Stuck in the mud!!!

Hi all, we eventually went through the tidal lock and promptly got stuck in the mud on the way out onto the tidal section! the lock keeper said we probably would but as we were the first boat through for several months he wanted to see just how shallow the water was! After about 20 mins the incoming tide lifted us up and off we went. A short ten minute stretch to the next lock, Denver Sluice, sees us stuck in the mud again trying to enter the lock! Again the incoming tide gets us through. Thank goodness for Merlots flat bottom!

 This is the approach to Denver Sluice and we get stuck after about 20 yards. You can see how shallow it is.

 The Environment Agency is responsible for the rivers and waterways in this area and like everyone are short of money so the dredging that is needed cant be afforded. This part of the Great Ouse is fairly uninteresting but it is good to be back on a river. After an hours cruising we decide to pull over for the night and stop at a small village called Hillgay. Like a lot of places we find the local Windmill pub closed sometime ago probably never to reopen.

Heading off to Ely tomorrow morning. Most of the boats on this part of the system are plastic cruisers owned by the G & T brigade and we are sure to meet plenty of them in Ely! Thats all for now more from Ely later.

setting off for the summer of 2011

Its that time again, canals, locks, rivers, filling the water tank, pumping out other tank!!!, obsessively watching the battery charge, finding and arguing about the best moorings, wild life,  new places, new people and hopefully lots of sunny days .    We spent some time on Merlot in the Marina in March, Cambridgeshire, doing all the little boring jobs and set off on Monday 28th March around 9am.   The sun was shining so we took that as a good omen.  We travelled along the the middle levels waterways which ultimaltely ends in a cul de sac - around 40 miles away.  We will turn around there and return after exploring the towns and villages along the way.  We also hope to moor up for a while to do some much needed repair to the exterior paintwork, window frames etc.
Last night we moored up outside a tidal lock in a small village called Salters Lode.   We walked into the town of Downham Market - took about 45 min on a very dodgy road and had a drink at a very nice pub.  We then spoiled things by deciding to get a take away - Trev tried Indian and I had chinese - both dreadfull - serves us right as we had food on board.
We are booked to go through the lock at high tide around 3pm today.  Its a lovely sunny day so just pottering around washing windows and such boring stuff.     

Just figured out how to add photos, here is Merlot moored up with the tidal lock in the background just waiting to go through when the tide is right.