The River Alone. 2nd July

Naburn Visitor Moorings to Selby Basin, Selby Canal

Rain overnight had woken us, the windows needed closing to stop the rain from coming in. Then the geese decided the weed on Oleanna’s waterline was tasty at first light! So not the best nights sleep.

No shore leave this morning, we had the tide to catch. As we waited we did chores, Tilly’s pooh box got a refresh, yellow water emptied, then we moved up to the water point and topped up on fresh water. Nigel arrived and suggested we should be ready a little earlier, 1pm in the lock.

I remade the archway for panto and we had an early lunch, all as the heavens opened up again. Would we be getting wet on our way back to Selby today?

As the rain cleared we got ourselves ready for the off. Kenny walked by so we had chance for a chat and a thank you, we’ll maybe see him next year and finally be able to try some of his chickens eggs.

At bang on 1pm we were entering the lock, we’d be on our own on the river today. Nigel said to give him a call when we were on the straight before the bend, before the two Selby bridges, we said we’d radio him from there. After ten minutes the bottom gates opened and let us loose out onto the tidal Ouse again.

**Lock empty and gates opening ahead of us**

It started to rain.

But thankfully it didn’t last long and by a couple of hours or so into our cruise we took our coats off as we were starting to overheat.

Heading down stream you punch the tide all the way to Cawood Bridge. On our last trip this way, we encountered a river of wood heading towards us from around the 3km marker all the way to Cawood. Today there seemed to be hardly anything in the river to start with, maybe the last spring tides had take it all out to the Humber.

Sheep had been shorn. Egrets outnumbered Herons again. A couple of oystercatchers.

The floating landing at the ski club was actually afloat today, on our way up it had been sat on the mud. Would we be followed by speed boats? Well we think we counted five boats high up on the bank, but thankfully none looked like they were about to be backed into the river.

As Cawood came closer so did the floating logs, quite big rafts of them headed towards us. Mick did his best to swerve to miss them and then get lined up to go through the bridge. The bridge keeper waved and chatted to someone on the phone or radio.

It was soon very obvious that we’d picked up some wood on our bow. Once round the tight bend, the tide starting to go slack Mick tried his best to stop Oleanna and reverse to leave the branch behind. But it was caught good and proper, doing an impression of a dolphin at our bow, rising and falling.

I took a boat hook through the boat, giving Tilly something to think about. It took a bit of doing to free at least three big chunks of wood and a long spindly branch from our bow, all pushed well away so we could continue.

**Our rugged trip computer, speed rising**

The tide had now turned, our speed increased, the rafts of wood now heading in the same direction as us.

Last nights weather forecast had been for 9mph winds but as we turned onto the long straight with the wind over tide it was obviously far stronger! We clung onto our hats. I checked Windy, 17mph and gusts of up to 35mph! Round the bend onto the straight Mick radioed to Nigel, the lock would be ready for us.

My phone binged, a message from the production manager for panto with a quick question. She’d have to wait as we sped under and through the Selby swing bridges. The sand bank just below Selby Lock gave us an idea of where we were heading for, the blocks of flats a landmark of where to turn to face the tide. Mick turned the bow thruster on, should it be needed, then swang the tiller round. Oleanna skidding down the river at 90 degrees to the current. Was there enough room to get round, a touch of reverse and round again. We now slowly headed backwards towards the lock where the gates stood open and Freya and Nigel waited for us.

Oleanna seemed to want to go into the lock backwards, but that certainly wasn’t the plan, that landmark sand bank was getting closer all the time. Nigel gave subtle hand signals to keep going backwards. Then once our bow was in the right position he gave Mick the nod to bring her round and into the lock.

Third time this year in at Selby without touching the sides, well done Mick. A centre line passed round a riser and we were on the way up off the tidal river.

What did we want to do now? Sean from SPL was due in the morning to fit our pram cover side, so we needed to be somewhere he’d be able to get his van close. We’d also need to wind to have the port side to the bank. Above the lock there were a couple of boats moored in the corner, add into the mix the strong wind, it was decided that we’d just moor up and hope for less wind in the morning. Tilly was disappointed with the lack of shore leave. Nigel and Freya would be about tomorrow morning to get us through the road swing bridge once we’d had our cover fitted.

