From St Ives to Godmanchester after a windy and rainy night as the Jumbo row developed into a war of words
A rough and windy night with torrential rain to start the morning. But with few leaks, we are very snug in The Lady and slept dry and content last night. Unfortunately, my thermometer (which had been left outside to record the overnight minimum temperature) was either stolen or more probably blown overboard by the stormy winds. We resolve to cruise straight home today but, after some good shopping in St. Ives, I find that the steering wheel has broken – the plastic hub being worn in tussling with the wind. Daniel and I walk to L H Jones and order a replacement and spare but they do not stock the parts and I have to change back to the old ships wheel.
Eventually we move off but the high winds cause us to crash the front of the boat at the next two locks; so we stop at Houghton Mill now open this year for the first time. There has been a mill at this place for over 1000 years and the machinery is as originally run until 1930. Later we move on through Godmanchester lock and moor safely at Godmanchester playground. This evening we watch ‘Close encounters of a third kind’ on television but I am weary of it now having seen it four times.
News today is of a battle of words between America and Russia over the S. Korean aircraft crash. Also French troops in greater number to Chad. We hope for better weather tomorrow and it is forecast dry and bright for tonight but wet and windy tomorrow afternoon.