- Details
The cruise down The Wissey to Hilgay for some shopping and then downstream to Denver Sluice for an early lunch at the pub and then to stop at Ely for supplies before finally up the River Cam to The Bridge Hotel at Clayhithe where I took Di to dinner and saw leading Tory Geoffrey Archer and family who were also dining there. Chancellor Lawson is upset today as Thatcher appoints a financial advisor and stock markets fall as interest rates rise, there are more Iran/Iraq clashes today despite the supposed ceasefire and thankfully the government is defeated twich in the Lords over charges for eye sights and dental checks.
A rather worrying night. Poor Della had some sort of earache and a complex about wanting to be back, ‘in our proper house’. She awoke crying about four times and both Di and I tried to pacify her until we gave her some paracetamol and a hot water bottle to go in her favourite cuddly rabbit cover. We laid in a while this morning and then I got up first, boiled the kettle, put on the boat heating and then made Diana some coffee. Made myself tea as well and followed Di into the washroom to get washed and dressed. I was then most put out that the family sat down to breakfast before I had come to the table – after I had made the morning drinks as well! This ‘contretemps was to set a cloud over the rest of the day, as I was most put out. I quickly cast off from the bushes and cruised off down the Wissey until we came to Hilgay and I moored up for a while there, so we could get some fuel for Daniel’s boat and some provisions from the nearest shop. Onward to the mouth of the Wissey and then downstream to Denver to tie up at the Denver Arms a little early for lunch.
- Details
A pleasurable night at Prickwillow, moored on the River Lark and then to try some shopping and to find Prickwillow Pottery open to be able to buy a splendid Great Crested Grebe ornament. Then on to Littleport for water and fuel before cruising up the River Wissey to Hilgay and on upstream as far as we could. The UK air crisis is averted by offers of using Heathrow for the extra traffic, Seve Ballesteros won the Open Golf Championship in the ‘best performance of his life’ and a supposed truce and end of the Iran/Iraq War which is probably too good to be true! Next, British Leyland, now to be taken over by BAE, is to close down two factories, with a loss of up to 5,000 jobs. British Leyland is to be taken over by BAE, with a loss of up to 5,000 jobs
A sound night at Prickwillow, without any noise to disturb us. Nothing human, that is, as there were some noisy toads calling at 4.00am, before the dawn chorus. It made me lay awake and wonder when the last time was that I had heard grasshoppers or crickets, which make a similar, if softer, sound that is increasingly rare these days. Back to sleep and was then woken up with my morning tea at 7.30am. After breakfast, I took the girls to the shops – the post office at Prickwillow was closed, but the girls spent their pennies on ‘chewing gum’ machines outside. Then I went to the Pottery and bought a Great Crested Grebe ornament for £60 and I think it is very nice. All aboard and then we set off on today’s cruise. Back down The Lark, along the Ouse to Littleport, where we filled up with water and we would have filled up with diesel from a floating fuel tanker, but there was nobody about to serve us. Then downstream with Daniel in line astern. I can now cruise at 6 knots and 1500 rpm and this meant Daniel kept dropping behind. I played a joke on him by creeping into a tributary, letting him pass, and then trailing him! He went faster and faster with us in pursuit, thinking he had been left behind! Eventually, up the River Wissey to Hilgay, where we stopped for tea and a walk round the village.
- Details
After a very wet night, the weather cleared up this morning and we rose to enjoy the new day relieved that The Lady had withstood this watery onslaught and had not leaked. Up the hill to the Paradise pool in Ely for a swim, some more shopping and then morning coffee in the old Oast House to the sound of more Morris men dancing. We set off down stream and turned up the River Lark stopping at prick will oh for a tea of scones and tea cakes and a visit to the local playground. An evening fishing without success. Neil Kinnock’s party arrived at the wrong airport in Zimbabwe and was intercepted by armed troops before being released and the 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela was marked by an appeal for Archbishop Tutu for his release from jail. The Lambeth conference of the Anglian church will discuss the ordination of women today.
Slept very well last night. It poured with rain all night and we can now say it has rained every day that we have been on board this time! Like magic, the rain again stopped as we got up, so that we were not to be inconvenienced. The Lady held up very well in the face of this aqueous onslaught, with no leaks at all in the rear cabin, which is more than I have a right to expect in view of the low maintenance it has been given this year. I got up and put the kettle on and watched the river scene as it boiled. I saw the rain stop and a Bream surface and so I now know that there are fish in Ely, but they are difficult to catch. After breakfast, we all took a walk up the hill to Ely and the Paradise Pool for a swim. I was a bit reluctant, but quite enjoyed it in the end, as my cold is now a lot better. We also visited the motor accessory shop and chandlery and I bought a few more odds and ends. Back at the old Oast House, we had a morning drink to the background of yet more Morris men dancing – this time with faces blacked up as sweeps and striking sticks as they danced.
- Details
Feeling well enough to do some fishing first thing this morning and caught a few before breakfast and our cruise afterwards to Ely where Daniel and I enjoyed the chandlers and the Morris Dancers as we met the girls for lunch at Bonnet’s Restaurant. This afternoon working with Daniel on the boats as the girls enjoyed Ely Cathedral before the rain came this evening as we watched the revellers near to The Cutter Inn. A riot today at Lingholme Prison due to overcrowding, long flight delays for holidaymakers at Manchester and Gatwick
A much better night, sleeping well, but I woke up early on a bright, still and sunny morning and decided to do an hour or so’s fishing before breakfast. Wrapped up well and was soon catching fish. First a small Ruff, then a Roach, a small Bream and Perch. Another Roach, Bream and then a much larger fish. It was of Bream colouring, fins and slimy skin, but of Roach shape and so I think it was a hybrid, but a large fish for all that. I had used a double maggot for the first time, which tempted it, but I made such a commotion landing it that I could only catch one eel after and gave up to go in and get ready for breakfast. Had cereal and toast for my morning meal and then we cast off and sailed along the remainder of the Old West and began Pope’s Corner to Ely. Di washed her hair and took advantage of the hot water system and the weather was reasonably kind to us, with no rain and some sunny spells. In Ely, we topped up our water tanks, got Daniel some outboard motor fuel and then moored up to go shopping.