The Last Laugh?

Back in 2013 I posted a blog about the Lowestoft ice boat, 'Jester'.

She has sat at the Cam Conservators 'naughty' mooring, quietly mouldering away, ever since.

Truth to tell, she was in very poor shape when she was towed there, and the intervening years and a good few sinkings have done her no further favours.

It was also sad to see valuable bits like her portholes slowly pilfered away.

Recently the mast (struck down on deck), also disappeared.......

Things were looking very bleak indeed for the poor old 'Jester'.

It was, therefore, with some sadness, but no surprise, that I saw the good old ship under tow towards Bottisham Lock this morning.

 Not quite 'The Fighting Temeraire', but Mr Turner would have done something quite interesting with that sky........

A Very Old Lady, more than a little distressed, and seemingly on her way to an undignified end.

I presumed she was being taken away to be broken up...........

Seeking to, quite literally, mark "Jester's" passing, I sent Amy of Severner Willow a quick text.

She replied immediately to the effect that if "Jester" made it through the lock, then she was on her way to Upware Marina to be saved!

Not getting through the lock meant an ignominious end at the hands of a wrecking crew at Clayhithe.........

Ulp.......

I grabbed the camera and made for the lock, fervently hoping they had remembered to butter the gunwhales........

It turned out width was not the problem, but depth might well have been, as 'Jester' had been brought upstream many moons ago on a flood...........

 Apologies for the poor quality video..........

 Anyway, she made it!

Hopefully, once out of the water at Upware, hull assessed and restoration commenced, it really will be a laugh at long last for 'Jester'.