Date - 19 /07/08 Day - Saturday Start - Pike and Eel 0830 End - GOBA moorings, middle of nowhere 1800hrs
Harnser's present position http://tinyurl.com/harnser-19 Last night we went for a drink in the Pike and Eel as we were using their moorings for the night, It was busier than when we were there mid week but still not rushed off their feet with only 1 couple in the restaurant. We set off this morning at 8 30 and headed downstream to Brownshill Lock where we had our incident on the way up, but this time we were on our own. Between this lock and the next, Hermitage Lock the river is theoretically tidal but normally only rises about 12" as it is connected to the sea via The New Bedford River. We stopped off at Earth to fill with water and pump the loo tank out(that's the second free one) After Hermitage Lock it was slow going due to the narrow and shallow channel. It was pointed out to me when we came up we are going nether up or down stream as no water enters at Hermitage lock and the river other than drainage water is static. As we made our way to Popes Corner we could see the rain falling around us but we suffered nothing more than some very small showers. Our plan was to moor in Ely but we were unable to find a mooring anywhere, we passed President and Kildare first and then Duke and Duchess both had their butties breasted, other than that they were all cruisers or short narrowboats so we couldn't even find anyone to lay alongside. Due to this we continued on to Brandon Creek and turned right onto the Little Ouse. As I turned into the Little Ouse the wind grabbed the bows and we took the turn very wide going into all the weed and getting a blade full. Once I had cleaned the prop we were of on deep clear water with quite a bit of weed growth of the centre channel for the first 4-5 miles, after this the EA have been hard at work weed cutting. Almost as soon as we started up the river it started to rain and it rained in buckets for a good 10 minutes, I didn't have time to get a coat just the brolly. Again this is a very pretty river with very little sign of habitation, after about 8 miles we came to the GOBA moorings absolutely in the middle of nowhere where we have moored for the night with the cows, the only thing we can see from the top of the flood bank is a set of golfball radars about 5 miles away. As I write this the sun is shining and its blowing a hole gale along the river with small waves topping by, we can't feel it because we are aground and still a full gangplank for the bank. -- Brian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Join SOW and help save our waterways http://www.saveourwaterways.org
