The loneliness of a long distance hasher

Firstly, what is a lode? Put simply, it is a short stretch of water, usually very straight, usually connecting a village to a major river and often described as a dyke though they were built with navigation in mind as well as drainage. Virtually all of these waterways date back to Roman times and follow much the same route as they did nearly 2,000 years ago.

BOTTISHAM LODE Just to confuse matters, Bottisham Lode does not run to Bottisham - it runs to the village of Lode. Lode may have seemed a slightly silly name to those who made it navigable - but anyway - Bottisham village is just 2 miles away. The lode is now virtually straight though it is thought that it has been straightened from its original line over the years. It was originally used by the Romans who probably created it as an artificial navigation, connecting Lode to the River Cam, though there was probably already a stream along its line because Quy Water runs into the lode at Lode. In 1767 Bottisham Lode came under the control of Swaffham & Bottisham Drainage Commissioners who were authorised to charge tolls and build staunches. There is still evidence of one staunch on the route though only its 12 feet wide chamber remains intact, at Lode there is also evidence of a basin. The route was used until about 1900 though river Lighters found its 22 feet maximum width too restricting. Smaller boats were able to reach Lode however and it was mainly local agricultural produce that was carried. Bottisham Lode begins on the River Cam a few hundred yards below Bottisham Lock, to the east of Waterbeach. It runs virtually straight in a south easterly direction for 2 & a quarter miles to the village of Lode.The minor road which runs into Lode from the B1102 appears to give access to the waterway. Although Bottisham Lode was never officially abandoned it does not appear to be navigable at present.