Moorings

The River Nene is very different to any waterway we've sailed before and we encountered our first guillotine lock on the outskirts of Northampton.   The top gates are conventional lock gates but the bottom gate is an electronically operated guillotine which is used as a sluice when the river is in flood.  

I'm pressing the button to raise the gate which took about 2 minutes  

The Nene valley is fairly flat so we have a good view across picturesque countryside and the many lagoons in old gravel pits which flank the banks.  The Nene's course is complex; at many of the locks we branch off the main river and rejoin it further downstream and there are other large branches which could be mistaken for the navigable course.  Fortunately our route is indicated by arrow markers. 

Arrows point the way

After 6 locks we thought it was time to pull up for the day and our map indicated moorings were available.  It soon became apparent they were not necessarily visitor moorings and so on we went.   At one of the locks we joined a couple of chaps and continued sharing the locks with them until we arrived at the visitor moorings in Wellingborough.   On the way we passed a farm with a difference; it had a field full of solar panels.  

Solar farm on the way to Wellingborough

We left Wellingborough and were once again impressed by the countryside although the locks and some of the bridges are not as interesting as those on the canals.  

One of the prettier bridges although Bess is more interested in the swans. 

It became apparent that the Environment Agency does not provide very many moorings or facilities for boaters so we were pleased to see a stretch of empty moorings at Irthlingborough.   The next day I approached one of the locks to be confronted with a large wheel which had to be turned to operate the guillotine gate.  It wasn't too hard because there is a beam for counter-balance but it took longer than the electronic version!   On that day I also had my first sighting of something special: a red kite soaring on the thermals above the river.  During the rest of the week we saw several kites and after walking back along the footpath were lucky enough to take some photos. 

This red kite obligingly landed in a tree near us

On Thursday we had a civilised short journey stopping at the Kings Head at Wadenhoe.  The moorings are at the bottom of the pub garden and are free to patrons so we stayed for a couple of nights in this idyllic spot.  We were surprised to see a mallard duck sitting on her nest 5 feet up in a hollow in the tree trunk.  The same tree also had nesting blue tits and jackdaws and we saw treecreepers which were frequent visitors.  Wadenhoe is a pretty village with traditional stone buildings and, in common with other villages along the Nene, a church overlooking the river.  

At the Kings Head, Wadenhoe

From Wadenhoe we also had a short trip to Oundle which has been recommended by other boaters.  There are no Environment Agency moorings so we tied up outside the Oundle Cruising Club.  The Harbour Master brought us a form to complete and as the moorings are free we made a donation to the club.  Oundle was a good walk from the moorings but it was interesting to see the small town which has retained a historical air.   Shop signs were discreet and most of the shops were independent traders.  The Oundle public school occupies part of the town centre; it's large buildings dominate their surroundings.  

  

Oundle School buildings

The winding river took us south of Oundle before sweeping round in a u-turn to take us north so 2.5 miles after setting off we passed the town again.  We continued on to Fotheringhay where an enterprising farmer charges £4 a night so we tied up alongside his field of sheep. Curious lambs came to look at Brent III and Bess and Brin were kept on their leads.  Fotheringhay Castle was the birthplace of Richard III and Mary Queen of Scots was executed there but the castle has now been reduced to a mound overlooking the river.   Fotheringhay Church with it's octagonal tower also overlooks the river and our moorings. 

Fotheringhay Church at night, I was amused to see the silhouettes of the sheep under the tree.  

Our journey from Northampton to Fotheringhay