Tempsford via Willington, Castle Mills and Cardington Locks to moor in Mill Meadow, Bedford, on a very hot day
A blindingly hot day, with sunny spells in the 80’s for much of the day. We set off from Great Barford after emptying the litter bins and first try getting through the Old Barford Bridge. Since the river was reopened 11 years ago and the upstream locks repositioned, the headroom has been very low. This is compounded at the moment by repairs to the pointing and coppice stonework which needs scaffolding in place for most of this season. It has scarred many boats in the meantime.
Through reasonably safely and past the old lock and sluice downstream of Willington before we lock through the new lock and moor just above. The rest of the hot morning is taken by walking west through Willington to the old National Trust Stables and Dovecote then south east to the main road via the post office shop and newsagent and then back to the boat. The Dovecote and Stables are closed to the public, except for open days and by prior arrangement – but must be a few hundred years old. In days past the husbandry of the dovecote produced many thousands of pigeon pies – but no more. I think the pigeons are actually kept out now.
A lunch in the heat of the day and then we cruise through Castle Mills lock and then Cardington Lock which we clear by an inch. Onto Bedford Mill Meadow to moor but, as we pass under the old railway bridge, boys jump off the structure and soak us with the spray and make young Debbie cry. I do not see the joke and apprehend them; threatening them with the boathook as they laugh at the challenge. Mill Meadow has a swing band playing on the bandstand and later a Salvation Army across the river. The ornamental bridge is closed and a row boat provides a pedestrian ferry for 10p per time. A hot evening resting before taking Daniel to see James Bond’s Octopussy. Temperature up at 86degF if my new thermometer is to be believed. Pressure dropping to 1015. Octopussy unfortunately, ended early tonight and we missed it, walking together instead.