50TH ANNIVERSARY CRUISE On Sunday twenty-eight members gathered punctually at 10am at The Plough Inn, Fen Ditton to board the trip boat ROSIE for a cruise on the river Cam, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Association. After a short trip upstream to turn round the boat, we cruised leisurely down to Baits Bite Lock, which we shared with another narrow boat. Then it was down past Horningsea, the Cam Conservators Depot, the Cambridge Motor Boat Club and the Cam Sailing Club to tie up just above Bottisham Lock. Here members had a chance to stretch their legs and walk the short distance to the bridge across the entrance to Bottisham Lode and to debate why the Environment Agency appears to deny access into the lode, albeit the navigation rights are extant. Admittedly most craft would only be able to navigate some 5/8ths of a mile up to the site of Bottisham Staunch as this used to hold up a head of water to enable boats to reach Lode village, but today only canoes could use this stretch. And then it was back to the boat for the return cruise back to The Plough. Our hard-working secretary Ivan Cane had gone to great pains to organise the lunchtime arrangements and everyone had made their preference before boarding the boat, and these had been passed on to the pub so as to be ready for 2pm. We arrived back at the pub punctually to find it very busy and the staff had provided only some of the tables needed for our party. By 2.40pm, the management was apologising for the non appearance of our orders and were offering free drinks compensation, but even then it was not until 3.25pm that the first meals began to appear. Remonstrations led to the bill being waived, but the episode put a damper on proceedings, with one couple being forced to leave without being fed. Back on the boat the cruise continued up river through Chesterton and past many moored boats and the college boathouses. ROSIE then turned just below Jesus Green Lock and wended her way back to Fen Ditton. Thanks are due to Ivan as it was no fault of his the meal arrangements fell though and to Liz Sheehan of CamBoats who told us much about the river and who served coffee and biscuits en route. "Camboats is a family run business located in the heart of Cambridge and has been established since 2004. Camboats offer a fantastic service for people of all ages to explore the river Cam and Great Ouse. "The trips take part on a 50ft, open sided narrow boat called Rosie. On the trip you will see kingfishers, swans, grebes, geese and herons and experience life along the riverbank."

Spalding Flower Parade Trip on the River Welland, over the May Bank Holiday Trailboats make use of the new slipway at Crowland on the River Welland, May 2008 Over the 2008 May Bank Holiday weekend, two of our members joined several other trailboaters to make use of the new slipway at Crowland to gain access to the River Welland, in order to attend the Spalding Flower Parade. Boats waiting to launch at the Crowland Slipway River Welland Four Wilderness Boats joined another trailboat and a Spalding Water Taxi, For the parade day itself they were all dressed overall to fit the occasion, and cruised the river to Fulney Lock and back - receiving many friendly waves from the banks. They then gathered at the EA mooring in Spalding for the duration of the parade itself. Boats dressed overall at Spalding EA Moorings That evening the boats moored at the Yacht club - then on the Sunday several boated down the Coronation Channel to take advantage of mooring by the Springfields Outlet Shopping Centre for some retail therapy. Also over the weekend most boats tackled the trip upstream to Peakirk Pumping Station, this side cut was surprisingly deep and clear, however, when the boats tried to continue upstream past the Peakirk Junction, a combination of shoals (see Google Map for a clear illustration of these) and the current from the Maxey Cut prevented navigation to the Deeping Railway Bridge and beyond, which was a disappointment. Junction to Peakirk Pumping station Several attempts were made by different routes - but all to no avail. Resorting to shank's pony two members walked the river to the remains of Low locks in Deeping St James - the start of the Stamford Canal - and felt that a Wilderness boat may have managed voyage thus far. The EA moorings at Crowland were also used to visit the Abbey at Croyland and the village, plus the hospitality of Ye Olde Bridge Inn. On the Monday at least two other boats were using the slipway and their families enjoying the river. Over this one weekend the new slipway enabled visiting boats access to Welland adding to the economy of the area, as well as reminding the community of their local boating amenities and opportunities. The event was very successfully organised by our member Richard Fairman, who is always willing to help any members wishing to visit or cruise the Welland or Glen rivers. Our website www.eawa.co.uk has a virtual tour of the Stamford Canal by our member Steve Machin. Report from: Ivan Cane, Darren Cooke (NAVI).

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING CHARTED NEW WATERS