PICTURE PALACE

This is Oliver's fault !! He sends me some superb photo's and I need somewhere to put them!!

I'm putting up two versions of each. The quality of the pics are such that its a shame to resize them for ease of loading so take your pick.

A Norman 20 with a unique hard top arrangement. I've left dozens of cards on this boat in the past but no response.

"Thought you might like to see a couple of our Boating In Greece pics as attached. Look closely at the second pic. Is that Malcolm fishing for props or what ? LOL. Can't think what for, home page maybe, but you are welcome to use the pics on the site if you wish. Note no coffin dwellers and no sheep in sight !"

"I skanked an extra day off work & did the 60 mile 20 lock round trip up to the newly reopened Anchor Inn at Tempsford this weekend only to encounter some fishy characters with an angle grinder!"

"The other picture is of 'Number Two' with two other Normans in Ely, taken about a month ago as I was coming back from the Middle Level. I did point them in the direction of the site but don't know if they've visited yet."

"This is my previous Norman 20 'Jacaranda' taken in 2000 on the 'Windmill' EA moorings at Ten Mile Bank on the Ouse. Sadly the iron bridge showing either has been or is just about to be demolished to make way for what will probably be a new concrete monstrosity."

"This was taken on Monday on the GOBA moorings just downstream of Brampton lock at about 7.30am."

"My mooring at Bardney. You can just see top of the canopy opened on NAIAD over the boat. I cut the grass on my part of the bank. The small boat belongs to the next boat, and comes in handy for hiding 'junk'"

Bardney Lock, Having a lock at your moorings is a nuisance if you don't like them, or like me you have a some problem that stops you pushing gates open and shut. So it may surprise some to say it is the perfect place for me to moor. This is because I have a boat for somewhere to go, and meet people to talk to. At a lock you are forced to stop, so I have a captive audience for a few minutes. More leave as friends than enemies. I also like locks btw and this one being a conventional lock is good for teaching newcomers to boating how to lock through

""About a mile from leaving the lock you pass under the pipe bridge for the sugar beet factory. They no longer process sugar here, but still use it for storage.This is the start of the journey, and is a welcome return, as 'home' is just around the corner."

This pipe bridge from the sugarbeet factory marks the start of the interesting trip to Boston, or I should say the open countryside we all seek. On the return however it is a welcome sight, as it brings journeys end about a mile closer.

"About four miles into the journey you pass this tastefully restored and extended signal box at Stixwold A very pleasant dwelling for someone. A remnant of the railway that ran alongside the river for most of the trip. The last train ran in 1970, and I'm told in the 50s and 60s fishermen specials would take place. They would stop alongside the river, and a trainfull of fishermen would get off like ants...scampering down the bank for a day in the countryside."

"This is an example of some of the well maintained houses to be seen on the riverbank. Another house nearby has 1897 in a stone, so these are at least 100 years old. If the style is anything to go by, this could be a good deal older. The old ferry house at Bardney bridge is 400 years old. I have spent many hours there when my friend owned it."

There were a lot of swans on the river, and I managed to photograph these two flying in front. This is Kirkstead bridge, a popular 24hr BW mooring. You can spend a week here without hassle. A pub either side of the bridge, a fuel station just over the Bridge, and Woodhall only 1 mile away, a brisk walk or an easy cycle ride (no hills).

About an hour down the river and you come to Tattershall bridge. Another 24 hour BW mooring, complete with pub. Tattershall Castle is a nice walk from here, tempting people with a Sunday car boot sale. Not a popular mooring, possibly with Dogdyke and Chapel Hill only just around the corner.

"This is the marina at Dogdyke. There is a fairly recent pub and resteraunt here, next to the Packet Inn, a long established watering hole for boaters travelling to Boston."

"About an hour after passing Chapel Hill you come to Langrick bridge. This too has 24hr BW moorings. There is also fuel alongside on the opposite bank. This is a welcome site, as it heralds the 'start of the finish' of the journey, as Antons Gowt lock can be seen just around the corner, with Boston almost in sight at Antons Gowt"

"This lock is the entrance to the Boston Drains. There is a local pub, serving meals, and makes a pleasant overnight stop. The peace is broken in the morning by a road, but often quieter than Boston, especially early evening."

"Journey's end in sight. The view of the wide, weed free river, with well kept neat and tidy banks are an example of most of the journey from Southrey, although weed can crop up at times of the year on all stretches. St Botolphs (Boston Stump) was built to appear to be in the centre of the river"

NB : There are 24hr BW moorings (some moor for weeks with no hassle) at the Bridges, with one or two adjacent pubs, and fuel at Kirkstead and Langrick.

Here we have a floral addition to Oliver's fleet. Posted in two sizes once again.