Boston, Lincs.

The only moorings were rather short and delicate piers less than half the length of the boat. This is fun in a strong wind at the best of times. Having moored to the downstream (windward!) side, we found that our rear end was sticking out embarrassingly into the river and seemed vulnerable to the attentions of passing craft. The solution adopted by other narrowboats seemed to be to moor diagonally with bow on one pontoon and stern on the other. Easier said than done with a force 4/5 trying hard to keep us attached to the one we first thought of. It took four reasonably strong men and a lot of pushing to get the bow around!! (Susan opted to video the event in lieu of helping)

The dog was, of course, the foreman.

Nick was totally confused by this manoeuvre having been inside at the start of it and peering out of the rear hatch about halfway through!

BUT WE GOT THERE IN THE END!

Had we gone through the Grand Sluice, this is what we would have found when the tide went out. Carry on for about an hour and you're out at sea. We decided to give this a miss.

We moored on the bit above the sluice - the bit with water in it! No - however carefully you look, you can't quite see us.

Very picturesque, Boston

It even has its own working windmill - we lived on bread made from the flour for the next two weeks.

St. Botolph's is visible from a very long way away - it is known as the Boston Stump, because people say it looks as if it ought to have a spire on top.

They must be joking, I don't know how the tower stands up to the prevailing wind - a spire would stand no chance.

Morning service was quite cool too - very welcoming.