The 1996 Tour Page 2

2. Ely to Godmanchester, via River Great Ouse, Old West River, River Great Ouse.

Monday 8^th July we left Ely at 10.50, this was after getting water on the nearby water point (push tap, we had to strap it up!), diesel in Ely Marina and provisions in the centre town Tesco. Popes Corner was passed at 11.35, the “Fish and Duck” pub being shut for refurbishment; we turned left onto the Great Ouse Old west River course in the direction of Bedford. Stretham Engine an old preserved steam powered beam engine was passed at 11.55 and we passed out of the keepered Hermitage Lock at 14.30. This modern lock has the A1123 road bridge built over it. Beyond here the River Great Ouse main channel is semi-tidal, the outfall going straight down the navigable New Bedford River and hence the Tidal River Great Ouse. (You have to know your tides!) Soon at 15.20 we passed through the electric guillotined, both ends, Brownshill Lock. This lock has recently been converted to boater, or anyone operation, as you did not need a key! The “Pike Eel” pub was passed at 15.35, Holywell at 16.00 and St Ives visitor moorings at 16.50. We came out of Godmanchester Lock at 19.10. Here we went up the mill stream and went under the famous “Chinese Bridge”, then reversed out to the visitor moorings. We were finally moored up at 19.20. We felt inspired by the Chinese Bridge, so we walked into Huntingdon and had a Chinese! Huntingdon we found was a bit like it’s famous MP, grey!

Leaving Ely, Ely High Bridge. River Great Ouse.	Leaving Ely, Ely Cathedral and railway station. River Great Ouse.	Leaving Ely, Newmarket Railway Bridge. River Great Ouse.

Upstream from Ely. River Great Ouse.	The closed for refurbishment "Fish and Duck" pub at Popes Corner. Junction with River Great Ouse, Old West River.	The closed for refurbishment "Fish and Duck" pub at Popes Corner. Junction with River Great Ouse, Old West River, which we have taken.

My god! the hire boats here go faster than on the River Thames. Cambridge / Ely railway bridge in distance. River Great Ouse, Old West River.	Stretham Old Engine. Preserved Fenland steam pumping engine and museum. River Great Ouse, Old West River.	"Royal Oak" pub and Bridge at Stretham Ferry. River Great Ouse, Old West River.

"Royal Oak" pub at Stretham Ferry. River Great Ouse, Old West River.	Stretham Ferry Bridge. River Great Ouse, Old West River.	Twenty Pence Bridge, caught up with the speedster! River Great Ouse, Old West River.

"Twenty Pence Inn" pub. River Great Ouse, Old West River.	Aldreth Bridge. River Great Ouse, Old West River.	Approach to Hermitage Lock, B1050 road beside. River Great Ouse, Old West River.

The keepered Hermitage Lock. River Great Ouse, Old West River.	Hermitage Lock. River Great Ouse, Old West River.	Leaving Hermitage Lock into semi-tidal section of the River Great Ouse.

Passing the tidal New Bedford River outfall channel. Semi-tidal River Great Ouse at Earith.	Passing the upper un-navigable section of the Old Bedford River. Semi-tidal River Great Ouse at Earith.	Passing the upper un-navigable section of the Old Bedford River. Semi-tidal River Great Ouse at Earith.

"The Crown" pub at Earith. Semi-tidal River Great Ouse.	Approaching Brownshill Lock. Semi-tidal River Great Ouse.	Approaching Brownshill Lock. Semi-tidal River Great Ouse.

Brownshill Lock. Semi-tidal River Great Ouse.	Looking back to Earith. Brownshill Lock. Semi-tidal River Great Ouse.	Brownshill Lock. River Great Ouse.

Leaving Brownshill Lock. River Great Ouse.	"The Pike and Eel" pub at Overcote. River Great Ouse.	"The Olde Ferry Boat Inn" pub at Holywell. River Great Ouse.

Holywell visitor moorings. River Great Ouse.	Approaching St Ives Lock. River Great Ouse.	Approaching St Ives Lock. River Great Ouse.

St Ives Lock. River Great Ouse.	Leaving St Ives Lock. River Great Ouse.	Approaching St Ives. River Great Ouse.

St Ives Bridge. River Great Ouse.	St Ives Bridge. River Great Ouse.	St Ives Bridge. River Great Ouse.

St Ives Bridge and our mooring. The water point is the black and white bollard by "Beatty's" stern. River Great Ouse.	Our mooring at St Ives. Taking on water. River Great Ouse.	Approaching Hemingford Lock. River Great Ouse.

Looking back from Hemingford Lock. River Great Ouse.	Hemingford Lock. In true style John Fleming rushes the guillotine, causing cruiser to rattle about! River Great Ouse.	Leaving Hemingford Lock. River Great Ouse.

The spire less Hemingford Grey Church. River Great Ouse.	Hemingford Grey Church. River Great Ouse.	Hemingford Grey. River Great Ouse.

Hemingford Grey. River Great Ouse.	Leaving Hemingford Grey. Just passed visitor moorings to our left. River Great Ouse.	Above Hemingford. River Great Ouse.

Approaching Houghton Lock. Visitor moorings to the right. River Great Ouse.	Looking back from Houghton Lock. River Great Ouse.	Houghton Lock. River Great Ouse.

Houghton Lock. River Great Ouse.	Leaving Houghton Lock. River Great Ouse.	Hartford Church. River Great Ouse.

Hartford. River Great Ouse.	Approach to Huntingdon and Bridges. River Great Ouse.	Huntingdon Mill, now apartments. River Great Ouse.

Leaving Huntingdon Bridge. River Great Ouse.	Looking up one of the Godmanchester backwaters. River Great Ouse.	Approaching Godmanchester Lock. River Great Ouse.

Waiting for Godmanchester Lock. River Great Ouse.	Godmanchester Lock. River Great Ouse.	Going up the backwaters to go under the famous Chinese Bridge at Godmanchester. River Great Ouse.

Going under the famous Chinese Bridge at Godmanchester. River Great Ouse.	Coming back from the Chinese Bridge to moor in the backwaters at Godmanchester. River Great Ouse.	Leaving Godmanchester, back on the River Great Ouse.