Leaving Denver Sluice the flat fenland landscape stretches away into the distance as it heads southwards on the non-tidal Great Ouse. More of an artificial drainage channel than a natural river – the original course of the Great Ouse ran further to the west. Passing Littleport and the Black Horse (now called The Swan By the River –I expect the poor old horse died and rather than buy another one they decided it was cheaper to adopt a nearby swan) we head for Ely. If you want and as I did once, you can divert left onto the River Lark and head for Prickwillow and Isleham Lock . There was a pub there, gone now of course (and I’m not surprised), that had green church pews in a square round the bar room and a bar that boasted few temptations. We had a rule back then that, if on entering a new pub, (new to us that is) and the atmosphere was not to our liking then only half pints would be ordered. On this occasion the half pint was the definite call. As I touched the latch o...
