A Sad Farewell 6th August 2018

Monday 6th August 2018
St Ives to Holywell
2.75 miles, 1 lock

A bit late with this post as we had no internet coverage last night.

We had intended to stay in St Ives tonight, but once we had seen this notice we decided we would make a move and start the journey home.   The small print states they are refreshing the road markings, so we guessed it could be noisy.  It certainly would be in our boat as any unusual sounds usually starts Monty off barking.

We had another Tesco delivery first thing, then Chris got the paper, I walked Monty and we filled the water tank.  We were off late morning on yet another hot and sunny day.  We are all going to get a shock when it is cold and wet again!

This lot came past us not long before we left, but thankfully they turned right and we were turning left.

 And so we leave the Waits for the last time this trip

and bid St Ives a very fond farewell.  Since the 9th June we have spent 11 nights in St Ives either in The Waits or on the GOBA moorings and I still did not manage to visit the church or Holt Nature Reserve, so I guess we will have to come back again one day!

Just the one lock today at St Ives with a hire boat from Ely coming up.  This was their first ever lock with vee gates - there was a very friendly and helpful EA employee on hand to give guidance and practical help.

We automatically went into the 'D' as that is the on the side where the control box is.  We have found that I can hold the bow rope as long as the boat is on my side.  With someone to work the buttons for us we could have stayed on the other side, but as I said it was an automatic manoeuvre on our part.  A real treat to be able to get back on board and control the bow from there with no worries about climbing down a very slippery ladder.

There is so little grass around that these cows had retreated to the water to find something green to eat.

 We have passed Holywell a few times and have always fancied stopping, but there has never been room - today it was empty - well apart from a family having a picnic in the middle of the moorings, but we worked round them.

The pub is supposed to be the oldest in England, but then so is 'Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem' in Nottingham - I wonder who is right.  This pub has been recommended to us as good food at a sensible prices, so we will go and see what it has to offer this evening.

Then maybe a stroll around the village when it is a bit cooler

This really  is a rather idyllic spot.  I am sat on the front deck watching our neighbours going about their business.  I have said it before and I will say it again - this really is a tough life!

The meal was good, but in the end we decided just to walk along the Great Ouse Way - better for Monty and even late evening it was just too hot to go too far.