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Frozen Chicken Run

Frozen Chicken Run

1,458206
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1,458206

    Jan 31, 2015#1

    This Saturdays paddle was planned to be a tad different. Yes, it was on the Great Ouse but today we were going upstream and were going to paddle around St Neots. In all my years of paddling this area I have fished but never paddled up above Brampton so an adventure was to be had with some exploration.

    I took the hound out for a 6.30am run; cold, very cold and thick frost on the ground. That cold I had to snap him off a lamp post.

    I had arranged to meet Paul at the Riverside Park car park by the bridge in the centre St Neots; the first thought on arriving was "bugger it, pay and display, no change". So I went and to the annoyance of the newsagent, purchased a 60p Kitkat with a tenner. Paul was at the car park when I arrived, quickly wiping the chocolate evidence from my lips. Is it me or is a chocolate kick a really good thing first thing in the morning?

    The car park was empty but we still had trouble finding a suitable spot and voted for the spaces by the cafe and near the pay and display machine; they were also a short walk from the boating lake which was to be out put-in.

    Mmm all a bit frozen. Than goodness for kevlar bang plates on the Bell CP





    We set off across the boating pond with MV Blott Icebreaker cutting the path towards the river. Sadly there were gates under the footbridge to the river so we portaged the 20 or so yards to the main river.







    The river was fairly brown and surprisingly there was a fair flow. We cut across to enter a cut running off the main river.



    I have driven through this part of St Neots for years and always thought about paddling this cut; today was the opportunity to do so. It is known as Hen Brook, hence the thread title "Chicken Run" !

    The Hen Brook runs up past what were the old town quays. Apparently this was the town quay from the medieval period until the area was first redeveloped in 1848. The last barges brought imported timber up the Hen Brook to C J Tebbutt's Navigation Wharf until about 1930. I think it also gave access to the rear of Paines brewery which strangely attracts my interest more than the thought of imported timber! There has been conversion and redevelopment to flats and houses over the last 15 years or so.



    We pushed up Hens Brook against the current.



    There has been a lot of conversion of the old wharf buildings to flats. I do find it funny when you are paddling these backwaters and owners casually open their curtains to see bearded men with hats in canoes taking photos of them in their jimjams. They normally have a startled look on their face. I just smile and paddle on!





    Eggs for breakfast anyone? Deserted unfortunately. There were a couple of deserted nests with I suspect, now frozen eggs.





    We kept pushing upstream and went through the arch under Berkeley Street





    Our passage was soon blocked so at this point we gave up on the Chicken Run and did an about turn







    Signs of previous industry poked above the roof tops





    We hit the main river, turned left and paddled upstream against the flow which was soon warming us up. I was conscious that the temperature was still dropping.



    We reached The River Mill at Eaton Socon. There was a cut off to the right wait a "Private No Entry" sign so I just had to explore.





    This old mill race bridge offered further temptation for exploration so "in for a penny, in for a pound" we went on up until our passaged was blocked by another pipe spanning across the route.





    So we about turned and headed back to the weir pool where we would partake of fresh coffee and bacon & mustard sandwiches.









    The water was coming over the weir at full pelt





    In the following photo you will see Paul draining his canoe; he nearly fell in getting out...just a wet foot and a bucket of river water in the Argosy



    After breakfast we explored another little side stream running up towards Wyboston. We followed this to the weir, a bit of snow was hanging around. It was getting colder.







    About turn and back with the flow towards St Neots



    The heavens opened and the snow started





    At St Neots this was moored up with its "green roof"





    We made good time back to the start point. The snow was getting thicker and it was still getting colder so all was packed away and off home for a hot shower and to get everything dried out.
    It was nice to try a different section of the Ouse. I think a one way trip from Bedford through to St Neots will be in the planning soon.

    No Kingfishers today but we found the Hen!
    Get Paddling!

    Blott

    2,030372
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    2,030372

      Jan 31, 2015#2

      Looks cold! I'm out on the Ouse tomorrow!
      Bedford to St Neots is a good days paddle. Me and Ian did it a couple of weeks ago. The highlight was Cardington WW course. Normally it is just a dry relief channel but when the river is high they open up the sluice: I don't know how the fixed arrangement of blocks behaves with moderate flow, but at flood conditions it were no eddies worth mentioning but waves like you've never seen before on the Ouse.

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      Sam

      1,0752
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      1,0752

        Feb 01, 2015#3

        Nice one ,Mr Blott. Good thing only a wet foot ,and not a total immersion .
        :Smilie_tent:

        5,020718
        Contributing Member
        5,020718

          Feb 01, 2015#4

          Good blogg Nick, enjoyed that. Seeing the local place names brought back memories from my youth. Not that I got over that way much, I don't remember there being a lot going on in St Neots in the 60s.
          Nin Wanakiwidee Tchiman :canoe:

          2,057
          Member
          2,057

            Feb 01, 2015#5

            That cold I had to snap him off a lamp post.
            :eek::eek::eek: lol



            Another marvellous and amusing blogg.... but I got cold just looking those last few pics.
            If I could only paddle like a doggie oughta paddle

            1,1651
            Member
            1,1651

              Feb 02, 2015#6

              hats off to you (and all the other winter paddlers). Its not that I wont do it, just not equipped for it. So, roll on March.

              27K3,045
              Contributing Member
              27K3,045

                Feb 02, 2015#7

                Nice paddle. Always good to try somewhere new.

                Took me worryingly long to get the connection with Chicken Run. I blame it on it being a Monday morning.
                SMopencanoePaddler,blogger,camper,pyromaniac:

                Blog: Wilderness is a State of Mind

                Paddle Points - where to paddle

                2,030372
                Member
                2,030372

                  Feb 02, 2015#8

                  Nick
                  I find the best car parking space is as near the road bridge as you can. (but make sure you're in the long stay bit). The access to the river is the path that runs down towards the bridge; A bit of a carry if you're by yourself but fine with two.

                  Sam

                  2,71819
                  Member
                  2,71819

                    Feb 03, 2015#9

                    Looked like an interesting paddle, if a bit on the chilly side!

                    5,45611
                    Member
                    5,45611

                      Feb 05, 2015#10

                      Cracking blog, Mr B! Those blogs that show an alternative way of getting around a town are really fascinating!

                      I think it was well worth you enduring the cold...


                      ...so that we can look at the great photos! :rolleyes:
                      Juvanile delinkwit, vaguely faffing around with a pair of pliers. Du skal ikke tro at du er bedre end mig!

                      207
                      Member
                      207

                        Feb 07, 2015#11

                        Great photos and interesting paddle round st Neots. Enjoyed the information about the places too.