Narrowboat Tacet

Silent Movement - Our gap year travelling the inland waterways



Thursday, 6 June 2013

March in June

Or is it June in March? Yesterday with the cold wind it did in deed feel like March weather even when the sun was out, but today has been lovely and warm, just a bit of a breeze off the river and it feels more like June.  But the question still stands ‘cos you see we spent last evening and this morning in the town of March, Cambridgeshire.
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The buildings of Nene Parade above the moorings in the centre of the town were once homes for the boatmen who worked the river, now a selection of shops, including a chippy (very nice) and a pub. 
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The thatched Ship Inn is now thought to be one of the oldest buildings in the town, after restoration work exposed timbers from way back.
March (1)
The town hall has a rather unmusical bell which chimes out the hours, it is right opposite the moorings, but of course it didn’t keep us me awake.
March (3)

We came across this old building in the town, it is for sale and over the door has the badge of the Middle Level Commissioners, whose waters we are now travelling on.
 
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Taking a turn off the main streets, we came across a street full of bric-a-brac stalls inside and out.  All sorts of useless useful bits and pieces which we managed to resist today.

Moving on out of the town later on, there are some new build houses on the banks looking over the water.
March (4)
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A bit further on we came across a wind farm, turbines growing across acres of the flat open fenland. They were slowly turning, generating electricity.  Love them or hate them?  I don’t mind them really, I think they are quite elegant.
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We didn’t meet any other boats on the move, and then when we got to Marmont Priory Lock there was a boat waiting to go in and one just coming out. A queue!



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Families of cygnets and ducklings enjoying the sun along the way.
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I guess this was once a windmill, for grinding the corn, grown in this arable farming area.



Salters Lode (2)

And so this evening we are at Salter’s Lode lock ready to go out on the tide tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock.

Salters Lode (1) 

The wonderful wide open view with the Great Ouse stretching away on the other side of the lock.



March – Salters Lode
13 miles, 1 lock

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