I worked my way through a few more panto model notes, soon this model will be finished, soon! Then we decided to treat ourselves to an India takeaway from Jinnah. Mick ordered on line then headed off to collect it. Well we’d had a couple of numbers come up in the premium bonds this morning, enough for a nice takeaway.

There was enough food with just our starters, an onion bahji and liver tikka. So we decided to do a Harnser and save enough for a second meal in a day or twos time. Very nice it was and we’ll get to enjoy it all again. Our next problem, what to watch this evening as there’s no more Traitors?

2 locks, 14.1 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 clean pooh box, 1 clean pooh bucket, 1 empty wee tank, 1 new improved arch, 15 big roses, 23 small, 20% fullness, 1 bored cat, 3 swing bridges, 1 windy passage, 2 popadoms, 2 onion bhajis, 2 mains, 1 salad, 1 side, 2 much food, 2 glasses wine, 1st episode of GOLD.

https://what3words.com/shadows.clockwork.fight

Where we travelled during June. It didn’t feel like we’d gone very far, but we still managed quite a few miles.

Saying Goodbyes. 1st July

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New Walk to Naburn Visitor Mooring

Last night shortly before we headed for bed we could hear music heading our way. Was this Orchid returning? He’d been down earlier yesterday but then had headed back up stream. No this was the other boat, the large cruiser, lights flashing, music expanding and contracting the cabin sides, but no flames from the fire pit on it’s bow tonight. They headed down stream winded, then came back a couple of times. Maybe they think blasting out their music is alright whilst on the move!

This morning the temperature had dropped, our duvet that’s been tucked up at the bottom of the bed for days, had found it’s way back up the bed to cover us. Would today be a long trousers kind of day?

After breakfast I headed off for a walk. See if I could see which poor souls had had to cope with blaring music but also to say my Goodbyes to my home city.

Down to Millennium Bridge, across the river, through Rowntrees Park. The park was York’s first Municipal park gifted to the city in 1921. I find it interesting that Rowntrees park is so close to the old Terry’s factory, Rowntrees being on the other side of the city. I think I’ve only ever been in the park a couple of times so it was nice to see the cafe, the almost empty lake and sculptures.

Onto Bishopthorpe Road, more commonly known now as Bishy Road. The junk shops have gone, now cafes, restaurants and some nice looking shops attract many people. I stopped to buy some eggs then carried on along Nunnery Lane, passing what used to be the Bar Convent School and over the traffic lights down to the station. Here the road bridge (that as a child I never realised was a bridge over where the railway had once punctured it’s way through the city walls) has now gone, concrete shores up the bar walls bank and road works fill the approach to the station. In the coming months I may get to see the station on the way back to Scarborough, but I’m unlikely to see the bar walls.

Down to the river bank, across Scarborough Railway Bridge, photos of the moorings obligatory for us both when on the train. Today only three boats were making use of the rings, one cruiser, a little black cruiser that has a seriously noisy outboard and the large cruiser that had come to visit us last night on it’s alternative mooring by the water point.

Along Lendal, saying goodbye to my Dad’s old office, along Coney Street, then down the side of the Grand Opera House. Posters advertising the autumn tours, Man for All Seasons, and Inspector Morse. Not sure how I feel about Inspector Morse being produced on stage? Maybe I should go to see it.

An early lunch. The levels were now down almost to where they’d been a week or so ago. The large cruiser returned, soon followed by Orchid. Time to make a move, sorry Tilly no shore leave for a while. Under Millennium Bridge, one last look back towards York, our plans don’t have us returning this year. But plans this year need to be kept fluid as much as the network allows.

I dropped below, working my way through panto, taking notes of what needs finishing off and anything that needs altering. Yesterday I’d changed my mind regarding some sliders, they were far too bold to be used for several scenes. I’d started on a differet version and had got so far with it, this seems to be a good solution. Only one bit of model I wasn’t happy with, so that would need remaking, I’d gone a bit overboard with my floristry.

**You can even purchase from your boat!**

Three boats were moored on Naburn cut. We pulled in behind the cruiser that had arrived the other day. It looked like it’s lines had had it on a bit of a tilt when the levels had come up. It took us a while to moor up a stiff breeze trying to push us to the other side of the cut. Then shore leave was granted.

