Brampton to Castle Mills

20 August 

I forgot to say we saw Jane and John Pescod on Ichthus yesterday. They were coming out of a lock as we were preparing to go in, so we could do no more than exchange greetings.

Today the wind has dropped and it is warm and humid. We started out at 8.30, passed under the partly constructed new A14, and took on water at Buckden Marina before we did anything else. 

New A14 from one side ....

...... and from the other side

Then on to Offord Lock with The Old Flour Mill development nearby; I don’t know whether the old mill is actually part of this, but it does look better than the derelict mill buildings we have seen. The house martins certainly seem to approve as they have nested in the eaves.

When we arrived at St Neots lock, there were two narrowboats waiting. This is a very long lock and after some discussion, the two other boats decided they could both fit in. So they went up and we waited while a large cruiser came down in its turn. There had been a bit of a delay as he had had to dismantle his wheelhouse in order to fit under the bridges. When exiting the lock, he had to go very slowly and carefully as he was very nearly too wide as well as being too tall!

We shared this lock and the next one, Eaton Socon, with a cruiser called Eau de Vie owned by a Christian couple taking their pastor and his wife out for the day. They travelled faster than us so they had already been through Roxton Lock when we arrived. However, as we came out of the lock, we saw them tucked into the greenery at the edge of the river. Their engine had stopped and wouldn’t restart, so we were able to give them a tow. Fortunately the next lock, Great Barford, was big enough for both of us, so we towed them in and we worked through together. They moored up after the lock as they could catch a bus home from there!

We passed Lorraine and Mike Newman on Annie & Walt; we will see them later at the festival. The rest of the journey through Willington and Castle Mills Locks was without incident, (except for a sharp shower of rain) and we are now moored abreast of Pat and Tony Collins on Paws 4 Thought. Pat had the kettle on when we arrived just as I knew she would! 

Paws and us.

We have been for a walk and discovered the quickest way to Tesco’s – we will do some shopping before leaving tomorrow.