Fenland Tour 2001 Page 27

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Tour 2001

Fenland Tour Summer 2001

27 - Outwell to Ramsey - Middle Level, inc River Nene Old Course, 20ft River, Bevill's Leam, 40ft River and High Lode.

Tuesday 24th July 2001

We left Outwell Basin at 09.05. At Marmont Priory Lock, after a pleasant chat with Mrs and Mrs Norton we bade farewell to her for another couple of years..........I only hope she is still about when we are next this way. She was very genned up of the meanderings of “Ocean Princess” and also told us of another pair of narrowboats that were attempting the Old Bedford, on its next opening.
One she said was “Peking”, a 60ftish, deep draughted looking NB........no way they would get through Welches Dam Lock she said! We got to Twenty Foot End junction at 11.20 and turned right onto to the Twenty Foot River and the March avoiding route.
The cratch, front mushroom vent tops (steel bases) removed and the equipment rack folded down, for the attempt on the three lowest bridges on the Middle Level. Soon we were at the 1.75M ish Infields Bridge, which we cleared fairly easily. The highest point would have been the tiller pin........but a nail had been substituted for this!. We passed over Angle Corner Junction and carried on up the deep and wide Bevills Leam.
We spent 14.25 to 14.50 at Bevill's Leam pumping station and took some piccies of other side in case we did not get there (since 1983 at a lower level, reached via Lodes End Lock) After an easy wind (just 60ft) we went back up to Angle Corner Junction (15.40) and turned right towards March, but then we turned off right at Floods Ferry Junction (16.40), down the River Nene Old Course, to Ramsey. Passed through the little Middle Level village of Benwick, which still had a typical old timber Middle Level bridge.
We entered High Lode, the stub drain into Ramsey at 18.35. Passed the reasonably sized, tidy, Bill Fen Marina. There were no boats in Ramsey, after a wind (60ft would be a REAL push!), we reversed up to the end, a curious tunnel / drain affair. We then moored up on the semi condemned rickety wooden staging at 19.05. This was to keep away from the little kids fishing opposite.
Colin (BIL) had been waiting after a train trip from London to Peterborough, then taxi to Ramsey. Colin informed us that there is an Indian / Thai, fish and chips and a closed restaurant. He said that there was no sign of The Bow Window restaurant, advertised in the local paper. Later we did indeed find the Bow Window restaurant, but being the haunt of the local Rotary Club - they did not like the look of a motley crew. Neil was even hidden out side while the placed was sussed - but no joy for another three quarters of an hour. We instead legged it back to one of the two Indian's – “The Taste of The East”. Unfortunately it was the eastern provinces taste - a bit lacklustre.

Twenty Foot End - the start of the Twenty Foot River, round March. Middle Level.

Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Twenty Foot River. Sewage Farm Bridge. Middle Level.

Disused railway bridge - line to Wisbech. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Old loading wharf. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

We have just passed the next old rail bridge - now a footpath with new bridge. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Hobb's Lot Bridge. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Infield's Bridge. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

The low Infield's Bridge. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Holloway's Bridge. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Beware of Frog Boats! Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Beggars Bridge and Peterborough - March rail bridge. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Poplar Tree Bridge. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

Looking back at rail bridge. Twenty Foot River. Middle Level.

We have just started up Bevill's Leam. Looking back at Chapel Bridge. Middle Level.

Old pumping station. Bevill's Leam. Middle Level.

1930's pumping station. Bevill's Leam. Middle Level.

Pondersbridge Bridge. Bevill's Leam. Middle Level.

Tebbit's Bridge. Bevill's Leam Pumping Station in the distance. Bevill's Leam. Middle Level.

Looking back at Pondersbridge. Bevill's Leam. Middle Level.

Bevill's Leam Pumping Station. Bevill's Leam. Middle Level.

Bevill's Leam Pumping Station - from the lower other side. Bevill's Leam. Middle Level.

Angle Corner Junction. We have just come back out of Bevill's Leam (left) and are heading up the Whittlesey Dyke to March / Ramsey. Twenty Foot River to right under bridge. Middle Level.