The Season of 'Mists and Fruitfulness' and condensation - 6th September

Thursday 6th September 2018
Ditchford to Manor Farm FOTRN moorings near Doddington
4.5 miles. 3 locks

Today was an early start for us - the alarm went of at 06:30.  One of our crew members was not amused

A trip 'down the garden' and his morning biscuit soon perked him up.  However, it became obvious that the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness was upon us.  The windows were full of condensation, the bushes are full of fruit and there was mist on the river

We were off at 07:45 - we were on our way to Wellingborough as Sue was on a mission.  The first lock at Lower Wellingborough has, once again, pointed (or vee doors) at both ends, but the slackers at the bottom gate are both on the same side

Our only lock together today

The first indication that we were nearing Wellingborough was the Whitworth's flour mill that works very noisily 24 hours a day.

Our target was Wellingborough for several reasons - it was the last water and elsan stop until Gayton Junction on Monday;  there is also a 24 hour Tesco very close to the river, and Sue was jumping ship to catch a train home for the day.

Monty was happy with the stop - a lovely big park and his favourite game of ball

Services and shopping done and we set off on our own to Upper Wellingbrough lock - our first solo lock on the Nene.  Once again two pointed doors.  The worst problem here is the amount of 'crud' above the lock

On we went past the largest solar farm we have come across - diversification for a local farmer we assume

Our third and last lock of the day had an electric guillotine gate - these do have the advantage of always being ready for you when you are going upstream, but they need emptying before you head on your way.

Our task was to secure at least one mooring at Manor Farm Friends of the Nene Moorings near Doddington as Cleddau would join us late afternoon.  We were in luck; the moorings were empty and we tucked in at one end.

We had both thought we were not making the progress we expected for the revs being used - maybe it was due to us pushing this lot wedged right in front of our bow, probably from Upper Wellingborough.  The silver was a sheet of something metallic.

We were moored before lunch time, so we settled down for a quiet afternoon which turned out to be much quieter than we expected as rain started about 2pm and just kept going and going.  Sue and Ken had a very wet journey once she had returned.  They let us know when they set off and we assured them there were still two moorings left.  Ten minutes later a boat took the mooring next to us and 30 minutes after that the third mooring went.  The plan had worked - we had a mooring where they could breast up with us.  Tea and cake was provided for the weary and wet travellers before settling down for the evening.