What another outside with no view and little friendly cover! This was soon got over and Tilly disappeared until 5:55, 5 minutes to go before dingding time. Thankfully the internet seems to be better than it was a few days ago.

Mick checked in with Nigel who was penning a cruiser up at the lock. 1:30 tomorrow, he’d be penning us down here in Naburn and then penning us up at Selby. Selby Road Bridge was again playing up, a heat related problem, but if Nigel was around they’d be able to get us through.

An afternoon of working through notes and crossing them off the list. Then some time adding items to a supermarket delivery to arrive in Selby. Then after food it was time for the finale of Traitors NZ 2. Oooh blimey! I don’t want to say anymore incase others are still watching it, but it went the way we thought it would with a couple of twists on the way.

0 locks, 4.9 miles, 1 wind, 1 stubborn rope, 2 noisy boats, 0 queue at the ice cream boat today, 1 fond farewell to York, 3.28 miles walked, 59 minutes briskly, 1 calf hopefully mended, A4 sheet of notes, 1 arch rebuilt, 3 more roses, 2 outsides, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

30 On The 30th June

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Under a tree on New Walk

By the time we were up this morning the river was well on it’s way down, our tyre fenders were doing a good job of keeping us away from catching on anything on the bank. We’d survived the rising river as we thought we would.

Today was going to be more about trying to keep cool than river levels. First thing the sun was managing to shine at us between houses, but that soon stopped and we managed to stay in the shade until late afternoon. This served us well, I was able to keep model making without scalpels slipping , some panto floristry required today.

The costume designer had been in touch, so after lunch we did a bit of show and tell, just to make sure her frocks wouldn’t disapear into my set colours but also so that we were coming from the same place colourwise.

Tilly came and went in the morning, Mick sat out on the path listening to Yorkshire playing cricket up the road in Clifton. If it hadn’t been so hot he’d have gone to watch, but the shade from our tree was far more appealing.

At 4pm it was time for a break from work and a little stroll was required. This year we’ve been extremely reserved on the chilled medication front (unlike some new live aboard boaters!). We’ve been moored close to both floating medication suppliers for a number of weeks this year, today would be our last chance to sample their wares. We walked down to the ice cream boat by Millennium Bridge, only one person in front of us, a suitable amount of time to choose our flavour of medication.

Mint Choc Chip for Mick and Lemon Curd for me. Mick’s came in a cone rather than with one added to a tub this time. We stood in the shade of the trees and enjoyed our treat.

The temperature inside Oleanna reached 30.1C late afternoon, thankfully it hadn’t been that all day. Our evening meal was a couscous salad which only required the electric kettle to be boiled.

Episode 11 of Traitors NZ 2 was watched. Oh blimey! This season has had some really good twists to it. It was too late and too hot to watch the finale, we’ll save that for tomorrow when we’ll be away from the noisy loitering boats!

0 locks, 0 miles, 12 minutes colour chat, 2 hot for cats, 143 for 3, 1 model nearly nearly finished, 30.1C, 2 very yummy scoops well deserved, 5 left, 0 wellies required.

River’s Coming Up. 29th June

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Naburn to the over hanging tree New Walk, York

With temperatures set to rise over the next couple of days we needed to find a shady spot, we knew where to head. Tilly had some shore leave whilst we talked to Kath and Sean on the Geraghty weekly zoom. Hygenists, NHS and noisy boats were todays topics. Kenny the Lock Keeper was out mowing the grass at the top of the bank and the river bus arrived to pick up passenegers from the campsite, it was all quite busy for a while and I did wonder if Tilly might have ventured further away. But when I went out to call for her she appeared from behind the hedge and came running straight away, a good if noisy morning.

As we moved up to the water point we could see that the river had come up, no longer a step up onto the bank and across they way the timber on the side of the cut was at least half submerged.

The new hose was reeled out and given a thorough flushing through before it started to fill our tank. Kenny came over to confirm the time of our departure in a few days time. Topped we were on our way back into town. I got on with work, pausing to wave to my family home and Philli’s boat as we passed. At New Walk Mick was pulling in, time to help.

