The Challenge...

So, I've set myself the challenge of navigating from Shefford, where I currently live, to King's Lynn where I lived for 10 years back in the 70s.

In February 2016 I took a walk along the river to see what I'd let myself in for - I've posted some photos of the first mile or so of the Hiz and the Ivel to give you an idea of what this challenge involves. The water level is relatively high in the photos - summer levels are much lower, so only a few inches of water most of the year.

This will be the launch point - a gently sloping grass bank just beyond the weir...

...then under the North Bridge...

...passing the Wharf (now rebuilt)...

...to the first of many fallen branches...

...until it meets the Hit (coming from the right)...

...and turns sharp left, becoming the Ivel...

...then promptly disappears off to the left towards a sluice which I didn't even know existed...

...Shefford Sluice - around a 2 metre drop...

...but preceeded by a nice shallow bank to haul the boat out...

...level ground to haul it round..

...and another shallow bank to pop it back in again...

...more obstructions...

...and more (many more)...

...until the low bridge near Millennium Green...

...with part-submerged lumps of concrete just after it (possible channel on the left?)

...then sharp right over the broken-up remains of a concrete weir.
Before it was broken up, the kids in Shefford
used to call this "The Beach"...

...whereas straight ahead, this appears to be the buried remains
of one of the Ivel Navigation's locks...

...more sunken hazards...

...fallen trees...

...and another...

...and a rusty bit of angle iron...

...then meandering off to Clifton.
The line of wispy willows to the left appears to mark the
path of the old canal (long since filled in)