Earith to Denver

30 August 

Overnight we had a change of mind about going along the New Bedford River. On occasions Steve’s heart has a tendency to go into overdrive in stressful situations. He could already feel the effects of just thinking about the trip so we decided that extra stress was unnecessary and we would not make this journey with its uncertainties about tides and timings. Steve still got up early so that he could let the others know of our decision and wish them a safe journey.

As we are now going back along the Great Ouse the same way as we came, we have to go through Hermitage Lock which is manned but doesn’t open until 9.00. So we left our Earith mooring at 8.15, moored on the landing by the lock and waited for it to open. The lockkeeper arrived a little early and opened up the lock at 8.45 so we were through it soon after 9.00.

We then had a very long stretch of river with no locks and, for some parts, not a lot to look at either.  But the sun was out and it was actually very pleasant boating weather. There is still a lot of weed in places, though judging by the heaps on the land alongside the river, EA have made efforts to remove at least some of it.

A swan makes a path through the weed.

We stopped at a marina on the outskirts of Ely for diesel (we had done the water and a pump out at Earith last night) and then moored a little further along while we ate our sandwich lunch.

We did have one moment of excitement when we came across a narrowboat breasted up to a wide cruiser shell making their way slowly down the river. They moved over as soon as they could to let us come past.

We decided to press on and moor very close to Denver Sluice arriving at 4.15. 

View towards Denver Sluice

View the other way

The timing of going through Denver Sluice and Salters Lode depends on the tide and we have been told by the lockkeeper that he will start letting boats through at 11.45, so we will be here until then.

The sandbanks show why you have to wait for the tide.

We went for a walk crossing Denver Sluice and the Relief Channel Sluice before wandering down the road towards Denver village. We bought some honey from a roadside box at the Railway Gatehouse next to a level crossing.

Great Eastern Railway plaque on Railway Gatehouse