Fenland Tour 2001 Page 14

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Tour 2001

Fenland Tour Summer 2001

14 - Ely to Brandon Creek - Ely Ouse and Brandon Creek / Little Ouse, inc Lakenheath Lode.

Wednesday 11th July 2001

We left at 08.05 as agreed with John Chapman. After he passed us we cast off and followed him. Once below the railway bridge we breasted up. A Beeky prepared scrambled eggs / bacon / beans / thick doorstop bread breaky followed. By the time this was all consumed and cleared up we were at the entrance to The Little Ouse / Brandon Creek. During this time Neil had time to make up John yet another power lead for his VHF.
We passed into the Little Ouse at 09.50, after having de-breasted just before. Next followed a very leisurely trip up the river. It was blowing an absolute gale and Neil Foned up Marine Call – Holbeach (Wash) - weather report. It was 25 knots (well into force 6!), S Westerly, Rough...............not the time to be in the Wash.........It was bad enough on Brandon Creek, waves were splashing over the cratch cover.
There are no real village stopping places on the Little Ouse, until Brandon. The straight on weeded up entrance to Lakenheath Lode was passed - maybe we would look at this on the way back.
At the Cut Off Channel sump, where the river goes over the Cut Off Channel, there is a pair of guillotines that can, in times of flood deflect the upper waters of the Little Ouse down the Cut Off Channel. These gates were only giving 1.85M clearance. Frogmoore II got under OK and Earnest just crept under with just over an inch above the cratch board. We stopped just beyond and had a look at the structure. While we were wandering around an EA guy with a very large windlass came over and had a chat. He said that the level was up about 8 inches. He also said that we may have trouble on the River Wissey, as some contractors had scaffolding hanging below some lowish bridges. This was not sanctioned and the EA would be taking action.
We were soon on our way again, under the by-pass bridge and stopped at the new rather stupid 40ft Brandon Lock (13.25). We knew that Frogmoore II fitted fairly easily (45ft), as John had been through before, so Earnest was tied up on the submerged lock waiting moorings (level up) and we all decanted to TNCFA - (TNC Fleet Auxiliary) - Frogmoore II.
We thought that a 48ft narrowboat could just get through, but would have to go up backwards, because of the excessively overhanging walkways on the bottom pointy gates. The top gate was a manually operated guillotine. This was fairly well geared, provide your own windlass, cover locked with EA Abloy key. We left the guillotine up.........we were not expecting to be long, as it was not navigable very far up.........or so we thought!
John had never ventured up passed the mooring pontoon above Brandon Bridge, because he had Pat with him. We ignored the “End Of Navigation” sign and trundled on, with Neil, Terry or Andrew on poling duty. After a few close shaves of the depth coming down to 2.5 ft (on the wide sections) we got up to the shallows just below Stanton Downham Bridge.
Amazingly we managed to rattle through this, but were thwarted by the severe flow / shallows actually under the bridge. After a bit of video / picces, Neil assumed control from the non plussed JC and rattled back. We did not manage to wind just below the shallows (although there was enough depth), but had to do a wedge / hold the stern on the bank and let the current wind us, at the next corner below. A rather faster trip back to Brandon occurred, to get steerage and to miss the overhanging trees. After a brief stop on the Visitor Moorings and a wander round the town by John (A lot of JC's family come from Brandon), we started off again, to the nearby lock.
Frogmoore was soon through and Terry is accosted by John, to act as crew (to do all the steering as usual!) Neil and the Beekies hang back and nose Earnest into the lock, just to get as far as possible. After a reasonable wind (70ft possible) we shot off to catch Frogmoore.
Just before the Cut Off Channel guillotines we receive a VHF call from Terry, to the effect that the river has appeared to have risen. Neil takes off the cratch in Earnest to be safe and save time – this happened to be in a well timed very gusty down pour – Neil nearly lost the cratch cover. We cleared the guillotine gate with a lot to spare.........but better safe than sorry.
We soon caught up with Frogmoore and caught John and Terry gingerly prodding their way through the old flash lock just before Botany Bay (the old weir had been breached and levels equalised). Neil though sod it and just ploughed in behind them. After a very brief photo stop we ploughed our way out again.
Next we caught Frogmoore II attempting to turn and go left at Botany Bay junction up Lakenheath Lode (18.30). They reversed out, saying that it was too shallow and weedy. Neil just ignored them and had a fairly easy plough right up, past the first dismantled bridge, nearly to the railbridge. There was much pruning / sawing on the way to save the side panels. Cap’n Beeky soon got well versed in the use of the pole. By this time Frogmoore had turned round and came in through our de-weeded and dredged channel. Fairly easy extraction of both boats and soon on our way again at 19.15.
We finally stopped for the night at 20.15 at the Ship Inn, at the junction with the Great Ouse. Mega mainly vegetarian curry, courtesy of Doug Beeky, being instructed in the black art of Beeky Senior student days cooking. After this went to the pub. The front half appeared nearly derelict, by round the back the cosy bar was welcoming and did a range of well kept local ales.

Leaving Ely. Ely Ouse.

Rather wibbley wobbly house! Ely Ouse.

We have just started up Little Ouse / Brandon Creek - A10 Bridge.

We have just started up Little Ouse / Brandon Creek - looking back at the Ship Inn on the junction with the Ely Ouse.

Bank Farm. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Little Ouse Bridge. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Redmere Bridge. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

We indulge in some narrowboat racing to relieve the boredom! Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Beeky tries his shaver as a Fone! Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Lakenheath Lode goes off to the right. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Wilton Bridge. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

We go over the Cut Off Channel sump aqueduct. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Cut Off Channel Sluices. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Cut Off Channel Sluices - this is the lower channel to deflect water into the Cut off Channel.

Cut Off Channel Sluices.

We leave the Cut Off Channel Sluices. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Railbridge before Brandon. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

NB Frogmoore in Brandon Lock. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Leaving Brandon Lock. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Brandon Bridge. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Pardon???!!! Above Brandon - Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Above Brandon - Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Above Brandon - shallow corner. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Above Brandon - Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Santon Downham Bridge, our limit of navigation above Brandon - Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Above Brandon - on our way back down - Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Above Brandon - on our way back down - the "end of navigation" pontoon. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Above Brandon - on our way back down - Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Brandon Bridge - on our way back down - Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Earnest tries Brandon Lock. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Brandon Weir. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Leaving Brandon Weir. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Old staunch. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

We plough on through the old staunch. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

Lakenheath Lode - just starting up.

Lakenheath Lode - looking back when passed the very weedy entrance.

Lakenheath Lode.

Lakenheath Lode - remains of old footbridge.

Lakenheath Lode.

Lakenheath Lode - our limit of navigation - railbridge just visible.

Reversing out - Lakenheath Lode.

The Beekies Bella Pasta! Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

JC is fiddling with his shower drain. Little Ouse / Brandon Creek.

The Tour continues

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