Denver and Downham Market

Yesterday, I headed up to Denver Sluice to use the water-point and pump-out. From there I could see the lock into the Relief Channel was in my favour so I pootled across the river and went in. Operating the two large V gates was no problem; both are electric and the instructions are clear. The Relief Channel is not the most interesting waterway, being long, wide and very straight. Its sole purpose is really to hold back flood water when the inland River Ouse is in flood and the adjoining tidal section is at high tide. Because of this, while it lacks the attractiveness of other stretches, it is an interesting piece of water. It's quite an engineering feat really and one that could be put to good use in the Somerset Levels.

Just downstream, about 3 miles, you find Downham Market. You can just see the road bridge over the channel in the distance. The EA mooring is on the left bank with a vast Flour mill opposite. It's a floating jetty so can be used at any state of the 'tide'. 

Downham Market is a small work-a-day sort of place with a train station, a market place and a good selection of shops. I visited the Morrison supermarket for my evening meal and on my way out I choose the shortest checkout. Mistake!! When the old lady in front of me got to the end of her small selection of purchases, she announced she had forgotten her dog food. The kind checkout lady asked if a colleague could fetch it for her. The old lady said it was called 'Butchers' and the lady went off in search of it. She said sorry to me for the wait and I thought, as I was in no hurry, it was good opportunity to practice my patience skills; something I had never quite mastered at work.
After about 5 minutes watching the world go by and trying to appear unconcerned about the inordinate waste of time just standing there (with my arms crossed in a nonchalant sort of way), the lady appeared with a box of dried dog food and apologised that she could only find a brand called 'Bakers'. 
'Oh, that's it,' the old lady said. 'I knew it was something like Butchers'. We all laughed.

Anyway, after the old lady had toddled off with her shopping bags, the checkout lady apologised again and I said it wasn't a problem. In fact, I said, to make my life more interesting, I always choose what looks like the most challenging checkout, and she had won, hands down. We laughed again! Such fun!!!!

Later that afternoon, I returned to Denver, guessing correctly that the lock would still be in my favour. I hitched up at the EA mooring next the Jenyns Arms. A bit later Narrowboat Suborro arrived and I chatted to owner Chris before the sun went down and his evening coq au vin turned to BBQ McChicken. I left quite early this morning and headed back to base.