The Route Of The Trip

The River Nene bubbles up in two places north of Northampton. One at Arbury Hill, Badby near Daventry, and a northern source at Naseby, site of the great Civil War battle, the route Bob has chosen.

The river is approximately 120 miles from the sea on the Naseby route. The first 15 miles from the source at Naseby will be walked. This will take in the hamlet of Cottesbrooke, one of the best kept estates in Northamptonshire, Creaton village, and down to the Merry Tom Crossing. At this point there should be enough water in the brook to float the canoe. Three hours of paddling will bring us to the confluence at South Bridge in Northampton - then it's 37 locks and 97 miles to the sea!

The Schedule

(approx. distance from confluence)

Day 1 - Naseby to South Bridge, Northampton (18.5 miles)

Day 2 - Abington Lock No3 to Irthlingborough Bridge (19.5 miles)

Day 3 - Irthlingborough Bridge to The King's Head, Wadenhoe (32.5 miles)

Day 4 - Wadenhoe to Fotheringhay (44 miles)

Day 5 - Fotheringhay to Peterborough Yacht club (59 miles)

Day 6 - Orton Lock to the Dog in a Doublet (66 miles)

Day 7 - Dog in a Doublet Sluice to Wisbech Town Bridge

Day 8 - Wisbech Harbour to West Lighthouse, Sutton Bridge (Crabs Hole)

The Boat

The canoe is a 17.4 ft (5.3m) Penobscot Open Fast Touring Canadian Canoe with a width of 34" (86.3 cm) and weighs in at 37.6 kg. It can carry a capacity of 657 kg, which is nearly half a ton, well enough to carry three over-weight guys and all the kit needed for 8 nights camping on the river bank. The Old Town Penobscot has fast touring lines with extra width amidship for additional stability. The name Penobscot comes from a North American Indian tribe that inhabited Old Town in Maine.