Field fire next to River Great Ouse

We waved goodbye to Sheila and Christine this morning as we set off up the remaining part of the Cam we didn't need a Cam licence for.

This is as far as we could go: Bottisham Lock. To travel beyond the lock would have cost an extra £49 - and we wouldn't even have had time to stop overnight. Something for the future.

On the way back towards Upware I nosed up to Swaffham Lock at the entrance to the unnavigable Swaffham Bulbeck Lode.

At Popes Corner we turned left to resume our journey on the River Great Ouse, here known also as the Old West River.

We passed Stretham Old Engine, which was closed today as was the Prickwillow engine museum when we went past that a few days ago.

Just before the Lazy Otter pub I spotted a narrowboat pulling onto the GOBA mooring. I wasn't surprised to see that it was Tentatrice, with Chris and Jennie. We came alongside and chatted for a bit; it was good to meet you both.

They warned of the duckweed blighting the next stretch of river … but I don't recall them mentioning the field fire.

We saw the smoke from a couple of miles back; when we got closer we could hear the sirens of fire engines and the clatter of tractors.

To get the pictures I had to stand on the roof of the boat. I'll let them tell the story.

When that excitement was past we could return to the small matter of duckweed. It wasn't that bad, actually: the boat just carved through it without hindrance.

Behind us the duckweed closed up.

At Hermitage Lock we could see that the visitor mooring had space, so we tied up and saw the lock keeper. He said it would be fine for us to stay overnight as long as we didn't leave the boat before 7 pm when he went off duty.

I crossed the road which spans the lock and had a look at the tidal section which is tomorrow's treat.

After tea we walked in to Earith, crossing both the Bedford New and Old Rivers. Whilst in Earith it started to rain, but it didn't amount to much. Tomorrow, as we lock out onto the tidal Great Ouse I will ask about travelling down the tidal New Bedford River on our way back from St Neots. That is our plan, to save time.