Fenland Tour 2001 Page 8

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Tour 2001

Fenland Tour Summer 2001

8 - Boston to Spalding - River Witham, Tidal Witham, Wash, Tidal Welland Outfall and River Welland.

Thursday 5th July 2001

The official locking out time for Boston Grand Sluice was 08.42. (the two hours after HW locking, when the tide makes level - the “Grand Sluice” is only 45ft long) We did the final preparations and ambled up to the waiting area at 08.25. A quick weather check revealed a general area forecast of N Easterly 3-4 decreasing.
JC's church friend, Andrew Beale had arrived just at this time to act as John's crew. He was somewhat used to John's tidal narrowboating. Mike the main locky was there. Neil remarked that in conversation, he did not seem as anti narrowboat as we had been led to believe.............John Chapman said that this was because he had already been softened up!!!
Bob the Barge came down to say farewell, his earlier 2 hours before HW departure had been delayed because of bad weather! – he was taking his barge round to Lowestoft first. At 09.15 the outer gates opened and we made an on the level straight through departure. Also departing was Colin the other locky, with some friends in a 25ftish sailboat.
It was an impressive very slow on tickover trip down the tidal bit through Boston. The sail boat sped off, to have some fun in the Wash. Frogmoore was in front but due to the lagging Earnest, John and Andrew managed to throttle back. The tidal passage from Boston - Witham to the Welland is almost all behind training walls - BUT, you must not start up the tidal Welland until only a couple of hours before HW. Therefore time must be lost by running out with tide, anchoring or beaching boat on sand bank.
JC led out in increasingly choppy conditions. It was only choppy in channel, so Ian C steering Earnest travelled a bit out of channel, but soon went back in when some mud was kicked up! Frogmoore soon got ahead, as Earnest steered fairly well out of gear - now it's heavy new rudder came into its own. John decided to anchor up in Clay Hole, a deep area, just before the main Boston Roads Channel. Ian went out this far, but we thought bugger that, anchoring up in this swell, so turned and ambled back to a fast appearing sand bank, by Boston No13 buoy. It seemed to have sharp edges to the seaward and channel side, so we ambled round the back of it and found by Neil's fast poling about, that it was fairly level on the lea. There was also a small fishing boat anchored round in this little channel.
We beached sideways to the trailing spit and were soon firmly aground (12.15) Neil was the first to climb down the tyre fender and was soon wandering about on the fine sandy bank. A few odd starfish were relocated in the sea and a surprising amount of coal was found. When the boat was nearly completely high and dry Neil got out the blacking, wire brush and fresh water soaked J cloth to wipe off salty stains. Neil managed to touch up most of the obvious rusty scrapes. After a wander Ian Clarke went to sleep on the boat roof, listening to the cricket.
At one point Neil got out the bins and checked for the bobbing about Frogmoore, which had been joined by a cruiser Tarbout Queen. They could be heard on the VHF asking JC if it was OK to anchor there! At 15.05 we began to lift off. After a while ploughing about in the sand, the cruiser, a sailing boat and Frogmoore pass and we creep out into channel. Frogmoore soon gets ahead, so is encouraged to slow down by the lagging Earnest.
We are soon back at Tabs Head and took the very well marked by training wall / markers, Welland Cut. The EA berth is seen with a small laid up stone barge on - we now know that this is an ideal very sheltered spot to wait for the flood. At one point JC quickly got Neil on the VHF. The next gap in the landward side of the training wall had a colony of about 20 seals in it. Neil managed a fair bit of video and digital camera shots.
Soon we were at the mini port of Fossdyke Bridge - 17.10 (here the Welland Outfall is confusingly called the Fossdyke) There was one rusty coaster stuck on the muddy bank. Neil was worried that we will run out of water, as we are too early on the flood, so Ian C tried the out of gear flood surfing technique. Frogmoore soon pulls away and not long after we pass the entrance to the River Glen at Surfleet (17.50), JC radios in to say that he has whacked the bottom in one spot. Neil tried a bit of occasional reverse, but we still made over 5mph on the flood.
Next JC radioed in to say that he had spotted Fulney Weir and lock cut and has anchored, rather stupidly from the bow! Frogmoore came into view, rather slewed across the cut, over its anchor and stern up the bank. Neil took control of Earnest, that had by now shot passed the stranded Frogmoore. Neil managed to reverse back to Frogmoore, keeping centre channel, in case JC needed help - Oh well all good practise! A rather brave Andrew hopped off and attached the stern rope to a banged in pin, Frogmoore is then swung round. He managed to hop back on to Frogmoore and John eventually powered the boat over the anchor and retrieved it................not the best place and timing to try to anchor!!!
We are soon waiting at Fulney Lock (19.00), to wait the peak of the spring tide (it has to be over a 3.1 Metre tide to get over sill / make a level at Fulney Lock and Surfleet Sluice) The EA lads were there, having watched JC's anchoring manoeuvres. We tied up to the high piled lock wing walls (no such things as landing stages here!) Ian C assembled his mountain bike hat has been stored on one of John's bunks and went to retrieve his car that had been abandoned in Boston. Andrew Beale also left by taxi, having declined a lift on one of the lockies rather large motor cycles.
Soon John Chapman's friend from his last years Wash exploits, Richard Firmin, ex assistant Commodore of the Welland Yacht Club came into view in his Westerly 23 sailboat. It had a clutch less Seagull outboard and we watched in amusement as it went round and round in circles, below the weir. Pete Sykes caught a picture of a cheeky out of place seal, who had come up with us on the flood.
Having watched the tide go up, then down again the bottom gates (top gates open) are winched open at 20.30 and all three boats motored straight in. The lower reaches are a bit industrial, but the river soon took on an old world town feel. We all moored up at the very pleasant centre Spalding Visitor Moorings (21.00). After a beer or two with Richard, we locked up and depart for a rather over ordered, but good curry, from the Shaheen Indian. Back on ship Neil still tussled with getting his e-mail to poll correctly after getting rather clogged up with attachments. Finally it got sorted.

