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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour
Tour 2001
NB Frogmoore II Boatmove - October 2001
Ely to Bill Fen Marina, Ramsey - Ely Ouse, Tidal River Ouse, Middle Level - Well Creek. Old Course of the River Nene, High Lode as well as all of the main section of the 40 Foot Drain.
John Chapman's reason for trip - get the Frog Boat from Ely to Bill Fen Marina, Ramsey.
Neil's reason for trip - To get under Ramsey Hollow Bridge and do the final missing bit of the 40 Foot Drain up to the Junction with the 16 Foot Drain!
Wednesday 10th October 2001
Neil
got up at 04.30 and threw on some clothes and zoomed off in the Passat to pick
up John Chapman from Luton. After a quick petrol and provisioning stop in the
close to the river Ely 24 hour Tesco's, we managed to tear our selves away from
the beckoning, £1.99 full breaky offering coffee shop. We quickly dumped the Passat
in a local back street an managed an 07.40 start from Ely in the TNC Fleet Auxiliary
- NB Frogmoore II.
As predicted JC had lots of boaty "things" to do,
so Neil was left as helmsman, in a slightly draughty wind, blowing over the Fens
in a way that only Fenland winds can blow. Amazingly JC soon practised his
hardly ever practised culinary art. Bacon sandwiches kept appearing, followed by
numerous cups of tea and CAKES! - JC has a somewhat sweet tooth.
Ely Waterside
had been somewhat deserted and for that reason the local council were no longer
concerned about the Frog Boat permanent riverside feature. The Fenland wind soon
blew up even worse and the waves on the Ely Ouse became quite large - Neil was
rather glad that he had remembered to bring his full winter boating togs.
The Frog Boat was left in a slight state, due to the last crew being the junior
Chapman's in full "partying" mode. There is reference in the log boat
to "that grand old lady" - referring to Frogmoore, "putting up
with our high spirits"!
We
had to be at Denver at 11.00 as that was the "Black art" locking time
to Salter's Lode. Being this far inland, these times are not linked
with the actual predicted tide time as there are many local factors, such as
wind direction and fresh water flows on the Great Ouse / New Bedford River.
Amazingly due a fair flow on the river we arrived..................exactly at
11.00!
We
had not seen a boat moving so far that day, but was amazed to find another
narrowboat waiting. This was the NB Wandering Swan, from Brampton, owned and
solo crewed by Ian Buchannan. JC soon ferreted out Mike Fairweather the Denver
Locky and after a brief chat with him returned as the conditions meant that the
locking would not be for another hour........which is nearer the time WE had
predicted!
The social JC soon had Ian on board and was making more tea / handing
round yet more of his endless cake supplies. JC soon told Ian of our exploits
and we found out that Wandering Swan, far from wandering very far from the Great
Ouse, was to over winter in the somewhat cheaper than marina's on the Great Ouse
- Fox Boat's at March. JC of course said that Frogmoore was over wintering at
the even cheaper (and not full) Bill Fen Marina at Ramsey. Wandering Swan was to
spend next season on the River Nene, we of course tried to inspire Ian to get up
to the Grand Union.
Eventually
Mike shepherded us both in the lock at 12.00. There was yet more delay as the
Salter's Lode Locky had to pen out / flush out copious amounts of floating
reeds. At 12.20 we were let out. As both boats were under 50ft we could get into
Salter's Lode Lock together. The Tidal Ouse was in flood tide mode, but with the
amount of fresh that was about, it meant that we had an easy turn into the
short, angled cut into Salter's Lode lock. JC did his "signature"
weird figure of eight turn below the lock, allowing Wandering Swan in first - I
have yet to work out if this was intentional! - anyway a very controlled
entrance into the lock without touching anything.
Paul the Salter's Lode Locky
was off duty that day and we had a jovial, smartly boiler suited Middle Level
Commissioners, Wiggenhall St German's Main Drain Pumping Station Pumpmeister.
Neil enquired about the main Middle Level level (if you catch my drift!) He said
that it was about 10 inches down from "normal" summer levels, due to
water not being required for irrigation and in readiness for rain. This was
winter practise. Neil also enquired about a possible visit to Wiggenhall St
German's Pumping Station. The Pumpmeister said that people are sometimes
shown around - best to get in touch with Mr Philips, the MLC Chief Engineer.
Neil said that this would be better after he had forgotten the "Spectacles
in Horseway Lock" incident!
We
hung around for a while to inspect the Old Bedford Sluice - the level seemed the
same as when we passed through it.
It
was a slightly warmer and less blowy afternoon. We left Salter's Lode at 13.00
and arrived at Upwell, on the Church Staithe at 15.00. The passage had been
trouble free, all signs of summer weed having already disappeared / been fished
out. Wandering Swan was on the stage in front of us, but when were awoke
from our afternoon kip, it was gone.
We
had arranged to meet Greg Chapman in the Five Bells pub as being an inn and not
Monday night we assumed it would be doing food...............it was NOT!
After
a pint Greg turned up and we stayed for a while longer as Tony Clarke was meant
to be cycling over to meet us (of course, on his Moulton!) at "Dusk".
