Where did that week go?

We've been busy doing not very much ... Or even less.

Sunday morning before the move back into St Neots ... Dragon Boat practice

Monday night ....

 Tuesday and Wednesday

And Thursday and Friday and maybe Saturday ... a rare wild mooring made for one.

 With this 2 minutes away ... A big swimming pool even by LJ's standards

We've turned back towards Ely now but not with the heavy hearts we had last year. We'll no doubt do this trip again next  summer. 

With the Bedford River Gala this weekend there has been an increase in traffic heading that way. Told at Great Barford yesterday there had been 15 ... Yes 15 boats moored there on Wednesday night. I bet the non dog friendly pub was bu💤ing.

Tragedy

Tragic happening on river at St Neots late morning. I walked LJ across the fields back to the pontoon to check on mooring availability.   Our neighbours from yesterday were just getting out of their boat and told me there was a body in the water. It had just floated past them. A young female canoeist, already in the water, took up station alongside to keep other boats away. What a star she was.

I saw QISMA approaching. Tried to phone Alistair but couldn't reach him. He saw what was happening...or not happening and manouvered QISMA to try and get a rope around her...he could see it was a woman. It didn't work - in fact the rope got caught round the prop. That removed, between QISMA and the canoe, they managed to guide the body to the slipway and she was pulled ashore at the rowing club.

The emergency services were on there way and arrived as this happened. Both regular and air ambulance arrived. They kept resuscitation for 35 minutes and set off for the hospital by road.

The police wanted to check the river and talk to boaters, anglers etc. Alistair offered them the use of QISMA.  So the next hour spent doing that.

Now moored opposite on the Riverside Park moorings. Feeling very strange. Police just phoned to tell us she had been identified and NOK informed. Not treating her death as suspicious. They think she fell in. Considerate of them to do that. So sad for her family.

Sleepless in St Neots .... Not us!

The Fens well and truly left behind now. Miles and miles of this as we moved down to St Neots.  Please not ... Am not complaining!! #justsaying

The park was busy but we moored outside the Priory Conference Centre ... with water. And the closest mooring we have had so far to a Waitrose. We felt quite pleased.

Good food market on in the square and some essential shopping ... one pair of Alistair's shorts having reached the end of useful life ... And then some. Back onboard and out enjoying a beer and the heat. Until .... The wedding disco started! We had a bit of warning when an ice cube hit us! A balcony open on a terrace above us and the disco beyond.  They seemed a nice bunch but , but, but ... Would they still be lovely at 0100? And though I approved of the DJ's choices ..... Same question!!

Alistair works on the theory that a disco notches up the volume every 20 minutes. A late walk with LJ led us to some overgrown Huntingdon Council moorings. A camouflage green sign that we hadn't spotted from the river. (too busy looking at the posh houses on t'other bank). Soooooo at 9pm we thought now or never and off we went! 5 minutes later we were mooring up. I don't think they get used much. Three of the posh folk wandered down to their banks to watch.

Our views .... Back and front. Happy boaters.

White Rose of Yorkshire

The Yorkshire flag flies from QISMA twice a year. My birthday and Yorkshire Day. Last year it got knocked from Ely!! No such problem yesterday at the lovely GOBA moorings near  Barford Mill.

Bracelets for presents ... Nicely displayed!!

And Barford Mill for lunch.  

 The view from our perch in the bar.

 There WAS food but also Tanquery 10, Malbec and Marmalade Vodka.

Looking back at QISMA

A rare afternoon 💤💤💤💤💤💤 for me when we got back. Did me the world of good. Got up and washed and polished the outside of the boat.  Though it is an all in one job for us so not too taxing. 

On the move today and hoping for a mooring in St Neots. Moving on a Saturday and into town .... Not like us at all and I have no idea why!! Best not to ask. 

Picture Perfik

In Godmanchester tonight. We  stayed twice here last year. The attractions are obvious and there is an excellent fishing shop!! 