He’d pulled up a little further along, hoping to put more space between us and the cruiser Orchid that was moored by Millenium Bridge. But the tree we were under was a willow, they have a tendancy to crack in the heat and the over hanging branches wouldn’t give us quite the shade we were after, so we pulled back to where we’d been last time. Here we could see how much the river had come up, the eyes that we’ve been using to tie to were half submerged. We needed to check the levels!

Viking Recorder gauge was on the rise. I tried to remember how high the river had to be before the bank started to go under water (a calculation I’d made when we were here in 2020), I think it was 0.9m. The prediction was close to that, we might require wellies.

So where was all this water coming from? It’s not rained in York. Well the catchment area for the River Ouse is up in the Yorkshire Dales where it must have been raining a couple of days ago, too much for the land to just soak it straight up.

I worked away the afternoon as the sun came out and heated up the world around us. We noticed on the Strawberry Fools group that Brian and Jo after the Wash crossing had headed home to York for a few weeks, but when they return to NB That’s It they were planning on heading onto the Middle Level. I sent Jo a message asking if they’d like to borrow our Middle Level windlass and key, saving them £23 for a windlass they’d use once maybe twice. I gave them our location and how long we’d be here for.

**The first blue lining, the rest will wait for a canal mooring**

As the afternoon continued the river carried on rising, the rings now below the water level. This is why on a river you should always tie off back to your boat, so you still have access to them to slacken them. We hoped someone would loosen the ropes on the cruiser down in Naburn that had been left last night.

Brian’s voice could be heard on the bank, they’d come to pick up the windlass. Lots of tales of the Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla cruise southwards from where we left them, the Thames, upper and lower, then the Wash crossing. They’ll be making their way back northwards in about a months time after bagging another silver propellor location, well that’s if one of the locks on the River Nene reopens before then! If it doesn’t there will be quite a few boats doing the reverse journey across the Wash.

As we stood chatting the big loitering cruiser came past, Orchid had gone past earlier. The chap shouted from his cabin ‘The river’s coming up!’ Yes we did know and were keeping an eye on levels along with predicted levels. Predictions were around 0.9m still over 2ft below where there’d be danger of Oleanna coming over the bank.

During the evening we kept an eye on our ropes, slackening them off quite a bit. Gradually the river looked as if it was peaking and upstream levels were starting to fall. We know what the river in York can do, I grew up watching it rise and fall flooding the land infront of our house several times a year, it’s not unusual in York. If the predicted level was going to be much higher or for a prolonged period we’d have headed back to Naburn as we did in 2020. The noisy boats were more than likely heading to the end of Marygate where the bank is higher and they could tie off to mooring rings.

By the time we went to bed the river had peaked and the bank hadn’t gone under water, no need to dig the wellies out and we’d have our shady mooring for tomorrow.

0 locks, 4.9 miles, 1 wind, 1 full water tank, 1 booking confirmed, 2 waves, 1 very shady tree, 1 river rising, 55cm in 24 hours, 10pm peek, 0.81 meters, 1 windlass and key, 1st blue lining ready for florestry.

https://what3words.com/output.jazzy.choice

Getting Away For The Weekend. 27th 28th June

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New Walk to Naburn, River Ouse

A Friday and Saturday night would most likely be as noisy as last night, maybe even noisier! We decided to make a move away from the city centre after purchasing a fresh pint of milk.

**Looking towards Stonegate rather than the Minster**

We winded and headed down stream, a bin required, our food waste caddy now just overflowing. There are bins at Linton Lock, but not much mooring so it was back to Naburn for us. Mick was at the helm whilst I busied myself painting more bits of model and inventing things.

Nothing seemed different on the river, but in the early hours of this morning there had been a rescue operation launched as two people had entered the water. By 8:30 the body of a man had been found and a 19 year old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Down in Naburn we had the whole stretch of moorings in the lock cut to choose from. We pulled into the space we’d been in last where we knew shade would appear later in the day. As the day progressed several cruisers joined us and sat themselves up on the bank. Tilly headed out, and once she’d remembered where she was, she headed over to the field to see who was about.

I went out for a bit of a walk, but my shorts meant I turned round on the path up to Naburn, too many nettles!

