Winds

We had arrived at Fotheringhay in a strengthening wind and during the evening this picked up.  By bedtime the gusts were blowing hard against us, rattling the solar panels which continually tapped on the roof above our bedroom.  It wasn't the best night's sleep but thankfully everything was still in one piece in the morning.  As the wind didn't seem so strong we set off but soon strong gusts started to blow against Brent III pushing her off course.   After some tricky exits from locks we pulled over onto the Oundle Cruising Club mooring where a family of Egyptian Geese have taken up residence.  The goslings came over to see if there were any titbits while the gander watched, becoming very vocal if he thought his brood was threatened.

Egyptian goslings making do with grass in the absence of bread

The next day the winds had dropped and we sailed the short distance to one of our favourite moorings, the idyllic garden at the Kings Head in Wadenhoe.  We stopped for 3 nights, enjoying some excellent meals in the pub and watching the birds in the garden.  As Wadenhoe has no through road there is little traffic and the majority of the houses are owned by a trust so it has retained it's original character.  

Thatched and pantiled houses in Wadenhoe 

We decided to move on Saturday only to see winds had been forecast again.  We set off early and arrived at Islip as the wind started to gust.  Nearby intrepid members of the Middle Nene Sailing Club ventured out onto Thrapston Lagoon, the sails on their boats flapping noisily.   I enjoyed a walk around the large lake with Bess and Brinny and was surprised at the size of the waves whipped up by the wind.  

Waves  created by wind on Thrapston Lagoon, the sailing club is barely visible on the far side. 

Opposite our mooring a break in the bank has created a watering hole for a herd of young cows and it was visited by a variety of birds during the day. 

Canada geese visit the watering hole

On Monday we continued along the river which took a winding route through pretty countryside. 

Looking across to Woodford Church, a line of boat roofs under the trees indicate the route of the river

At Irthlingborough a group of school girls had lifted their canoes out of the river to take them round the lock.  They paused to admire Bess who always steals the show sitting on the roof.  
We moored up at Irthlingborough opposite the Stanwick Lakes Country Park.  The park is self-funding and recreation plays an important role in raising income.  There are no watersports here but a visitor centre and various land-based activities for younger visitors provide the attraction.    The paths are very wide tracks which spoils the walk but they are redeemed by the sculptures along the way.

Sculpture depicting the wildlife at Stanswick Lakes

Our journey from Fotheringhay to Irthlingborough