Well, 2 o'clock it was. Pat was out walking the dog - his last chance for over 8 hours. She remarked on the number of people out and about at that time of the morning. A few last minute preparations and then waiting for the pilot, Darryl. There was patchy fog in the river he informed us although at the harbour it was quite clear. He therefore asked us all to raft up so that we could go down as one, which incidentally made our departure a little later than ideal. It is a long way to the sea and even longer when you can't see where you are going save for the banks either side. A few radio calls were made announcing 3 narrowboats at various locations until finally, past Sutton Bridge, we winded and tied up on a staith to wait for the fog to clear. As soon as the bacon and sausage sandwiches appeared it did. Darryl did not want to miss buoys in poor visibilty and later we could see why. Firstly it was mud banks either side where the channel markers first confirmed the twisting channel, then announced it as the water deepened making the silt banks invisible below the surface. Visibility by this stage was very good in weak sunshine. We couldn't have had it better.
Finally we were out in open water with a freighter on the horizon, anchored up waiting for the tide and probably its own pilot. As we passed close by the crew must have wondered what this strange craft resembling a trimaran but with no superstructure, was. Shortly after we split up continuing individually, ostensibly to make better speed. The sea was calm with the slightest suggestion of a swell and the water by now very clear and the sight of the other boats slipping through the water leaving no wash to speak of is one I always enjoy.
Then the markers for the Boston approach appeared and the channel up to the river Witham followed. We still had a couple of hours to go. The tidal river Witham is not so long as the Nene and eventually took us on a twisting path through the centre of Boston and past the church tower, the Boston Stump before delivering us to the Grand Sluice. Unfortunately we had missed the first tidal level, so had to wait outside. The lock is only 45 feet long and unsuitable for narrowboats over this length as a result.
We could only pass through when the tide made a level with the river beyond. So when the time came, the tidal doors opened and we had a clear run through to the pontoon moorings. Eight and a half hours, job done. Darryl said goodbye at the lock and we thanked him for an enjoyable and informative trip.