Wildlife

On Tuesday morning we left St Ives in dry but windy weather and retraced our steps back to the GOBA moorings near the Pike & Eel. 

The GOBA moorings near the Pike & Eel are small clearings between the trees which give a private feel to each mooring

From our side hatch we watched a mallard duck and her brood of chicks making their way along the opposite bank.  Then we spotted a heron which was stalking them.  Kev tried to scare off the heron making a noise and waving a towel out of the hatch but to no effect. Eventually the heron gave up and headed away in the opposite direction. 

The next day as we approached Brownslow Lock we spotted an otter.  I watched spell bound as it dived and resurfaced working it's way along the bank.  Kev prompted me to take some photos so we have some pictures of the back of it's head receding into the distance.    It was thrilling to see the otter but I have a better photo of the first cygnets we've seen this year.  

Our first cygnets this year

  As we continued downstream we were pursued by dark clouds and could see downpours not far away across the Fens but it was our lucky day and we dodged the showers.  We passed the Stretham pumping station and moored up shortly afterwards at Popes Corner. 

Stretham Pumping Station

The next day Ely Cathedral came back into view, standing out against the flat surroundings. 

Ely Cathedral in the distance

We had a quick stop at Ely, just for shopping, before heading out to rural moorings between Ely and Littleport.  There was one drawback, a railway track running nearby on the other side of the flood-bank.  

Looking down at the moorings from the flood-bank

During the afternoon we discovered the local birds made good use of the railways overhead cables.  We had a good view of a cuckoo as it perched on the cables and a better view of a kestrel which picked a closer point for it's look-out. 

A kestrel using the overhead cable as a look-out

As the Bank Holiday weekend approached the volume of boat traffic increased and some were still on the move late on Friday evening.  As we set off on Saturday morning we hoped there would be some free moorings and were lucky to find space at Brandon Creek.  The next day we found we'd had a visit in the night; our rubbish bag on the front deck had been ripped open, presumably by a fox.  Surprisingly Bess and Brinny didn't raise the alarm but perhaps they're just cowardly curs.  

On Sunday morning we completed our return journey on the Great Ouse by sailing back to Denver Lock but we wouldn't be leaving the river until the tide turned the following morning.  There were some other boats also waiting to lock out and during the morning a queue formed on the lock jetty.  We  were in no rush and just as well, each boat had to lock down, sail down a short tidal section of the river and go through Salters Lode Lock before the next boat could make the trip.   The turn into Salters Lode Lock is virtually a u-turn into a very narrow channel whose entrance is restricted by a sandbank but Kev took it in his stride. 

The entrance into Salters Lode Lock.   We had to travel passed the lock and turn sharply so we came in close to the tyres and pilings to avoid the sandbank     

After making the turn we entered the lock

The boaters coming through after us had an additional challenge; their boat is longer then the lock.  They came down the river and sailed as far as they could into the lock.  Then they had to wait as the tide went out until water levels on either side of the lock were equal.  At that point the top lock gates could be opened as well and they sailed through.  

The lock is opened so the long narrowboat can sail through.  

Salters Lode lock is our entrance back onto the Middle Level drainage system and we decided to stay the night before venturing down the narrow channels. 

Our journey from St Ives to Salters Lode