Part 10 -City hopping ....

It's been a while!!  We stopped in York for a few days.  York was lively and sociable.  We  took advantage of the Comedy Fringe Festival;  had a visit from George, Jay's 94 year old grandad - a legend in his own lifetime.  Visited the National Railway Museum.  Breakfasted at Bettys Tea Rooms, ate good food, drank some lovely vino, nipped up to Ripon for a couple of days and were altogether cosmopolitan!!  

Setting off for Ripon there was a slight drizzle?  I couldn't help but wonder what is this strange, cooling and refreshing thing dripping drops of water from the skies above?  

We made a pit stop in Boroughbridge,  a small town in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire.  It's about 16 miles north-west  of York.  It's a pretty town as you would expect from North Yorkshire!

This weeping willow is under the bridge in Boroughbridge and was really reminiscent of childhood picnics in the grounds of Newstead Abbey, Byron's UK home near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire where I grew up.  We would hide under the weeping willow (presumably the branches came much closer to the ground!), strip off and run behind a waterfall in the grounds which was a great novelty and ensured we all got a good soaking!!

And this is the Bridge ...

We dropped in to a local pub, The Black Bull.  It reminded us both of the Lord Nelson in Sneinton, an old haunt!  It provided a good pint and a friendly, busy early doors.

Next day we carried on to Ripon.  Apparently a city.  It must be the smallest city in the UK.  It has a beautiful Cathedral and an area of independent shops and galleries either side of a cobbled street leading up from the Cathedral to the town centre.

Where we saw this woman Setting the Watch

The Watch has been set in Ripon at 9.00 p.m., or thereabouts, every night since AD 886 with, allegedly, never a night missed.  Something to do with Viking incursions and locals taking advantage of the disorder.  

She is the first woman to hold the post of Hornblower and gave a brief talk on the history of the watch.  After blowing the horn at each corner of the monument she then goes to the Mayor's house to assure Cllr Pauline McHardy, current lady mayor of Ripon that all is well.  If Cllr McHardy is not at home she attends, where advised, to deliver her assurances!!  She did a really good job with the drunken heckler too!

Minnie was walked and local hostelries explored while we moored for 48 hours at the top of the Ripon Canal.

Then our time was up.  Mooring on the waterways is regulated by the Canal & River Trust.  You  can moor in any unmarked spot for up to 14 days.  Otherwise mooring times vary and boats are expected to follow the signs.  

We set off back down the canal to York.  The Ripon Canal is not part of a ring of waters so it's an up and back journey. 

.............

Part 9 - Just a few photos

Every day a new garden ...... :)

Part 8 - The Call of the River Ouse

This is not the Sussex Ouse, site of Virginia Woolf's suicide, but the Yorkshire version.  Not so many sad poetic metaphors written of the Yorkshire Ouse.  

Lots of Jobs to be done before passing through the Lock at Selby .... change cassettes, fill up with water, check maps and chat to all and sundry.  Atmosphere building as boats prepare, 6 of us are travelling up the Ouse today, 2 at a time through the Lock.  We went through with Osprey, out on to the river with a rolling turn and then 7/8 miles an hour on tick over!!  

The trip to Naburn Lock took about 2.5 hours, through a lot of floating wood on the river.  First time on a tidal river so no photos!!  Osprey was in sight the whole way which was somehow reassuring!  Naburn was impressive when we rounded the corner ...

The Lock Keeper penned us through (note the lingo!), 5 boats together!  It is a huge Lock.

Once through we moored and set off on another beautiful sunny evening to find the pub, following Jay's directional and map reading skills ..... walked in a large circular path round to the pub in Naburn village!!  By road, 0.6 miles!  Nonetheless, it was a lovely walk along the river, through fields and beside some very lazy cows.  When we finally caught sight of the village sign, and found the pub - the pizza was damn good!!

Next morning we lazed around, enjoying just being here.  

Narrowboat Ellis moored beside us early afternoon.  They were moored near us at Ramsdens Bridge.  They run 'liveaboard experience' holidays on their boat, which is lovely.  http://www.narrowboatellis.com/.  Shout out for them, definitely worth checking out if you fancy a break on the canals.  Lovely guys.  

In the afternoon we cruised on up to York, short distance.  Moored up, made some food and wandered into town.  Couple of swift Yorkshire Terriers and home to bed!

A light supper for the ducks first!

And night falls .....

Part 7 - Time flies, fruit flies like a banana

This may be a long one, time passes quickly on the waterways.  We were moored at Castleford for a few days while I went back home to finalise letting of our house, all done and back to generator crazy land!!  Generators running in to the night can be one of the downers on the canal system!!  The upside is the RSPB nature reserve by Bullholme Lock.

Wood carving

And the ubiquitous ......

Into Castleford town for a chip lunch and to pick up provisions ..... 

Over the very attractive Millennial Bridge

What is he going to come out with!!!  Pound shop bliss for Jay

And it was farewell to Castleford

Sailed up the Selby Canal to the town of Selby.  The canal was completely covered in Duckweed, it was like working your way through a ploughed field

Pretty though ...

And luckily the prop didn't get choked up so there was no need to open the weed hatch.  So far we only had to get in the weed hatch in Manchester when an Armani sleeping bag got wrapped round the prop!!  Bizarre :)

Made it to Selby Basin and booked with the Lock Keeper to go up the River Ouse on Sunday.  The Ouse is tidal between Selby and Naburn so passage has to be booked and the Lock is operated by the Keeper to ensure that boats only go out at certain times to catch the right tide.  Needless to say there were some nerves.  The Ouse has a reputation for a fast tide and lots of currents.  Shit!!

Selby is a small town 12 miles south of York with a beautiful Abbey in the centre.  The present building dates from 1100 and is regarded as one of the finest non-cathedral churches in England.  

Some quirky signs from the old industrial sites

and in the pubs, reflecting the maritime heritage!!

Sunday came around and there was no more avoiding the tidal Ouse!!  We set sail for Naburn, going through Selby Lock guided by a really helpful Lock Keeper at 2.30 p.m.

DO WE HAVE TO?

Rest assured, all was well .......

Part 6 - Balmy summer days on the canal!!

A week has passed and it has flown by.  I think my blogging faculty is impaired by the inability to keep track of time!!  How many times have we had to check with each other what day it is!!

So, we were in Wakefield.  While at Fall Ings Lock we took an evening walk along the river.  Followed a path where you would meet your bloody doom if ever you were going to.  Keeping a keen eye out for bodies we trod carefully until one side of the path, in most unexpected fashion, opened out into a massive field of golden wheat.  In the evening sun, it was glorious and surprising.  We followed the path through the middle of the field and came out onto a massive common in the village of Heath.  It is described by Wakefield Council as "a common with mansions set around it, covering approximately 20 hectares.".   It was lovely, with a touch of 'how the other half live'!  Of course, neither of us had remembered to put a £20 note in our pocket so  no chance of a pint at the Kings Arms   http://www.thekingsarmsheath.co.uk/Home.aspx  although it gets very positive reviews!  

On 1 July we set off up the Aire & Calder to Castleford.  All safety requirements in place for river cruising.....

Life jacket

Anchor

and

Mobile phones charged.

We were accompanied by two 'tupperware' boats (as they are so rudely called!!).  I was happy because they did all 3 locks, although the locks on this part of the navigation are mechanised so it's turn a key, press some buttons and wait for them to fill/empty.  Still I got to spend the first part of the day sitting in the well deck, at the front of the boat, soaking up the sun

and considering the lilies :)

Beautiful cruise and when it was my turn I enjoyed the 'driving'

More later but I am on rice cooking duties!!