Ian Clarke. Any boat, anywhere and he's zizzing away in minutes!

SCSI the parrot does not seem concerned about getting her seawings!

Approaching the Grand Sluice in Boston. River Witham.

Boston Grand Sluice. River Witham.

Boston Grand Sluice.

Ian Clarke reads a piece about the Wash from a recent Sunday magazine.

Mettle Mickey chats to Ian C and JC.

Boston Grand Sluice. Level made on falling tide.

Boston Grand Sluice. Earnest follows NB Frogmoore through.

Leaving Boston Grand Sluice. Tidal River Witham.

The bridges through Boston. Tidal River Witham.

Looking back at Boston Stump. Tidal River Witham.

Boston. Tidal River Witham.

Boston. Tidal River Witham. Fish Dock.

Boston. Tidal River Witham. Old swing railway bridge to Boston Docks.

Boston. Tidal River Witham. Looking back at the old swing railway bridge to Boston Docks.

The Black Sluice / South Forty Foot Drain Sluice. Boston. Tidal River Witham.

Coming alongside Boston Docks. Tidal River Witham.

Coming up to Boston Docks turning circle. Tidal River Witham.

Looking back at Boston Dock entrance lock. Tidal River Witham.

Looking back at Boston. Tidal River Witham.

Tidal River Witham Outfall.

The Hobhole Drain Sluice. Tidal River Witham Outfall.

Tidal River Witham Outfall.

Tidal River Witham Outfall. The right hand bank is now just the training wall.

Tabs Head Marker. Tidal River Witham Outfall.

Looking back at Tabs Head. (Image Pete Sykes)

The Wash - Boston Roads - looking across to the old Gat Channel buoys.

The Wash - Boston Roads. Following NB Frogmoore to Clay Hole deepwater anchorage.

The Wash - Boston Roads. NB Frogmoore in Clay Hole deepwater anchorage.

The Wash - Boston Roads. Earnest retreats to Freiston Low sandbanks.

The Wash - Boston Roads. Earnest retreats to Freiston Low sandbanks. Buoy No15 and 13 beyond.

The Wash - Boston Roads. Earnest retreats to Freiston Low sandbanks. Buoy No13.

Fishing boat moored behind Freiston Low sandbank. (Image Pete Sykes)

Aground! (Image Pete Sykes)

Earnest run up the spur of the sandbank. (Image Pete Sykes)

The Wash - Boston Roads. Earnest beached on Freiston Low sandbanks. By Buoy No13.

The Wash - Boston Roads. Earnest beached on Freiston Low sandbanks. By Buoy No13. Looking out to NB Frogmoore's anchorage.

Neil blacking Earnest! (Image Pete Sykes)

Neil blacks to the last minute!

The Wash - Boston Roads. Looking out to NB Frogmoore's anchorage.

The Wash - Boston Roads. MC Tarbout Queen is the first vessel to move on in.

The Wash - Boston Roads. Incoming NB Frogmoore.

The Wash - Boston Roads. Camcorder battery transfer to NB Frogmoore.

The Wash - Boston Roads. Incoming NB Frogmoore and Earnest. Tabs Head centre - Tidal Welland to left, Tidal Witham to right.

The Wash - Boston Roads. Incoming NB Frogmoore.

Tidal River Welland Outfall. Dolly Peg Marker at entrance.

Tidal River Welland Outfall. Tabs Head Marker at entrance. Note the fleeing fishermen.

Earnest and Frogmoore steam up the Welland Outfall.

Basking seal family. Welland Outfall.

Welland Outfall.

EA Stone barge and jetty. Welland Outfall. (Image Pete Sykes)

Welland Outfall.

Fosdyke Bridge and Port. Welland Outfall / Fosdyke.

The rusty Atlantic Comet coaster at Port Fosdyke. Welland Outfall / Fosdyke.

Leaving Fosdyke Bridge. Welland Outfall / Fosdyke.

Welland Outfall / Fosdyke.

Passing Surfleet Sluice - Tidal River Glen exit. Welland Outfall / Fosdyke.

Welland Outfall / Fossdyke.

A16 Bridge. Welland Outfall / Fossdyke.

Fulney Lock cut. Welland Outfall / Fossdyke.

Seal at Fulney! (Image Pete Sykes)

Fulney Lock. River Welland.

The EA Fulney Locky and mates.

Fulney Lock - we finally make a falling level. Welland Outfall.

Fulney Lock - straight through. Welland Outfall.

Fulney Lock - Richard Firmin in his yacht enters behind us. River Welland.

Approach to Spalding. West Elloe Bridge. River Welland.

Approach to Spalding. Leaving West Elloe Bridge. River Welland.

Approach to Spalding. River Welland.

Spalding. River Welland.

Spalding. High Bridge. River Welland.

The Tour continues

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