Retirement with No Problem

Denver to March, River Great Ouse and Middle Levels, 14 miles 3 locks

With pins pulled early this morning we cruised the short distance from Silt Fen Visitor moorings to the Denver complex to fill with water and do the other services before making ourselves ready for the trip to Salters Lode and the Middle Levels via the tidal River Ouse.

We sat in the lock at Denver with the guillotine open to the tidal section for what seemed an age.  Waiting and waiting for the ideal moment when we would be able to enter the Salters Lock some half mile downstream at the precise moment that the waters from the tide are level with those on the Middle Levels.

No Problem is too long to fit in the lock at Salters, you see, so the bottom and top lock gates have to be open at the same time.  The tide was right out, and just on the turn, so it was easy to enter the dog legged gap leading to the lock, but the tide was out just a bit too far, and No Problem scraped over the sand at full throttle to get into the lock.. phew only just today.. Thanks Paul for locking us through….

See you again next year all being well!

Oh it was so windy across the open fenland of the Middle Levels.  I was pleased that I had made some soup this morning.. I knew we would not be stopping for lunch.. lunch on the run today.  Down came the chimney to go under the low bridges of Nordelph, then Outwell next…

Through this tunnel like bridge to a 90 degree bend which No Problem can’t get round in one hit, then just as I straightened up a narrowboat appeared.. good job I didn’t meet him 5 minutes earlier, it would have been at the bridge in the picture above!

Next came daughter Wendie’s favourite chip shop, which I do a pic for her each time we pass..

Here you go Wends.. just for you!! . Reason – Fond memories of many years ago when the family used to visit this area competing locally to this chip shop with junior showjumping ponies.. Onward to the next village, Upwell..

Gosh that bridge is low, just about cleared the flowers!.. I like Upwell, but we didn’t stop today.. As you can see another 10 miles to March, but that is by road!

Actually, we did stop just after this at a little postage stamp bit of wood and landing.  I popped into the local garden centre.. well it wasn’t a garden centre like normal.. an amazing place just on the outskirts of Upwell.. Round the back is amazing, all full of huge growing indoor places for plants.. I got some winter pansies and a few just picked runner beans.  Vic held No Problem with middle and back ropes.. Away from there and on to Marmount Priory Lock.  The wind was strong and we struggled to get No Problem on to the lock landing.. well only about half of No Problem would fit on it!  Then I was off again down the lane to the house that sells the eggs..

“Oh I don’t know if I got any, hang on a minute”… Then after about 5 minutes this guy appeared from the side of the house with a few eggs cradled in his t shirt! “I’ll put them in a tray”.. Ho Hum.. “Here you go, the chickens have gone off laying a bit.. They are my son’s pets you know”  I was delighted to get 6 special eggs so newly laid.  2 of them are really small.. I took enough money for two dozen eggs.. well the sign said £1.20 a dozen, so I thought there would be a lot of them.. I bet they are going to taste good!

We came through the Denver complex well before NB Balmaha.. but…

They catch us up at the lock, I been doing stuff!!

The wind turbines needed controlling today for sure…

You can see how windy it is.. but we are in March now.  Fish and chips tonight followed by a visit from Kevin.. he brought me some cabling for the front camera.. always lovely to see Kevin of course, and Ness and Mo of NB Balmaha, who are moored in front of us this evening, popped in too, so plenty of socialising tonight!

4 hours tomorrow will see us back on the River Nene.. but not before we visit the market here in March.