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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour
Tour 2001
Fenland Tour Summer 2001
29 - Ramsey 40ft to Whittlesey - Middle Level, inc 40ft Drain, River Nene Old Course and Whittlesey Dyke.
Thursday 26th July 2001
Linda decided to go home, so left rather early The diminished crew set off at
09.40, continuing along the 40ft Drain. False hopes were raised at Ramsey Hollow
Bridge. This near derelict Bailey bridge was wonky - we got under the facing
(Ramsey side) girder, but the other main girder was a good 2 inches lower! We
tried the northern end first as this seemed higher, the other side was worse. By
the time we fiddled about, the level had come up discernibly. Viewing the water
marks on the bridge pier we could see that the level was nearing the higher of
the “tide marks”. So of we went back to March for water (this was nearly
out, so did not exactly help).
The only bits of the Middle Level Earnest did not
do was the 40 ft between Ramsey Hollow Bridge and it's junction with the 16ft
Drain - ah well next time here with the “A” team - and only then if level is
down. We departed in reverse from Ramsey Hollow Bridge at 10.35, until Neil
spotted a fishing hole spot that was exactly 60ft from other bank - at least
Neil can now judge 60ft widths like he used to judge the 50ft length of Beatty.
It was a faster trip back to March - probably due to another 6 inches of water!
Timings as below:
Junction with River Nene Old Course - 11.10
Floods Ferry Junction - 13.10
March Sanitary Station - 14.20
Here followed a water refill (slow Tap) and free pump out at this very
unsanitary place!
We had to go onto nearly the 20ft River junction to find a 60ft spot to wind
(16.00) Back at Floods Ferry Junction at 17.35. Other people had a few
communications with Linda and she was coming back to meet us at our overnight
stop point - Whittlesey, just above Ashline Lock. Angle Corner Junction was
passed at 18.20 and we moored just above Ashline Lock - 19.00 (Between lock and
landing stage, as the two visitor moorings opposite were taken)
Predictably
Linda was waiting on the bridge having arrived by train a few minutes earlier.
That night we went out to the “Hong Kong Garden” Chinky. This small affair
was expected to be a bit “provincial”, but turned out to be truly good. Mr E
ordered another half a duck and demolished most if it himself! The young 22 year
old manager kept us amused with stories of Hong Kong and of the locale. He used
to work in the “Grain Barge” floating Chinky in Peterborough and told us
many tales of this place. Several beers were left of the bill and Wendy was left
with all the sweet jars to pick from – a truly excellent and unexpected
evening. Just over £100 for six people gorging and drinking heavily.
Looking along the Forty Foot Drain from Ramsey Forty Foot Bridge. Middle
Level.
Ramsey Forty Foot - The George pub. Middle Level.
Forty Foot Drain. Looking back at the Ramsey Forty Foot Bridge. Middle
Level.
Forty Foot Drain. Ramsey Hollow Bridge. Middle Level.
Forty Foot Drain. Ramsey Hollow Bridge. Middle Level.
Overnight mooring just above Ashline Lock in Whittlesey. Whittlesey
Dyke. Middle Level.
Link to October 2001 NB Frogmoore II boat move, Ely to Ramsey, which includes a traverse under Ramsey Hollow Bridge and missing bit of the 40 Foot Drain.
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