leaving amberedge - River great Ouse - middle levels then the river Nean

Hello again,  well I have to admit that I have been lazy again and now have to catch up pushing the grey cells to their limit trying to recall everything....... will I never learn!
Thur 12th
After leaving Cambridge, we opted to take advantage of the electric hook up outside the 5 miles pub.  Trev went to inquire about the cost and was amazed to be told that it only cost #1.50 a card and the card would last days.  Very generous of the owners as its a lovely spot and really nice to not worry about how the batteries are doing whilst watching tv or using the microwave.   (some of the minor disadvantages of living on a boat)

Fri 13th
For a bad luck day, we had a good one.   We remain moored outside the pub enjoying the electric which allowed us to catch up on some programs we previously recorded.     Later we enjoyed watching the live music and a pint or two.   The music was provided by a guy called Jonathan singing on his own and was very very good.

Sat 14th
Stayed moored up at pub.   Trev biked into Burwell for some supplies and when he arrived back he was white and could hardly walk, apparently  he had had to ride into the wind which was fierce all the way back - it was quite funny as he went for a quick lie down (old man he! he!).  There are a lot of ducks going about their business at this mooring and they are very curious about us and the boat, or is it because we keep feeding them bread.  They keep peeping into the window and pecking on the window to get my attention.

At one point I looked out of the window and saw a male having his wicked way with a female who appeared to be upset out the whole incident making a hell of a noise  - never seen anything like it before and hope never to again Yuck!!!

Sun 15th
Set of early for Eley, filled up with water and got rid of garbage.   Trev watched bike racing on tv then we set off again for the Denver Sluice lock, arrived and moored up ready to go through in the morning at 8am (its a tidal lock so we have to book our passage through and is operated by a lock keeper.

Mon 16th
Went through lock then had to negotiate our way under some very low bridges, at one point we scraped through slightly bending the chimney.

                                                                                                                       We eventually stopped in March (where we kept Merlot in the marina for the winter months).  Its a bit of a dump so we just did a bit of food shopping and as usual Trev trawled the charity shops.  Now Trev has been known to buy some odd stuff in these shops but this takes the cake.  He found a beach fishing rod and enthusiastically informed me he will be catching fish off Wells beach next winter!!!   Well, I promised to show my bum in our local pub in wells if he actually caught fish on the beach (you may think this is not a very encouraging attitude to have,  however last winter I could not get Trev to come for a walk on the beach because "its toooo cold"  he told me so I find it hard to imagine him standing on the beach for however long enough to catch a fish in the cold )  - we shall see.    We set off from March with Trev very proudly holding his rod,

                                                             and moored up outside the town in the middle of nowhere only to find we could not get a signal of any sort so moved on a little further up the river where we successfully got signaled up!   Stayed the night.

Tues 17th
We arrived at Wittlesea,  now in the middle levels and once we leave the villages the river changes to a sort of dyke - not a canal nor a river and very very straight with no much on either side, quite boring really.

Anyway we stopped in Wittlesea which is a grubby small town but ok for a quick food shop, and much to Trev's delight he found a Weatherspoons and stayed to enjoy his fav pint - Oakham.  I went back to Merlot to make our supper.   At one point some kids were mucking about with a old boat moored up in front of us (no one on board).   Now you know I mentions Trev's penchant of buying funny stuff, well a while ago he bought a megaphone which sits quietly in the lounge (saloon as it should be refered to)  well I say an opportunity for using it.  I switched it on,  ignored the very loud feedback and shouted  "GET AWAY FROM THAT BOAT"
The kids freaked out and scattered not quite knowing where the booming instruction came from, very funny and satisfying, LOL     I was also treated to the local fire brigade doing a BA (breathing exercise) training, brought back some fond memories.

                                                                                                      Stayed the night.

Wed 18th

Now on the middle lever proper and as be seen by pic just a narrow straight stretch of water with not much on either side.

It is extremely windy which is not pleasant for Trev so he wraps up suitably and I keep him topped up with hot coffee and food.

We arrived at Peterbrough, filled up with diesel, all #200.00 worth - wow!
Moored up right near the town center and went for a walk about.  We had lunch at a recommended indian restaurant as they had a lunch time offer on, #6.69 p.p for a starter, main, side and rice or nan, pretty good value and the food was the best we have had since Aroma in Northallerton Yea!!!!  We visited a unique pub which was a brewery and you can still see into the old brewery workings from the pub.  A very nice place and again Trev was delighted to enjoy his fav beer - oakham.  They also have a Thai  restaurant attached which looked quite good.  We spent some time on the lovely comfy sofas.
                                                                             We stayed moored up in Peterbrough that day but left at 5pm for Ferry meadows lake

This is a picture of the tidal locks we have to book a passage through on Sunday 15th -Denver sluice lock.

 Pic of the lake we moored up at Ferry Meadows after leaving Peterbrough and I nearly had a swim but bottled out!!

 Saw a very funny sight - a cow sitting down!! never seen that before and he looked so comfy....

 "what are you looking at, never seen a cow sitting down???" so he seemed to say.

 A family of moorhens, a mother and her chicks pic not so good but she was very shy, you can just make out the mother feeding a baby some bread we threw her way.

 Enjoying the sun and having a braai with our cob.

 Fri 20th
 We left the lake at 6.45 (how early Trev) and arrived at a small town called Thrapston.  We moored in this spot before, very private and sheltered as the wind is picking up.

Moreen and Clive bought this skull for the boat and he now sits at the front above the horn, hopefully he will put any potential idiots off keeping them away from Merlot.  We named him Sid.

Sat 21st

Stayed at the Thrapston mooring, had a barbeque and a nice chillled out day.   Visited a pub which was good but now awful, see us sitting outside in the lousy garden!!    Its very windy so we have decided to stay tonight and poss monday as handling Merlot in the wind is a nightmare.

Sunday 22nd
Staying put, catching up on blog and chilling!!!   Gave Trev a facial which he looks like he is enjoying