Peering over the floodbanks

From Denver to Ely the river is wide, the flood banks high and the surrounding area flat yet I like this stretch of water.  I like the way the upper windows of isolated houses peer over the flood banks like nosy neighbours. I like the wild life. There are always grebes on the water, at this time of the year they are stuffing fish down the throats of their scrawny, grey off-spring.  I like the fact that each time I have come down here the weather has been good. I don’t like the stretch from Littleport to Ely, that is even more boring than the Middle Levels, although it is deep water so it is possible to put on the acceleration.  I must have almost reached 4mph at one point.

Early on Sunday morning the sun was hazy and a mist had formed on the field opposite. The bronze, barrel-chested bull stood looking across the river at me his legs and ‘bloody hell … look at that’ appendages submerged in the mist. Even though it was early the sun had warmth, I leant out of the open hatch to look at the fishes swimming in the clear water and got a face full of sticky cobwebs.  I don’t mind sharing my boat with spiders but I do wish they would be more considerate about where they weave their webs.

Monday in Ely I decide the boat needs its spring clean, it’s probably the 2012 spring clean its in need of.  The news I was polishing the boat must have reached Ely parks department because as soon as I’d done one side they sent along a man with a strimmer to flick grass and goo all over it.