Saturday morning, I wanted to post my 100th pair of Sockathon socks. So with long trousers on I took to the riverside footpath. Last time I walked this route was maybe six weeks ago and the going was easy. Today however the Himalayan Balsam has totally taken over, very few flowers as yet but the plants were approaching shoulder height and making the path very narrow. I was glad of my trousers to protect from nettles and thistles.

I passed a couple walking the same way as me, they were taking it far slower, I’d see them on my way back. Round the fields and onto the main road, into Naburn to find the post box. Boats sat on the sailing club slipway, the pub was quiet.

The village has all the cottages you could imagine, Fishermans, Rosehips, River, Blacksmiths. The Village shop seemed to be closed, a shame as I’d have liked a look round. The socks went in the post box, headed to Sally, this is her third pair of socks and this time she also donated her own yarn that she’d wanted to have a go at knittng socks, but had chickened out. Thank you Sally for your continued support.

Mick had headed off to buy a newspaper, a bus ride away. I got on with my model painting then checked in with my brother who’s birthday it was today.

More boats arrived, were they just out for the weekend. A cruiser pulled in behind us, they’d come from Boroughbridge today and it looked like they were packing up to head home. The chap was very chatty and had tales of pies at the pub in the village that were a touch on the soupy side.

Another quiet evening. The noisiest neighbours being the geese and Kenny’s cockeril, thankfully no sign of Orchid.

0 locks, 4.9 miles, 1 far quieter mooring, 100th pair of dementia socks posted, 101 to be thought about, 2 more days model making, 1 happier cat, 1 bus for a newspaper, 6.13 miles walked, 80 briskly, over 2 days, 1 pair of trousers essential.

https://what3words.com/export.inversion.solid

Sand, Steam And Orchid. 26th June

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Museum Gardens, or Judy Dench Walk

Mick very kindly offered to head out to Hobby Craft at Monk’s Cross for me today in search of green paper. At the same retail park is a big Sainsburys, we’d been considering getting a delivery, but had missed out on the days our pass covers us for. So instead me made out a shopping list to last us quite a few days and off he went with his bus pass.

I got on with painting some panto glazing. Messages kept coming through from Hobbycraft several different shades of green A4 paper to choose from. In the end I opted for two, Emerald and Jewel Green. By the time I’d finished my glazing Mick had returned with all the shopping.

After lunch Mick made himself scarce again, I’d suggested the Railway Museum, he headed off to hear a talk about how steam engines worked and walk round the familiar displays of trains and engines. A few halls were closed but there was still enough to keep him busy.

This morning I’d heard a steam engine’s whistle, sticking my head out of the hatch to catch the long line of carriages headed for Scarborough. During the summer months a steam train heads from Carnforth to Scarborough four times, (it used to be twice a week!) and this was it. I’d mentioned it to Mick at lunchtime so he managed to be stood on Scarborough Bridge for it’s return westbound.

All day the wind had been blowing, we’d forgotten about the wind and what it does on the moorings in York. It picks up dried silty sand and fills your boat with it. Every surface covered with it, we’ll have to get the big hoover out!

For my walk today I decided to see if I could find more houses from my past. I walked down to the railway bridge and then followed it whist walking up Bootham Terrace. One doorway caught my eye straight away for it’s tiled surround. But as I stopped to take it’s photo I then noticed the heads carved in the key stones. Built between 1860 and 70 the row of terraced houses was built speculatively, each one that bit different from the next. Sadly, I can’t find any reference as to who had the heads added to No 10 or why.

On the other side of Bootham I headed to find where Han my boyfriend from the sixth form used to live with his mum Barbara, sadly neither of them are alive today. Far smaller terraced houses are tucked away from the posh houses on Bootham. I was glad to see the current occupiers were displaying a rainbow flag in their window.

**I think this used to be the football ground**

Round a few street corners, Bootham Terrace Football ground now a mass of houses. I stood outside an old family friend’s flat, I’ve not heard from Alex for a few years, he was in his 80’s, and it looked like his flat was in the process of being renovated.

Across the other side of Bootham I walked down a road one side filled with buildings part of St Peter’s school. If you want a good project and have a fair amount of spare cash this house could be ideal for you. Down onto the river bank and back along to Oleanna.

