An Odd Sort of Day 5th August 2018

Sunday 5th August 2018
Hemingford Grey to St Ives
1.5 miles, 1 lock

What appeared to be a perfect mooring last night turned out to be quite unsuitable.  Before we turned in we were aground in the middle, so loosened the ropes to push the middle out and all was well.  When we woke up we were back aground.  We decided to move along a few metres which seemed to be okay, but the stern was still stuck out and we once again grounded.  So we headed off for the town moorings.  We walked to the shop, but they did not have the paper we wanted, so back to the boat to wait until late afternoon to move to St Ives.  We hoped by then the weekenders would have gone home.

We have done this journey several times before and it usually only takes about 1.25 hours, however what we thought would be plain sailing turned out to be anything but.

For the last time we sailed past the church

and the very large house next to it which I assume was the vicarage at one time in its history.

Just around the corner was the only lock of the day and that is where the fun began.

The lock was full of four cruisers as we arrived.  It is entirely possible that one of them belonged to the son of a friend of mine.  They took this picture of us as they went past

So back to the very full lock

Down they all went - this is a very slow lock.  Then there were three to come up .  In the meantime the queue behind us was growing

The lock was full, the gate went up and out came two cruisers which I thought was it, so Chris started to move.  Peering round the corner I spied a cruiser still in the lock

There it sat with them trying the engine to no avail.

Meanwhile paddle boarders arrived, which at least do not add to the queue

Next a party boat

The news eventually seeped out that the battery on the stricken cruiser had exploded!  Plans were afoot to pull her out before the queue at both sides of lock got too big.  Thankfully no one was hurt.

Chris moved across out of the way

Then many hands made light work and she was hauled out

and then at last we were in as canoes went past going up

If only locks were that quick and easy for us.

Out the other side there were three cruisers on the lock landing waiting

with a broadbeam and a couple more cruisers hanging around behind them

Just when you think it must all be plain sailing there is a bevy of swimmers to avoid

Then just as we were preparing to turn to reverse down the Waits this dog swam right across in front of us - there was a swift reverse to allow it safe passage

So the next question was 'had we timed it right, would there be a space in the Waits.  Yes we were in luck.  I really thought there would be nothing to say today, but how wrong can you get.