The Wash

The Wash - BOSTON TO WISBECH/PETERBOROUGH (JUNE 2016)
Day 1 - Boston to Wisbech 10 Hours 35 (estimated) Miles 1 Lock
Day 2 - Wisbech to Peterborough 5 Hours 19 Miles 1 Lock

This little unscheduled adventure simply came about when we moored up behind a boat on the Fossdyke and Witham Navigation and got chatting to them (as you do). Turned out they'd booked a pilot to take them across The Wash and said we'd be welcome to come along if it was okay with the pilot, which it was. I forget the exact workings, but i think it was something like £200 for the first boat plus £30 for each boat thereafter. We ended up as a convoy of five in the end, so brought the cost down nicely for all of us, but had to wait in Boston for about five days for the weather to improve and then we were off.

Heading towards the lock and The Boston Stump

Slightly different sort of locking routine than usual as the riverside lock gate is open when you're getting into position

Then when the water equalises on either side of the tidal lock gate, that one is opened and you've got something like two minutes to get through before they've got to close the tidal side lock gate. Now whilst there were five in our convoy, there were nine boats in all that needed to get through in two minutes.

The Boys watching the world go by

Looking back at The Boston Stump

It's going to be a long day so our stools are out and The Boys are already having a sleep.

Er-in-doors in charge

A bit of wildlife on the way.

Part way round we needed to moor up on a sandbank to wait for the incoming tide and disturbed some sun bathing seals in the process.

And what else can you do whilst you're stranded on a sandbank, but have a picnic.

Tides coming in so the picnics over and The Boys need a lift back to the boat. Benji's the first and see over my shoulder. . .

Binks was worried that he was being left behind.

But no worries Binks, you're coming with us.

Starting to head towards the mouth of The River Nene now with an incoming tide as you can see.

The final part of the first leg is probably the most challenging as the water is flooding in at a good rate of knots by the time we get to Wisbech where we needed to moor for the night. So from going with the flow, you need to turn 180 degrees back into the flow below where you'll be mooring, counter your speed so your stationary/being pushed back with the flow, whilst crabbing sideways towards where you'll moor and don't ask me how, but i managed it first time.

The boat turning needs to now get taken back with the flow towards the yachts to the mooring pontoon that's​ behind the yellow digger and barge with the white bridge in the left of the picture.

And that's us moored up for the night and off to the pub, well bugger that thought, been a long day, so it was a cuppa, something simple for tea and an early night actually.