It was long passed "Dusk", so we jumped into Greg's car to go up to
Outwell and the good old Crown Lodge Hotel. JC rather cheekily left a message
for Tony, with the barmaid, that the "canals" people had gone across
to a pub that DID do food.
Eventually
Tony did arrive and we mini-GiGed until closing time. Greg discussed his latest
plans for getting afloat and Tony told tales of yet MORE alterations to his
boat!
Thursday 11th October 2001
It
was a threatened with rain but warmer day. We set off at 08.55, with the object of
getting to the Ramsey area that night after a diesel / water top up at Fox
Boats. At 12.15 we threaded our way into a rather full Fox Boats marina, where
old Charlie Fox broke fitting out HIS latest narrowboat (complete with Lister JP3)
to fill us up with diesel and sell JC a new barge pole, as Frogmoore's had been
left on the top, in ELY and had disappeared. After a complete water fill up (so
we were as low as possible for Ramsey Hollow Bridge), we wandered over to chat
with the liveaboard couple friends of John - Ron and Joan.
Being now somewhat local hero's we heard tales of the REAL hero's - John
Shotbolt's (Bill Fen Marina owner) and the Peterborough IWA's valiant attempts
to successfully open the end of the 40 Foot Drain / Welches Dam Lock / Old
Bedford / Old Bedford Sluice in the 1980's.
After
many cups of tea we eventually tore ourselves away at 15.30. A now totally weed
free trip along the River Nene Old Course followed. This was still perceived as
being rather shallow, even for the Frog Boat at the end just before the junction
with the deep and wide Forty Foot Drain. Being now rather late we decided to go
up High Lode (to Ramsey) and spend the night beside "Wind in the
Willows" - Ted
and Jan's boat - just outside the entrance to Bill Fen Marina. We arrived here
at 18.45 and then went on the cosy "Wind in the Willows" to talk to Ted and
Jan. A JC prepared evening meal then followed, rounded up by a few night caps of
whiskey left by the junior Chapman's and a rather serious discussion about the
Middle East and other things.
Friday 12th October 2001
It
was a very
warm morning, even at 07.05, when we set off. At the junction with the 40 Foot
Drain we trundled down it. Ramsey Forty Foot was passed (the village!) and soon
we were at Ramsey Hollow Bridge. This saggy, one side dropped Bailey
bridge, defeated the Earnest Team in the Summer, but with the level now some
foot lower (as could be seen by the "watermarks" on the bridge piers) we easily
got under it, even Neil's removal of the Frog Boat prone spot lamp would have
been un-necessary.
We flew along this deep and wide drain. Just before Leonard Childs Bridge Fenton Lode
was passed. This did go to Chatteris and had always intrigued Neil, for it was shown on his 1980's O^S map as looking
navigable. It probably was then, but a recent weir has been added just at the
junction with the 40 Foot Drain. Beyond Curf Bridge the drain was in the process
of being grubbed out by a drag line excavator, this was just about finished and
we had an easy passage to the junction with the 16 Foot Drain / continuation of
the 40 Foot Drain to Horseway Lock.
Here at 09.30 we winded and the carried on
back to Frogmoore's new mooring beside "Wind in the Willows" at Bill Fen. We
were back at 12.10. Neil helped JC with sorting out a few niggling faults with
NB Frogmoore. We also investigated the bottom of Frogmoore's diesel tank to see if
this could explain the obviously bunged up fuel filter, that was causing now
repeated hunting noises to the engine. The amount of crap and water at the
bottom of the tank explained all this! We went to see John Shotbolt and he kindly
lent JC a vacuum oil / crud siphon tank. The thin non flexible hose was used to
good effect and a complete tank full of cruddy diesel and water was retrieved
-------time to change your fuel filter AND carry a spare John???!!!
After
getting our COMPLETE Middle Level cruising plaque from the Shotbolt's we depart
back to Ely for a car retrieval. This day coincided with a tree
nursery visiting Linda and Mother-In-law, Micra propelled day out to Ely!
Starting up the Forty Foot Drain. River Nene Old Course continues under the
bridge to March. Middle Level.
The have just left Ramsey Forty Foot. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Puddock Bridge. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Curf Bridge (A141). Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Nearing the end of the Forty Foot Drain. Nightlayers Fen Pumping Station to
the right. Middle Level.
The Forty Foot Drain to Horseway and Welches Dam Locks continues to the
right, the 16 Foot Drain to Three Holes goes off to the left. Middle Level.
Looking along the 16 Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Frogmoore II winding at the junction with the 16 Foot Drain. Forty Foot
Drain. Middle Level.
Coming back to Curf Bridge (A141). This is a new road on the course of an
old railway line. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Leonard Childs Bridge. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Looking back at Leonard Childs Bridge. Fenton Lode is just to the right.
Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Fenton Lode, once navigable to Chatteris. Middle Level.
Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Coming back to Puddock Bridge. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Ramsey Hollow Bridge. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Ramsey Hollow Pumping Station. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Ramsey Hollow Bridge. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level.
Saunders Bridge. Lodes End Lock straight on and High Lode to Ramsey to the
left. River Nene Old Course. Middle Level.
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