**I need of some TLC but a great location**

York was getting busier as the evening progressed. We’ve been aware of a few boats that loiter around the city, whilst we’ve been loitering ourselves, but I suspect they are continuous loiterers! There’s the big wooden cruiser that moves between Lendal Bridge and Millenium Bridge, a fire pit on its bow as it moves around in the dark and early hours. There’s the boat we’ve seen somewhere before, a strange craft that the local ‘Do you know who I am?’ film director dislikes as it’s an eye sore, (we still don’t know who he is!).

Then there is Orchid, a large cruiser with an even larger sound system on board!. Last weekend and this you could hear it coming from about a mile away, music BLASTING out. This evening their weekend was starting early as they passed with the elder chap stood at the bow recreating Titanic, he seemed to be loving the attention he was attracting. We just wished hey’d go away taking their loud music with them.

They did for a while, only to return and tie up on the water point/trip boat mooring, the captive audience at The Star in The City being bombarded with music. The decibels grew, we soon realised Orchid wasn’t the only noise we could hear. Eventually when the cruiser moved away one of the bars on Coney Street could be heard, the crowd singing along to the music. We think we’ll move tomorrow, not wanting to be in the centre of York on a Friday night and hopefully further away from Orchid.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 sheets of green, 1 Tornado, 1 very gritty boat, 2.8 miles, 48 minutes briskly, 1 deafening evening.

**The flotilla beached on the Wash crossing**

In the Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla news, Yesterday 14 narrowboats crossed The Wash from Boston to Wisbech. A little choppy at times, one broken down boat that needed towing for the second half of the crossing, but everyone made it. What a day for it.

It Did Say Litter Only. 25th June

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New Walk to Museum Gardens, River Ouse

A cuppa in bed then we made ready to move, we needed to fill with water.

**The Lowther putting out their chairs on King’s Staithe**

Services for boats in York have always been pretty poor, since the Star in the City took over the building by Lendal Bridge the elsan and rubbish bins have gone, we remember them from our first visit by boat back in 2014. However, there is still a water point, if you pull up when the trip boats aren’t running!

We untied and made our way into the city at 8:30 a load of washing sitting waiting in the machine for when we arrived at the tap. The distance down the bank required us to bring out our extra hose pipe. The tank started to fill, washing machine turned on, Tilly’s pooh box got a refresh, we stay dirty until later. The final rinse of the quick wash coincided with the tank being full. The bin at the top of the ramp said Litter Only, handy! A lady from the trip boats appeared as Mick was winding the hose back up, as long as we were clear by 10am we were fine.

There were a couple of spaces close by, further away from the trains crossing Scarborough Bridge. We pulled into the first gap, plenty of length, but concrete sandbags not that far below the surface. It took a little while for us to find a suitable length we could fit in and not be too far out from the bank. Across the way at the rowing club we can see four steps, when we’ve been here before it’s been two at most, the river is low!

We decided to let Tilly see how rubbish this new outside was and opened the doors, giving her five minutes of shore leave. After a while she managed to scale the stone bank and could be seen checking out the big trees. Then her tail disapeared between the railings of the Museum Gardens. Maybe our plan had back fired? No she was soon back, too many people.

We had breakfast and then settled down for the day. A message from Frank came through suggesting his current stay in hospital may soon be over and him heading home, a big surprise to him and us.

I pulled put all the wall bits of my model and got them all painted along with swirling railings. These will all need a lot of greenery adding later, a job for another day. Mick made himself useful wandering around town trying to find me some green card or paper for the greenery, sadly not being sucessful. He was more sucessful in purchasing Oleanna a present, a new water hose, our current one having lasted us 11 years and exploding on us last year on the Caldon.

To celebrate Franks news we decided to pay a visit to Pizza Express, well there was also a deal of a second pizza for just £1 and some time away from the boat was needed. We left Tilly in charge and enjoyed our cheap meal for two.

**The Minster beautifully lit by nature**

It was a lovely evening, so we walked up to the Minster which was being perfectly lit by the lowering sun, through Bootham Bar which was hardly recognisable due to the amount of scaffolding on it, then down Marygate back to the river and Oleanna.

One day I’m going to manage to sort out yarn for the next pair of socks!

