Can I get there in time?

I’d phoned Salters Lode and learned the tide was due at 3.15pm and I calculated that the journey from March to Salters Lode would take five hours, no need for an early start I could leave at 9am and still be there in plenty of time. I pootled about a bit, then got the map out and it said six hours to Salters Lode.  I rang the lock-keeper at Marston Priory no reply.  It was now 9am, I wasn’t going to make it.  She rang back and said they would let through at Salters Lode until 4pm so if I set off now I would make it. So I set off in a hurry.

Beyond March I journeyed for miles with a herd of wind turbines looming over me and progress was reasonable. I arrived at Marston Priory waited for a boat in front to clear, through the lock. I still might make it. Onto Well Creek and then practically grind to a halt. Well Creek is shallow and clogged with weed. I crawl through Upwell so slowly that on the path alongside an old lady with a shopping trolley leaves me in her wake. I’m not going to make it. I stop at Upwell remove a shed load of weed from my prop, have a leisurely lunch and crawl on my way.  Stop to remove weed.  Get to Salters Lode.  Remove weed.

The next day it’s through Salters Lode on an incoming tide and an easy float down to Denver.  A bit different to the last time I was here. Stop at the pump- out station but being a limp wristed woman I can’t get the cap off because a strong wristed man has put it on tight.  Give it up as a bad job. Hope the one at Ely is working and there are some men (or stronger women than me) about to undo the cap.  Carry on upriver and moor somewhere miles from anywhere on a glorious evening and sit in the bow drinking the last of the wine.