We were on a bit of a schedule as we were booked to leave the boat at Fox Narrow boats in March as we had to go home for a while, so had to move along sharpish really. However we did have time for a fast diversion down the River Wissey to explore another branch off the Great Ouse. We stopped for water at Hilgay before carrying on up the Wissey
Near to the head of navigation is the aqueduct over the cut off or relief channel. In times of flood the sluice we are approaching is closed and the one to the left opened to divert the water into the relief channel that carries it swiftly down to the coast to prevent flooding in the flood plains of the tributaries.
At the end of the line is Stoke Ferry that at one time looks to have been more important than it is today. It grew rich as in inland port for the wool trade between 1750 and 1880, and had a branch railway line built here. The High Street is a conservation area.
This is the actual head of navigation a bit past the last mooring at a caravan park. You have to put your stern in to the mouth of a field drain to wind.
The river passes right through the Wissington Sugar Beet factory that is interesting. It was not the season so maintenance was under way, but the waste heat is used to heat the, what I believe is the largest legal cannabis facility in the UK in these glass houses.
We stopped once again at Hilgay and walked up to the village for a bit of shopping and a look around. We had a visit to the church, through the lytch gate and up the drive to see All Saints church as G.W Manby had been the church warden here when he 'invented' the rocket line throwing apparatus used to save life at sea. He is supposed to have fired it over the church to test it. The church was closed so we couldn't see the memorial, but the there was a plaque outside that confirmed he was a church warden.
It is only a few miles to the Denver Sluice Locks and we were soon there with a few hours to kill until tide time. There were a few waiting and we were 'tail end charlie'. The tide was just about dead when we made the turn for the Salter's Lode lock, which actually made it more difficult trying to judge when to turn. There were the usual gongoozlers to see if we made a mess of it.
We stopped the night at Salter's Lode and then pressed on the following day, pausing at Upwell just long enough to pick up a Sunday paper. It always seems to take ages to get to March but the Town Hall clock tower and sonorous bell herald that we are there.Just round the corner are the city centre moorings but as we were booked in to the marina just in case there were no berths free we carried on. Once moored up we walked into March on a lovely afternoon.
We decided to treat ourselves to a meal at at Weatherspoon's and it was the World Cricket Final and Wimbledon on the TV. Wow, what an exciting game that turned out to be. The story about the pub can be found here http://nbholderness.blogspot.com/2020/03/beers-boats-and-boozers-no73.html
It also tells you about Wolf Brewery as I tried another of their beers today.
This time I traied their 'Granny Wouldn't like it!!, 4.8%. It is a dark red beer, nice colour too. There was not much head on it though. They use 100% British ingredients in the brew and to me rather than rich and fruity there was an earthy aroma. The taste was quite oaky too. Not a terrible pint but not at its best I suspect.
As the match wasn't over yet I managed to force another pint down, and this time I had another beer from a brewery I had only tested a few days previously. To find out about the Brewsters Brewery see here; http://nbholderness.blogspot.com/2020/04/beers-boats-and-boozers-no82.html
This time I tried their Aromantica, 4.2%. Tis is a nice amber ale and came with a good thinnish head that lasted well. The aroma was quite fruity, but not full on. When in the mouth it wasn't just full of hops and like a glass of fruit juice, but there was a nuttiness to it also. I wasn't expecting much, but a very nice drink with a more nuanced flavour than I was expecting. A definate pint for a nice sunny day.
And of course England won over New Zealand in a very exciting finish. I can't remember who won the tennis though!!
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