Bedford. We made it all the way to Bedford, and have thoroughly enjoyed the River Great Ouse. Wildlife, blossoms, lots of things to see along the low bank river: we’ve had a great journey.<\/p>\n
I rang last night in Great Barford. We had moored there on the village green, and checked out the village. The church was reported to have 5 bells, cast during the reign of Charles I, and then retuned and rehung in 1905. However, no practice day was listed, and there was a notice on the church door that there would be no service this coming Sunday. Then, and 1945, one bell started ringing, and obviously not the clock. I wandered over and they had three ringers with two additional learners. They are trying to get a band together to ring regularly. I was invited in, and rang lots of plain hunt and rounds on 4 with the two learners getting lots of rope time. The ropes are long draught: about 20m, so handling carefully was the order of the day.<\/p>\n
We are going into Bedford today by foot to explore, and check out the train station in preparation for departure tomorrow at 0730. I’ve had a great time, and hope that Chuck and Lois (mom and dad!) have also had a relaxing, no-stress chance to experience the waterways of East Anglia. We weren’t bored: 180 miles, 87 locks and one tunnel, made lots to see and do. Many of the big locks have electric guillotine gates (slow but no effort required) with a few that were fast- but really heavy. All in a day on the waterways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bedford. We made it all the way to Bedford, and have thoroughly enjoyed the River Great Ouse. Wildlife, blossoms, lots of things to see along the low bank river: we’ve had a great journey. I rang last night in Great … Continue reading