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A good walk to the childrens’ playground in Hilgay after a troubled start and then upstream on the River Wissey on a fine and windy day to moor with the mud weight on a lake at Wissington for some sailing on our Blue Peter before mooring at the head of navigation at Stoke Ferry for refreshment and a chat with the day boat operator and then crusing back to Hilgay for the night. News of the fate of American hostages in the Lebanon and of Sir |Geoffrey getting nowhere in talks with South Africa’s Pik Botha and the Scottish Council withdrawing Thatcher’s invitation to the Games
Slept well, but another unsettled night for Diana, who refused to get up and make the drinks. In the end I put the kettle on and let the girls loose on Di, who grumpily did the honours. Our normal boating routine with cereal and toast for breakfast, then we all walked up to the top of Hilgay hill to the children’s playground. The weather started cool, windy, but at least the sun was warm to make up for it. The children enjoyed the exercise, with even Daniel playing ‘follow my leader’. We visited the village stores on the way back and bought some papers, ice creams and other bits and pieces, including a good 50p guide book on the history of Hilgay, which proved very interesting. Then we set off upstream on the River Wissey, stopping at the wide stretch at Wissington that formed a lake.
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Breakfast after a poor warm, stuffy and noisy night in Ely and then food shopping before cruising over to Babylon Marina for fuel and water to hear of their poor season and then the cruise to a Littleport riverside pub to find The Littleport Show in full swing with the heavy horses a big attraction and then the cruise up the River Wissey to Hilgay where we enjoyed a nice walk. News of a nasty rail crash on a level crossing with seven dead and gold medals for Britain in the depleted Commonweath Games
Slept very soundly, but Di had an equally poor night. The weather is warm and stuffy and our moorings in Ely were beset with the quayside lights, noises and the frequent diesel trains in and out of Ely Station. Our breakfast of toast, cereals and fruit juice, then out to Tesco supermarket to buy a large amount of groceries and supplies, as we were due to head out into the country today. All back to The Lady and across to Babylon for our fuel and water. We had used just 5 gallons in the last two days going to Cambridge and back.
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The Lady staying waterproof after a very rainy night which prompted us to cruise down the Cam to Ely where I bought some more bait with Debbie and the family went their own way until we met up for lunch and went swimming together afterwards before Daniel and I fished in The Blue Peter and then I took Di our for a meal. US President Reagan seems to be doing an arms deal with Gorbachev and the US is now willing to comply with International sanctions against South Africa, totally isolating Thatcher. There is more unrest from the Sikhs in India
The rain poured during the night and again as we woke up at 5.00am onwards this morning. The Lady held up reasonably well considering the deluge and only a few drips came in. Tried to fish a little with Daniel this morning, but the weather could not stay fine. Cast off and cruised down the remainder of the Cam to the Fish and Duck, then down the Ouse to Ely, where we moored as it continued to rain.
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Further day’s cruising through Baits Bite lock then stopping short of the narrow Jesus Green lock opposite the playground for the girls to play and then to spot our old boat Utopia II brave a very congested Cambridge in the holiday season before The Copper kettle for lunch and then to the Cinema with Daniel until it was time to cruise through Bottisham to Upware where we met the Chambers aboard their own boat. The Commonwealth Games opened today with countries withdrawing up to the final moment
Slept very well during a cooler night and awoke at 7.00am to encourage Di to make the morning tea. Not a peep from the girls, who also seemed to be well settled by now. Breakfast and then started The Lady & cast off and cruised upstream to Baits Bite lock, where we were the first boat up today. The exorbitant price of £4.50 for the day’s lock fee. Found out that the Jesus Green lock was too narrow at 10ft and so we moored at out customary place opposite the children’s playground. A brief play for the girls, who liked the seesaw and swings best, and then the walk across the park for coffee at Eaden Lily. Cambridge was very crowded with tourists speaking every conceivable language, which I suppose is good for the balance of payments, but annoying because of the congestion. We spotted Utopia II moored in Cambridge and Patience (The Lady’s 35ft sister craft) at Upware.