will ease the job.

The inside wall sheet was put in the shell before the roof went on.  A small amount of shaping at the bottom was needed, and an outlet will be put in before its welded in place.  Inside the tank I have applied sealant to all seams.