Fantastic walking for LJ over the meadows. For some reason he is always naughty on the park by the mooring. He loves it and just will not come,back. His prancing circus pony trick is much in evidence. 

Last night we were at Hemingford Grey. Very pretty village and the cows are really friendly. We,think,they,like the company!

Staying here for two nights to allow for some lovely walking and to be at a favourite pub at the next mooring Thursday and Friday.

A brass band on our doorstep

In St Ives ... The Cambridgeshire version for two nights whilst Boots the Chemist (the oldies will know about this) get one of Alistair's meds in. Never in stock as it's expensive but always there the day after.

Arrived in time for the tennis on Sunday and had a brass band accompaniment for much of the match - superb tennis. Wine opened in,the 4th set.

We like the moorings here. No turning for NBs so we reverse in. Fools a lot of people. Great for the town as we are at the bottom of the high street which has good shopping. There is an excellent market on Mondays with a smaller market on Fridays. Buzzing yesterday. In addition to the shoppers, there were crocodiles of cyclists everywhere, I guess off to watch Le Tour pass by.

There is also a long and quiet stretch of GOBA mooring close by which we'd chose at a weekend - nightclub alert!

Time for .......? A bit of a rant

A year to the weekend since we were last on these lovely moorings near the Pike and Eel Pub and Marina. The pub is very golf clubish,and LJ only allowed outside but it is a lovely spot. Unfortunately, I was served a sandwich which had fab filling but one slice of bread was stale. This however, is NOT the rant.

This is the mooring. Three mooring spots in a 2-1-2 formation. On Saturday, only one boat, a narrowboat, was on the first mooring. 

 When I went to walk LJ on Sunday. This had been dumped in the middle of the grassed area. With a rubbish skip at the marina only two hundred easy yards away ...... WELL,!  Words don't actually fail me but I don't feel I can use any of them in the blog.

It won't trouble the next moorers. I dumped it.

As to the walking. Pretty good

I spy with my little eye .....

A lovely cruise down to Hermitage Lock where there was an EA convention! My rubbish taken off me  the moment I appeared with it and a race to find me a copy of the fantastic EA Great Ouse etc map. A top tip for anyone cruising this way. 

 The lockie  remembered the boat and amazingly us! He had very kindly let us have our solar panels fitted on one of the moorings. His boat is  aTyler Wilson hull so he is always on the lookout!

Up through and a different panorama

 We thought it wasn't going to happen but ..... There were 3 last year.

Is it a rest when you're watching Wimbledon?

You certainly use up some nervous energy. I am now declaring for Federer who I would love to win it just one more time.

LJ fit and well after his ear infection. We couldn't keep him out of the water. But the new toy that sinks and floats and encourages him to put his head underwater is banned.

Please can I go swimming?

 Alright ... We give in.

 The getting air to his ears invention.... Funny he didn't really seem to mind!

More boats about today. Almost, but not quite, double figures. We had company at the far end of the mooring over lunch but last night we truly were in splendid isolation. Sadly the photos of the sunset just don't capture the true colours.

Back to ........ BOATING

After the disaster of the journey down to Midhurst, it was all plain sailing (ouch) on the return trip to QISMA on Sunday. One night onboard and a quick outing to the launderette and we were on our way.

This cruise is retracing last years trip down towards Bedford. Though we don't plan to go into the city this time. We're hoping to mix up moorings. Some of the favourites from 2013 and some new. Out for a month so it's going to be very leisurely.

Monday certainly was. 45 minutes to the Lazy Otter and a meal in the  pub. Very different from last year when the wind was so strong everyone struggled to get on the mooring. Words were spoken!

Yesterday a lovely short cruise down the Old West to a GOBA mooring. These are wild moorings and mostly tranquil. We arrived at 1300 and by the end of the day we had seen 3 boats. Two are moored up ahead.

The afternoon was shared between tennis, fishing and swimming. No prizes for guessing which crew member was doing what.

A rest day today. I'm sure we deserve it.