Onward to nowhere

After a quiet night moored at Godmanchester we got ourselves into gear and started the day at 8.40am this morning working our way through the Town lock, the first of the four we wanted to do today.  We passed a team of workmen already busy driving piles into the river bank at Godmanchester (along the backs of some seriously expensive houses) in a new flood defence scheme.   This is a part of the Gt. Ouse that travellers in the busy A14, that passes high over head as the road spans the valley, will often see flooded.

 Going under the A14 road bridge and not a lorry in sight..

 

 Lining up for our transit through the Huntingdon Town bridge

 

 Yarwood in the Houghton Mill lock landing.  This is a bit on the high side for narrowboats and getting in here without damage to paintwork was a trifle problematic especially as the wind was getting lively.

 Lock number two, Houghton Mill

 

Erica

 As we wound through the lovely Hemmingfords we spotted 'Erica' moored up.  We had spoken to the owners yesterday when they were in Godmanchester.  This lovely little craft is a replica Inspection Launch built by Peter Nicholls at Braunston . These type of boats were built for canal company bigwigs to inspect there investments in the days of  privately owned and funded canals.  Steering is by wheel rather than tiller and the wheel is towards the front.

 Lock three, the Hemmingford Lock

 

 Onwards past St. Ives and through this lovely bridge

 

 St Ives river frontage

 

 Our fourth and final lock of the day, St. Ives lock

 

Moored up in splendid isolation ...bar a few cows that is.