The 1996 Tour Page 4

4. Bedford to Cambridge, including punting on the Backs, via River Great Ouse, Old West River, River Cam.

Wednesday 10^th July we left relatively early for a non-Julian week, at 8.00. Castle Mill Lock has a strange ground paddle filling the lock from the river above the adjacent weir. Colin slipped with the one Great Ouse shrouded windlass and it nearly went in the lock! Neil observed this and thought that this must be a regular occurrence! Out came the Sea Searcher magnet and after 15 minutes we had three Great Ouse windlasses! At St Neots Lock we were held up for 45 minutes due to traffic! We eventually shared with another 50ft narrowboat, as this the narrowest Great Ouse Lock (10ft 6ins) was just long enough at 100ft. We arrived at the top of Godmanchester Lock at 16.10 and stopped on Huntingdon visitor moorings at 16.40 for a 45-minute shopping stop. We got the last St Ives visitor mooring, just beyond the bridge near the water point at 19.15. That night we went out to the excellent “Little Cyprus” Greek restaurant, just to the north of the other side of the bridge.

Thursday 11^th July we left St Ives at 8.45. The “Ferry boat Inn” at Holywell was passed at 9.40 and Hermitage Lock was passed on the level at 11.10. Stretham Old Engine was passed at 13.20 and we swung to the right at Pope’s Corner onto the River Cam at 13.45. Reach Lode junction was passed at 14.25 and Swaffham Lode junction at 14.50, it was getting windy, brewing up for a storm. We reached Cambridge visitor moorings, town side, just below Jesus Lock at 17.00. Although there is a right of navigation beyond Jesus Lock, round “The Backs” it is frowned upon by the Cam Commissioners (Who are basically Cambridge university). Off-season it is permissible, but this only suits locals. That night Ian who at this time was working for D.C.S. in Cambridge, came to meet us. He had digs in a mobile home in Waterbeach, just to the north of the City. We went over to see his firm and then to an excellent Pub with an inbuilt Thai restaurant.

Friday 12^th July was a day off. That morning we all “finished off” the River Cam by the normal craft – punt. Neil was the only one to get proficient at punting, though at one point he did leave the pole embedded in the mud, fortunately not with him still attached! Ian left work early to pick up the crew. That afternoon and evening we spent at Ian’s mobile home. This was situated in a run down garden nursery. Ian had the use of a covered outdoor swimming pool. That evening which was weather wise OK; we had a dip and a poolside barbeque.

Starting up the River Cam, Dimmocks Cote Bridge. River Cam.	Upware Marina. River Cam.	"The Five Miles From Anywhere, No Hurry" pub at Upware. River Cam.

The entrance to Reach Lode. River Cam. This leads to Reach Lode, Burwell Lode and Wicken Lode.	Looking across to Reach Lode Lock. River Cam.	Looking up Swaffham Bulbeck Lode. Yes the water did look that green! River Cam.

Bottisham Lode. River Cam.	Approaching Bottisham Lock. River Cam.	Bottisham Lock. River Cam.

The now do it your self controls at Bottisham Lock. River Cam.	Bottisham Lock. River Cam.	Leaving Bottisham Lock. River Cam.

The river above Bottisham Lock, from the weir. River Cam.	The Bridge Hotel at Clayhithe. River Cam.	One for Ian Clarke to drool over, a sister ship to his beloved "Straight Across". At Clayhithe. River Cam.

Leaving Clayhithe Bridge. River Cam.	The almost canal like quality of the river above Clayhithe. River Cam.	Approaching Baits Bite Lock. River Cam.

Baits Bite Lock. River Cam.	Baits Bite Lock. River Cam.	The time warp lock cottage at Baits Bite Lock. River Cam.

Leaving Baits Bite Lock. River Cam.	Leaving the A45 Bridge. River Cam.	The "Plough Inn" at Green End. River Cam.

Green End. River Cam.	The Railway Bridge at Green End. River Cam.	The "Pike and Eel Inn" at Chesterton, Cambridge. River Cam.

Leaving the A1309 By-Pass Bridge. Cambridge. River Cam.	The old Gas Works site. Cambridge. River Cam.	Passing some of the University Boat Clubs. River Cam.

Cambridge. River Cam.	Cambridge. River Cam.	Cambridge. Our mooring just below Jesus Lock. River Cam.

The crew, Ian Scott, Colin, John Fleming and his brother Paul. River Cam.	Cambridge. Our mooring just below Jesus Lock. River Cam.	Cambridge, Jesus Lock. River Cam.

Cambridge. Our mooring just below Jesus Lock. River Cam.	Cambridge. The river just above Jesus Lock. River Cam.	Cambridge. Above Jesus Lock. River Cam.

Cambridge. Above Jesus Lock. River Cam.	Cambridge. Above Jesus Lock. The Mathematical Bridge. River Cam.	The start of our first attempt at punting. River Cam.

Punting in Cambridge. River Cam.	Punting in Cambridge. River Cam.	Punting in Cambridge. River Cam.

Punting in Cambridge. Neil soon gets the hang of it. River Cam.	Punting in Cambridge. River Cam.	Punting in Cambridge. Neil is thinking it would be easier to steer "Beatty" through the Harecastle Tunnel without touching the sides! River Cam.

Punting in Cambridge. River Cam.	Punting in Cambridge. River Cam.	Ian Scott at work in D.C.S.

Ian Scott at work in D.C.S. This is the multi layered board layout of his latest gizmo.	Barbeque at Ian's. We thought Danny would like to be reminded of the SAAB 10 minute trip to Ely!	Barbeque at Ian's.