Back aboard the boat.

We came back to the boat on Monday after a very full week at home. After unpacking the car we decided to leave the marina and try our luck at the moorings in the town. As it happens we were lucky, but an hour later there was no room at all. Once Helen was settled I walked back to the marina and drove home. Not a bad trip home. It is all by roads or old A roads as it is too far out to get to the A1 or motorways. Still under three hours isn't bad.

My daughter gave me a lift to the station on Tuesday morning and I had a trouble free trip. Hull to Doncaster on an old Pacer train, Doncaster to Peterborough on a new Azuma train with LNER and then a short trip to March on a Cross Country Train. All on time and still seats available. I got back about 13:00 and almost straight away we left and headed off.

I couldn't really understand why on a breezy day like today these wind turbines were not turning. It seemed to be a whole field of them, where as the next field were turning with gusto. Could it be that the weather was so sunny that solar was sufficient for the nations demands!

I had noticed that the ladders half way down the Marmont Priory Lock was actually in an old lock gate recess last time we passed through. This time I noticed that river gauge marker was in feet by the old lock.

Also this time I noticed this plaque on the down side of the lock, I was surprised that the lock was extended as late as 1996/97. This was the second lock to be lengthened to allow narrow boats to pass. The first was Stanground in 1990 and then Ashline. Salter's Lode accommodates up to 62' but longer can transit over the high tides

We picked a hat full of cherries from the tree on the right when we passed through a week ago, and not there is not one left. Birds I presume. Helen is enjoying the shade. Maureen, the lock keeper, had given us 'permission' to pass through on our own as she was out.

Soon after the lock you arrive at Upwell sometimes known as the longest village in the country. IAfter the lock the water gets narrow and shallow, and making any speed is difficult.

St Peter's Church in Upwell is on the site of a Roman built church/house, so worship has gone on here for around 2000 years.

In the graveyard was this body shaped tombstone. We have seen them before, but not often. The type of stone and the amount of lichen on the stones meant that there weren't many we could read.

We stopped on the Church Bridge moorings, right below the church, and not much of a walk to the Five Bells pub next door.

The moorings are provided and maintained by the Well Creek Trust. In the past the waters of the rivers that now pour into the Great Ouse used to come through here. Changes in the drainage caused all sorts of movements. In the late 18th Century a canal was built from Wisbech to Outwell, but when this was filled in after 1950 there were calls to also fill in the Well Creek from Outwell to Salter's Lode as the water level is much higher than surrounding waterways. There was much local opposition and eventually Norfolk Council agreed in 1969.  In March 1970 the Well Creek Trust was formed to ensure the survival of this waterway that has survived through many cahnges.

Taken from Church Bridge you can see that the Well Creek certainly had more of the characteristics of a canal. The road is surprisingly busy across the bridge, so not the most peaceful of moorings, but they are few and far between on the Middle Level Link.