Five Miles from Anywhere – No Hurry inn

After an evening meal, we walked over to the pub for a pint. This pub has a great history. Apparently, according to the guide, it was used in the 19c as a base for many Cambridge University clubs, one of the most notable declared the pub a Republic with its own President, Consul, Treasurer, Justice of the Peace and even had its own money. In 1870, Richard Fielder, MA proclaimed himself King of Upware and, dressed in a red waistcoat and corduroy breeches, spent many a happy hour drinking from his 6 gallon jug of punch (6 pints would have been large enough I am sure) and arguing and fighting with the bargees. Other clubs included the Idiots and Beersoakers. It would have been good to have seen some of this culture in evidence (more than just a few dusty photos of the pub on the wall) but, unfortunately, the old pub was destroyed by fire in 1957 and rebuild 23 years later in 1980 with an urban looking house with an enormous extension overlooking the river. When we walked across the lawns, we reflected on the beautiful rural setting and the earlier sight of an owl hunting over the nearby water meadows. Now, the oddly pruned willows next to the River Cam were bathed in bright yellow, red and purple flood lighting. Saturday night was obviously 80’s disco night and the good folk of the Fens had their glad rags on. They were feasting on an extravaganza of pub grub, taking a selection of fine tropical cocktails and cheap European lagers, exchanging witty conversation, and letting their hair down in a heady atmosphere of sparkling fairy lights and strobe lighting. If King Fielder had been alive to see it, I think he would have wondered what on earth was going on but after a few gallons of his famous Punch, I guess he would be up there dancing to Abba and picking fights with the narrowboaters. We finished our drinks and went back to the boat. Next morning we went back to Lazy Otter, shut everything down and went home. As a first trip with a new boat, everything went well, just a few teething problems that were soon sorted out. I have lots of things I want to work on to improve Skylark even further but they will have to wait until I get back from Wales (walking in the mountains). So please look in again – the next post should be in about 2 week. BFN…