0 locks, 1 mile, 1 full water tank, 1 clean pooh box, 2 flip flops, 1 sniff of gardens, 1 dormant cat, 3 walls and railings, 48 hours left, 2 pizzas, 2 glasses wine, 5 doughballs, 10am, 0 green card, 25m of new hose.

Portals. 23rd 24th June

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York

Time to get down to some serious work. Mick was up early and did a very good job of giving me a day on my own. He headed off to Headingley to watch the England versus India test match. During the morning he posted pictures of the ground just as an old school friend did the same from the other end. So at lunchtime Mick and Jeremy met up for a catch up before settling down to watch the afternoons play.

Back on board, Tilly came and went, then she stayed for most of the remainder of the day, tucked up in her escape pod.

Lots of cutting out to do today. Then I realised that having some spray mount would be advantageous. The turquoise paper I’d used for the back ground was likely to distort itself if being stuck down with pva which is something I wanted to avoid. No spray mount in my stocks, so I combined my walk with hunting round York for some.

I tried several stationers, no art shops in the middle of town any more. Then I visited Barnitts, their glue wasn’t repositionable and £1 more than elsewhere, admitedly for a bigger can. I opted for the repositionable brand from Rymans. I also popped into M&S for some lunch things.

I got all the backgrounds stuck down and did some extra painting here and there and popped a big vat of Yaxni on to cook using some of the chicken stock I’d made when I jointed a chicken the other day. Very nice it was and a good way to use up old potatoes and bits and bobs.

Chris the Pink Hat Man today completed the 82nd day of his walk from Lands End to John O’Groats to Lands End! Today he reached John O’Groats where he enjoyed some chilled medication despite it being a touch chilly to celebrate him turning around to return southwards. Chris is heading back by a different route which will take him along quite a few canals, so once he’s back in England keep an eye open for his hat, you can’t miss it! Here’s his video from today, with awards for his best room with a view, meals etc. His walk is in aid of Hope and Homes for Children. Well done Chris.

**The staircase in what used to be Habitat**

Tuesday, as much as Mick really wanted to go back to Headingly it wasn’t a suitable thing to do as he had a phone appointment with a nurse at the GP’s in the afternoon. It turned out that he made the right descission as the match was very exciting at 6:30 when his phone call was due to happen!

Instead, to keep out of my way he caught a train over to Scarborough to do a turn around. Last week we’d had Alex and Angie of Heroica Theatre Company stay with us. We don’t normaly do single weeks as it’s not that cost effective for us, but we knew the house would be immaculate after their visit, which it was. Just the bed to change, pop fresh towels out and cut the grass before waiting for his phone call. All good just a slight change of medication.

On Oleanna I finished off the cloths and portals for my model, carefully alligning coloured paper so joins wouldn’t be horrible when enlarged by 25. I then chose which scene to start painting the scenery for. I opted to start in the kitchen, yellow green and fuchia pink, it is panto afterall! Still a bit to do, but a good start.

0 locks, 0 miles, 4 trains, 1 can spray mount, 1 day walking, 2.95 miles walked, 42 minutes briskly, 2 portals, 2 cloths, 1 dresser, 2 ground rows, 1 door, 1 cat who has given up!

Back Alleyways. 22nd June

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Yurk to Yurk!

The Geraghty zoom included Tizer, Jiffy transportation for water, Garibaldis and Chris The Pink Hat Man, more about Chris another day.

This morning it was really quite windy, the temperature had dropped and the sun had gone in. We needed to get out from under the trees. Mick checked the rings ahead of us, if we got it right there should be some big ones to tie to. We pulled out from under the trees finding clear sky, but had to use thinner rope to attach ourselves to the bank.

Mick headed out to the Designer Outlet near Naburn, making use of his free bus travel. This was to stock up on my favourite tea which is far cheaper there than in the normal Whittard shops. I gave the airbrush a try out. Set it to the pressure I thought would be good using water, then mixed up some dark blue paint to spray onto paper. It took a bit of doing and the paint was a touch reluctant to be sprayed even though it was watered right down. But I got there in the end, painting it by hand simply wouldn’t have given the right look.

Then I started to cut out the bits around the roses which will be backed by the sprayed paper. All looking good, just a lot more cutting out to do!

