Our technique for going up Nene locks

Away at 0800 this morning as another longish day was in prospect. There was still a little mist hanging around as we left Wansford Station. The water was beautifully still, giving perfect reflections of the trees.

Our technique for locking up on our own in a Nene lock is to secure the boat with the centre line to a bollard approximately level with the back of the boat, holding it near the back of the lock. Then I open a paddle slowly on the gate vee door the same side as the boat. The boat is pulled forward by the inrush of water but the centre line holds the boat back and to the side. We copied this technique from the lockie at Stanground. This is Yarwell Lock, by the way.

We didn't have many locks where we were on our own; we caught up with our friends John and Jane on Ichthus.

We shared with them as far as Oundle Marina.

Oundle had been our original scheduled stop today, but our progress had been good and the weather very good, so we carried on to the King's Head pub mooring at Wadenhoe. We shared locks with Zavala, and then tied up alongside them at the pub until another boat left, giving us space to moor against the bank.

We had decided to eat at the pub. As Jan was investigating at the bar, she got talking to a French couple and their Wadenhoe resident friend. This led to Jan inviting them to have a look round Jubilee which they were thrilled to do.

John, Jean-Pierre and Marie

We had a good meal in the pub; tomorrow we're aiming for Irthlingborough in a shorter (6 hour) day.