Fenland Tour 2001 Page 7

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Tour 2001

Fenland Tour Summer 2001

7 - Boston - Witham Navigable Drains and River Witham inc Maud Foster Drain, Stonebridge Drain, West and East Fen Catchwater Drain, Frith Bank Drain.

Wednesday 4th July 2001

We all woke up late around 08.00. Eventually around 09.00 a tractor, with a trailer arrived, pulling the famed Drainage Board workboat. Ian C moved his abandoned car to give it more room to get over the bridge to the golf course slipway. This magnificent craft was an ally punt with a tent on top, powered by a 10hp outboard. This revered craft even had a figurehead!
The Drain Men were not worried about our mooring place, but they wanted to go up through the lock! We were soon on our way (09.25) down the Maud Foster Drain and into Boston. We passed the classic waterways scene of the five bladed Maud Foster Windmill, gently turning in the breeze.
Into Boston the drain is in a high brick walled section, with one set of steps up to the north bank and two on the south. The classic one to stop at was the first on the south bank. This is directly opposite a large ASDA. Since we were last here the EA, who have responsibility for this section had repaired the steps and a lot of the walling, all done in original style as this structure is obviously listed. Two strategically badly placed sign posts in the water warn you of an underwater obstruction and there is a sign on the steps proclaiming “Private structure - NO MOORING” Neil does a bowthruster and gentle power sideways manoeuvre to get in.
That morning was spent seriously stocking up on provisions from ASDA, while Neil repaired John's VHF. This was by converting a spare TNC power lead to power the unit directly, as it had knackered Nicad's. At 12.40 we shoved off downstream through the stone arch Boston Town Bridge. The level in this section w\s normal, whereas in our last visit (1997) it was high. The next bridges looked doable.......but the next bridge was just in the process of being replaced and had scaffolding hanging underneath.
We winded (12.50) and headed back through the backside of Boston, to Cowbridge. At the junction below the lock we observe the weed choked entrance to Cowbridge / Hobhole Drain. East Fen Lock used to lower the level down to this drain, but it has been abandoned.
We took the EA Stonebridge Drain at 13.20. This is fast wide and deep and we reached the bifurcation into East and West Fen Catchwater Drains. Earnest was in advance, so went under the tightish bridge at the entrance to the East channel and a few more hundred yards, before backing out. We both then winded and reversed up a bit of the West channel. This is a bit wider than the eastern channel, but much more weedy and shallow.
We started off back down the Stonebridge Drain at 14.30 with Earnest in advance. Because we cannot share Cowbridge Lock (70ft, but only 12ft wide) we agreed that Earnest will forge ahead down the left turn into FrithBank Drain and the direct route back to Anton’s Gowt Lock. We got out of Cowbridge Lock at 15.30 and left JC and the press ganged Frogmoore crew - Ian C, to close the gates.
We were in a bit of a hurry as we had to get to Boston Marina on the River Witham by17.00, as we needed diesel and gas. Earnest got to Anton’s Gowt Lock at 16.05 and prepared the lock. Frogmoore arrived at 16.15 and at 16.25 Earnest shot out into the River Witham. We got to Boston Marina Diesel point (just before the Sanitary Station and Grand Sluice lay by) at 16.50.
Neil wandered back to the locked up looking chandlery, but a ring on the bell soon woke up the chandlery lady. They had unfortunately run out of 13Kg Calor, but soon Earnest's diesel tank is replenished, by which time Frogmoore arrived. We found out that with local knowledge it was not necessary to rush as Boston Marina and the handy “Witham Tavern” pub are run by the same people. All you had to do is buy a drink and they will come out and open up the pump.
Also in the chandlery we met Colin the relief locky. Apparently “Mettle Mickey” the famed, narrowboat hating Chief Locky was on the next day and Colin was going sailing with some friends and would be locking out with us. After this went back up steam and moored on the BW finger pontoons.
The floating pontoon that was there in 1997 had gone, just the uprights remain. JC made a bit of a hash at mooring Frogmoore on the spindly 30ft finger pontoons, so Cap’n Clarke assumed control, for a very controlled arrival - he still awaits his 50p wager with JC that he could moor up OK! A big sign proclaimed £4 overnight mooring charge, but Colin assured us that one night is free.
Further up was the other Sagar barge that was going over to Belgium, with Jeff from “Elsa B”. Bob the owner was soon introduced to us by the inquisitive JC, who has already got a beer out of him! Bob decided to go out for a meal with us that night. We then had a mega water refill and salty preparations (Anchor in dustbin, carpets out of front cockpit, exhaust extension fitted, GPS mast up)
That night we cannot be bothered to go into Boston, so go to the “Witham Tavern”. This is a very clean establishment. The chandlery lady soon appeared and tends to us for the rest of the evening. Very well prepared traditional pub grub. We had a good chat with Bob and find out that he was a Belgian, born in England, that also has Canadian citizenship. His barge was going over to Belgium and he will retire on it in a few years time. That night fairly early to bed.

The Drainage Board flat being launched. Witham Navigable Drains.

"Ooi!..............you can't moor in there!" Overnight mooring in Cowbridge Lock. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains. (Image Pete Sykes)

Cowbridge Lock paddle gear. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains. (Image Pete Sykes)

We head right below Cowbridge Lock, down Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Cowbridge Drain and the derelict East Fen Lock. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Detail of cast iron footbridge at Cowbridge. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Looking back at Cowbridge Lock and weirs. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Heading into Boston. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Maud Foster Windmill. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Boston. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Maud Foster Windmill. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Earnest and Frogmoore at rest in Boston. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains. (Image Pete Sykes)

Earnest at the ASDA steps. Boston. Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains. (Image Pete Sykes)

Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Our limit of navigation down Maud Foster Drain. Boston. Witham Navigable Drains. (Image Pete Sykes)

Coming back through Bargate Bridge. Boston, Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Maud Foster Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Stonebridge Drain. Aqueduct over Cowbridge Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Stonebridge Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

East Fen Catchwater Drain. Looking back at junction bridge. Witham Navigable Drains.

Earnest goes up the East Fen Catchwater Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

West Fen Catchwater Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Sibsey Windmill Stonebridge Drain. Witham Navigable Drains. (Image Pete Sykes)

NB Frogmoore winds at junction with West and East Fen Catchwater Drains. Stonebridge Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

On our way back, looking back down Stonebridge Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

On our way back, Stonebridge Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Cowbridge Lock. Witham Navigable Drains.

We have just turned under the B1183 Bridge and are heading towards Anton's Gowt down Frith Bank Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Frith Bank Bridge, Frith Bank Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Last foot bridge before Anton's Gowt, Frith Bank Drain. Witham Navigable Drains.

Leaving Anton's Gowt for Boston. River Witham.

High speed run down the River Witham to Boston.

High speed run down the River Witham to Boston. St Botolph's - Boston Stump in the distance.

Boston. St Botolph's - Boston Stump in the distance. River Witham.

Boston Stump, rail bridge and Boston Grand Sluice. River Witham.

Belgian Bob's Sagar Barge - Angelbaak. River Witham.

Earnest on visitors pontoon. River Witham.

Ian Clarke ponders the next day! Boston. River Witham.

The Tour continues

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