A walk late aftetrnoon had me pacing around South Bank close to the racecourse where my school friend Charlotte used to live, streets of terraced houses where I’m sure the Terrys Chocolate Factory workers used to live. I found the London Leckenby’s prefered Butchers shop then walked past the allotments where Mikron sometimes perform. Down the back streets to Nunnery Lane passing where friends Sian and Tess used to live (decades apart), then back to Oleanna for a cooling beer and the next episode of Traitors NZ season 2.

0 locks, 100ft, 1 clear sky, 1 cooler day, 1 airbrush working, a little subtley, 4 pouches tea, £12 saved, 1 almost fooled cat, 2 many bits to cut out, 1 new right hand index finger required, 2.54 miles walked, 44 minutes briskly, 1 catch up phone call with Frank.

An Hour For Each Year. 21st June

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New Walk, York

A suggested plan for the day arrived as we had breakfast, visitors expected late morning. We gave the boat a tidy through and got dressed for the weather, hot with extra hotness and a possible walk.

Today my best friend Emma was coming to visit along with her new (to us) boyfriend Soren. they are over from Australia on a whirl wind tour catching up with friends, then heading to Denmark where Soren is from. Emma was last over in January 2020, before covid struck and it’s been the longest we’ve been apart since she emigrated down under. Our trip to York this time is purely to coincide with her being here for two days.

A tour of Oleanna for them both, then a walk along New Walk up into Fishergate sneeking a look round the back of the house where Emma’s family lived in our teenage years. We then climbed into their hire car and headed off into the countryside, the Howardian Hills just north of York. So many pretty villages, we joked about them moving back to York and buying one of the lovely houses somewhere like Coxwold.

The car was lovely and cool, the sky progressivly getting darker and the outside temperature quite a shock on gettng out of the car. We pulled up at the Fauconberg Arms in Coxwold, a very pretty old fashioned pub, much more used to having a crackling log fire going.

**Soren, Emma, Pip and Mick. Emma obviously didn’t get the blue shirt memo**

Their holiday has been funded by letting out a cabin in the Blue Mountains at the back of Soren’s house. He is a guide, he takes people on adventures around the Blue Moutains, absailing and cannon exploring. Then three of four times a year he is also a guide in the Himalayas! He’s a mountaineer!!

There was so much to catch up on, I think we hardly scratched the surface! After lunch, I had to have fish and chips, we drove to Castle Howard reminising about our fathers speeding along the straight but bumpy roads, doing their best to get their sporty little cars to take off back in the 70’s.

When Emma had sugested going for a walk, we didn’t quite know what to expect, especially with Soren’s job. Would we be taking on a ten mile hike up and down dale? Hence me trying to get my calf improved. But instead we ambled around the grounds of Castle Howard listening to the peacocks and enjoying the rain that fell on us in the rose garden. We joked about which wing of the house we would have each and how we’d have a pimms party every Friday night in the central hallway.

Some chilled medication couldn’t be turned down. Mick a little surprised to recieve his in a tub, so Emma asked for a cone. This was added to her tub as if it was a flake! A very peculiar way of serving it.

As there were more people to catch up with we were returned to Oleanna before they headed on to their next engagement. Big hugs were given that have to last us a few more years. There’s never enough time. The only way there is more time is to head to Australia to visit them there. We just need the SJT to employ one of our favourite cat friendly actors who would be happy to look after Tilly for a few weeks.

As we’d hardly walked anywhere and my calf was up for it, I walked around the block. Up to Scarborough Railway Bridge and back again, only a slight twinge. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep up the pace now.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 rendez vous made, 58 years of being friends, 1st meeting, 1 celebration, 1 snoop, 9 pretty villages, 1 of each, 4 for the price of 3, 4 chilled medications, 2 cone accessories, 5 years, 5 hours, 1 hour for each year.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna

The River Alone. 2nd July

Saying Goodbyes. 1st July

30 On The 30th June

River’s Coming Up. 29th June

Getting Away For The Weekend. 27th 28th June

Sand, Steam And Orchid. 26th June

It Did Say Litter Only. 25th June

Portals. 23rd 24th June

Back Alleyways. 22nd June

An Hour For Each Year. 21st June