Thursday 30 July 2009

From above Linton on Ouse Lock, to York

We were greeted this morning by high water levels, which was no big surprise given the heavy rainfall overnight. Our picture shows the tremendous flow of water moving over the weir adjacent to Linton Lock. Coming out of the lock onto the landing stage was quite exciting, but once underway down the river it wasn't too bad.

We travelled much faster than yesterday with all the fresh water in the river but it still seemed to take a long time to get to York in the rain.

Fortunately there were plenty of mooring spaces, so we moored by Lendal Bridge. We enjoyed a good lunch in the oldest pub in York, and spent the afternoon wondering around the city.

We heard the captain on one of the trip boats going by giving out an interesting fact on his commentary. Apparently, (he claimed), the Yorkshire Ouse is a unique river in that it has no source and no end as it is formed by the Ure, Swale and Nidd and becomes the Humber before it reaches the sea!

Tomorrow we take the rapids back down to Selby, sailing with the outgoing tide, and fighting our way through the dead sheep and gas cylinders etc again! Wish us luck!

Wednesday 28th July 2009

Ripon Racecourse Marina to Linton Lock

Having spent several days in the Ripon area catching up with friends in Yorkshire, we have now started the return journey south down the Ripon Canal, River Ure and the River Ouse. After a lot of rain recently the river is much higher than on our journey upstream a few weeks ago. Today was so bleak, we had hot soup at lunchtime - mad, considering this is a 'scorchio' summer!

In Ripon, as our pics record, we went through the northern most lock on the connected waterways in England and Wales. We went to the furthest point west at Llangollen earlier on the cruise, but whether we get to the furthest east and south during this season remains to be seen, especially as we are rapidly becoming fair weather sailors!!!! There's always next year!!!.

We have actually passed more British Waterways boats moving today than private boats, one of them a patrol boat complete with blue lights on the roof (quick, check your speed!!). Another was a very big work boat, very ably manouvered by a BW lady, very happy in her work, busy clearing dense bank vegetation.

En route, we refulled with red diesel from Canal Garage petrol station, Boroughbridge, where a swinging dispense arm from the 1950's is still in use!

Tuesday 14 July 2009

Boroughbridge to near Ripon, River Ure, Ripon Canal

After a disturbed night from noisy lads messing about in a rowing boat, today we moved on northwards towards our goal of Ripon.

The river Ure is wide and beyond Boroughbridge passes under various busy trunk roads, new since our last visit about 20 years ago. The Ure also passes by the edge of the Newby hall gardens, where there are good daytime moorings for visitors. Spectacular gardens, all meticulously kept, lots of colour, and all superbly planned and laid out. A minature railway with replica engines, plus an extensive (and expensive) display of Zimbabwean sculptures, made for a very pleasant day in the sun.

We have now moored for the evening, exhausted as always by fresh air, plus the effect of working the heavy lockgear and pushing the ever heavier lockgates.

Bye for now.

Monday 13 July 2009

Naburn Lock, River Ouse to Boroughbridge, River Ure

We have travelled further than we intended today, as moorings in York were still hard to find. Our passage from Naburn to York was in perfect conditions, warm, with blue sky, and wide deep water. Lots of large, expensive cruisers moored along the way, and all the mooring jetties were designed to cope with high water levels.

As we reached the outskirts of York the very impressive riverside Palace at Bishopthorpe came into view, and where we think the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentanu resides - see picture.

We passed under many smart bridges as we made our way through the city to the recommended area for boats to moor, but alas still no room after the weekends revelry. We hope we can moor on our return down the river.

So, on to Linton on Ouse, round twisty turns and avoiding sand banks, we reached the lock there with notoriously difficult paddles to open, and they lived up to their reputation. Our tribulations provided good entertainment for the locals sat outside the lockside pub, so once we were through, we had a beer and watched other boaters struggle! and low and behold one poor chap fell off his boat into the lock. No damage just a bit embarrasssed, but reminded us how quickly accidents happen so we have kept our lifejackets on.

After lunch we motored on to Boroughbridge and changed to the River Ure, same water, just new name. Moored up, fairly exhausted.

Sunday 12 July 2009

Naburn Lock to Naburn Lock ( via Blacksmiths Arms )

A lazy day today. No locks, no miles, just a 1 mile walk into Naburn Village for lunch at the Pub.

Excellent beer and good value for money carvery.

Walked back to the boat and had a siesta.

Tomorrow the plan is to motor up through York to Linton Lock and hope that there is a mooring there for the night.

Saturday 11 July 2009

Selby to above Naburn Lock, River Ouse

Well, we have lived to tell the tale, but for the first 20 minutes today, by comparison, our passage along the Manchester Ship Canal was a walk in the park!

At the appointed time, we went down Selby lock, and turned sharp left and out onto the tidal river Ouse, and it was lambs to the slaughter - we managed to turn OK and go with the flow, but the speed of flow was fast even though the tide had only turned in the last hour. Bob had to quickly adjust to the conditions, including steering round vast amounts of large floating chunks of wood, bobbing gas cylinders, and all sorts of debris in large clusters. Skilfully he managed not to demolish Selby railway bridge - but only just - as the current took us where we didn't want to go. Our speed at this time was about 10mph!! We had 2 hours of this, twisting and turning with the river, reading the navigational notes for shallow bends as we went, and would you believe it - this is also a water ski stretch! Saw a broken down cruiser on the way, just anchored and the crew waiting for help since yesterday, but we don't quite know who you could call on in such circs.

The lock keeper at Selby said he could not remember a busier day, and he's been there for 20+years, there were 10 boats altogeter heading upstream. Naburn Lock eventually came into sight, and with several other narrow boats and some cruisers, ( we all seemed to arrive at the same time despite leaving Selby in pairs at 15 min intervals) we turned eventually turned into the haven of the lock.

We moored for lunch above Naburn Lock and decided to stay here overnight as there is an event in York and moorings there are like hens teeth.

Friday 10 July 2009

Beal Lock, River Aire to Selby, Selby canal

Well, we could have gone water skiing today as there is a stretch along the River Aire where BW permit speed boats and skiers to mingle with us slow boaters, fortunately there was no skiing going on whilst we were around!

As we left the river Aire and turned through a flood lock back to the comfort of a canal, the Selby canal, the tranquil scene resembled a Monet painting with water lillies and willow trees dipping into the water! The water ahead though became thick with algae and green weed, with only a narrow pathway through left by other boats.

We reached Selby and moored up for lunch and spent the afternoon in the town and in the Abbey. Lovely stained glass windows.

The river Ouse below Selby lock looks forboding, and we are bracing ourselves for a tricky start to the day when we venture out onto the river in the morning going with the tide and under some bridges at speed with the tidal flow ....................

Thursday 9 July 2009

Lemonroyd Marina, Aire and Calder Navigation to Beal Lock, River Aire

Hi everybody, we are back afloat and today we have been cruising with the big boys!

See the pics as we were overtaken and passed by tankers and sand barges on the river Aire! they don't hang about. Time means money. We were thankful to overhear the conversations about approaching vessels over the VHF radio.

We moved down towards Ferrybridge and skirted around the tall cooling towers, passing defunct colliery basins, industrial sites and proceeding on through Ferrybridge flood lock, we have looked down on many a time from the A1M. Much of the old NCB lland around has become RSPB wetlands, but you can see that the land was heavily mined, and there are many huge barges laid up.

We are now moored at Beal Lock, within sight of Eggborough power station cooling towers We have booked our passage through the Selby tidal lock, for Saturday morning. The lock keeper there works his hours around the tidal fluctuations, and has indicated that low tide will be around 9am, so we will need to be ready on time.