The Royal Oak and up the Cam and Burwell Lode to Upware aboard The Lady on a sunny day that chills towards nightfall
We wake in bright sunshine during an early morning that is chilly because of the absence of cloud cover during the night. My customary and slimming breakfast these days of tomato juice and two slices of toast and then we walk from the B1085 river bridge to Streatham. Quite a walk along the straight flat fenland road but a farm and some allotments soon herald the outskirts of the village. Interesting points include two disused schools and some interesting village Shops. One, a second-hand shop is only one of two open and keeps newspapers for sale outside on up-turned boxes and metal weights to guard against the breeze. Back to the boat and a long cruise down The Old West and then right at the Fish & Duck up the River Cam.
I cruise at speed, which charges the Lady’s batteries well but leads to the engine stalling with too much heat. We cool down and then up to Upware and through Burwell Lock. A local naturalist who is preparing his boat tells us of the wildlife in the Lode’s. Of a heronry amongst the trees just beyond the confluence of Reach and Burwell Lodes and a mile past Hilgay on the Wissey of a barn owl’s roost. The Burwell Lode is long but we make the village for a latish lunch. The stalling engine makes a merry mess of my turn and spoils a few anglers’ sport. We moor bows on to a shallow bank, which is the best to be found. To explore the valley and find a large playing field close at hand. Also the pub opens at 7.00pm, the children make fun on an unusual mini-roundabout as we watch on with doves, rabbits and bantams of the Pub Garden. This evening the local church held service in the garden with a full band playing – quite a sound. The temperature falls as the sun sets and I fail to catch any fish during a small attempt with cheese bait and Daniel’s rod. This evening we photographed Debbie with some piglets in a local farmyard. Today was news of Clive Sinclair taking over the De Lorean factory in Ireland. Another folly begins! To the end of the Sunday Times and Economist and then, after Bournvita, to bed.