Friday 29 March 2013

Thought we'd check out the moorings/landing areas

in Wisbech for NBs No Problem and Balmaha.

I woke to snow this morning (again) at silly o'clock (again) so started prepping the evening meal. The smell of cooking onions and spices soon persuaded G to stick his head out from under the duvet although there was only porridge for his breakfast.

In view of the fact that a couple of narrowboats are planning to go coastal from Boston and come into the River Nene at Wisbech, and the fact that neither of us had ever been there, we decided to go and check it out. With Lesley at her Mum's, I rang Joe to see if he fancied a jolly but he was diligently working his way through the job list that Lesley had left him (I think that's what he told me to say).





 A magnificent town architecturally, but now seems more like an empty stage set for the rich and bustling port it once was. Perhaps it was just the bleak weather and the fact that it was Good Friday but all the people seemed to be in their cars queuing for spaces in either Tesco, Aldi, Morrison's or Asda - that's a lot of supermarkets in a small area
 So Sue, Vic, Mo and V; this is your destination - I hope it warms up a lot or you'll all be gonners from hypothermia by the time you reach here!
 I shall probably go back in with Lesley next week and check out the heritage properly - but, for today, G and I were quite happy to have a little look round and a spot of lunch.

16 comments:

  1. Thanks for the recce, if we ever make it we might see you before you make your escape up the Nene. Have fun in March (?!)

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    1. The plan (there have been soooo.. many) is to leave Peterborough about the 9th ish. This is moveable if we can get to meet up again. Are you then going up the Nene?

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    2. No, we're off to the Great Ouse. We're still waiting to see if the wind will drop for our crossing so you never know, we might still catch you before you leave Peterborough - unless you change plans again and head on up the Nene. Such fun!! Nessa x

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    3. Nessa it would be lovely to catch up - is it 3 years now since our paths have crossed? This wind is gettng worserer and worserer AND it was snowing again this morning. Jill x

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    4. It must be at least 3 years - will we recognise each other?! We have a window for Sunday if the swell dies down a bit but if not then it won't be until the end of the month. Should know by Saturday evening - or 6.15am when we get to the lock on Sunday. Nessa x

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    5. We're booked through Standground Lock 10am Monday - so if you make it on Sunday we should be able to meet up. Should and if - two very big words

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    6. Great, we'll let you know. At the moment it's still iffy - we might even get half way and turn back if the swell is too great. Flipping weather!!!

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  2. Wandering Snail was craned in and out at Wisbech and came up the Nene to Peterborough

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    1. Well I hope it was warmer than when we were there! Jill - yes it is Jill

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  3. We really enjoyed our bimble around Wisbech - oh it feels like so long ago now - I agree about the faded grandeur - it must have been a lively place when the port was in its heyday.

    Sue, nb Indigo Dream

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    1. Wisbech was, actually, quite shocking. The locals pronounce it Wizbeckistan

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    2. Oh similar then to the way they pronounce Boston.. Bostoniskan! xx

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  4. Looks a bit dire there in the pictures! Mind everything looks dire at the moment.

    I don't want to go across the Wash if it is going to be that cold, that is not what was planned.. I want to be able to enjoy!

    We do have a second crack at it at the end of April, beginning of May so maybe we should aim for that..

    We'll go to Boston for now though.

    Many thanks for the pics.. I wonder where one moors up!

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    1. I assume you moor up at the 'yacht club' as we didn't see anywhere else - just stick a load of floating finger pontoons at the bottom of the wall in the picture and that's it. Thought I'd take pictures on the way back but we didn't go back that way.
      We are assuming that you are then (whenever) going up the Nene to the GU?

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    2. Yes up the Nene. Wonder what will happen at the Dog and Doublet if the Nene is still in flood.. Pretty remote area to be stopped at by the look of it!

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    3. Well at least we'll all be able to catch up!
      We've never been down to the D & D

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