River Cam Granchester - Post Flood.

Last time I brought my sketch pad down here, sun shone brightly, walkers paced the bank - there was a lot of excited chatter in the background. That was almost exactly a year ago - high summer.

The grassy track is now a mud bath, the river flowing faster than I could punt upstream. Hardly anyone has come down here to enjoy their lunch, read or pass the time in pleasant company.

But I do hail the adventurous spirit of 4 youngsters, determined to keep School Leaving spirit up. Exams done, Balls danced and released from the fetters of education - the River Cam must be swum.

So with one on the bank and four - no, that would be 3 - three in the water, a bit of normality is returning to this sleepy bank.

In the background birds lift their chirruping above the distant, but sadly constant rumble, of traffic setting off down the M11 to London.

As I write this a spider has begun spinning his web dangling from my beard. He has mistaken me for some country hedgerow!

The sun is now out, ramblers have emerged from their lunchtime beverages. Time, methinks, for this ancient hedgerow to find a cup of tea.

Bat Safari Punting

Last Friday was the world premier Bat Safari by punt which was GREAT fun. We set off in daylight travelling in a 4 punt convoy slowly navigating from the punt yard south towards Granchester.

At Skaters Fen the Bat Detection Units picked up their first signs, we spotted them swooping against the semi lit sky. For at least half an hour through dusk we spotted many more bats both high up against the sky and low down over the water.

Having turned back at the start of Granchester Meadows and with dark having enfolded us we broke out high power torches, we caught glimpses of several bats skimming low over the water on our return journey.

Though we had been supplied with Bat Identification Charts, we of course neither got close enough nor did the bats fly slowly enough to distinguish one species from another. However, it was a 75 minute tour I will remember with great delight for quite some time.

This shot does our chauffer far more justice than my sketch.

Warmer Days

Looking forward to punting in the summer, for now snow lays on the ground round about - and maybe the river is freezing.

Loud SCREAMING, but no SPLASH

The final punting session of the season, Fiona decided to take the pole. However with a bit of a breeze we were blown off course into a lowhanging tree. My gentle relaxation was disturbed by screams and outrageous laughter behind my head.

We did amazingly recover from this situation, bringing the punt back beneath Fiona, so no sodden passengers on the trip home.

Moored up near Granchester

I decided to combine my love of the river, bit of keep fit, catch up with some letter writing and do some painting all in one trip today.

I didn't take my phone nor a watch, and was surprised to discover I had spent almost 5 hours afloat, or sat on the bank sketching out my art work.

The original was in fact twice the size of previous postcards, this one A5. I think it will have to be posted in an envelope rather than as a postcard as all my others have been.

Now, in Lloyd Grossman style voice; "Now to whom shall I send a postcard like this?"
So if you are checking out this blog because you know me, maybe you should be watching your letterbox too.