Today the wind was much reduced. Tilly had some shore leave whilst we chatted to Mick’s siblings. Topics today, down grading hire cars, Inverness, Halifax, £1000 for a Premier Inn room and disembodied voices.
Last nights sunset
The yellow water was delt with, a load of washing put on and Tilly came home on cue, time to make a move. The drawing board was lifted back onto the dinette table and I worked my way through the rest of the scenery whilst Mick moved the outside.
He pulled us up to top up with water above Whitley Lock, here we disposed of our old hose reel, one less thing to move about in the cratch when coming in to moor up. With the key of power I did the honours at the lock and we dropped down to the next long stretch of canal.
Anglers
The side hatch went from being open, to having the glazed doors closed, to having the outer doors well and truly closed. It sounded like Mick was pulling us in, had we reached Pollington Lock? He was pulling in on the wrong side of the canal for that. It was raining, the sky was black behind us, this was soon to arrive overhead, so Mick was aborting our cruise.
He’d pulled up just short of some bollards. I had to shout to make him aware of them, so we nudged up to make mooring a lot easier and more importantly quicker!
After lunch the weather calmed down. Tilly went out, a whole new outside for her to explore. It got the paws up, or should that be down for a stamp of approval.
Drawings drawn
By the end of the day I’d finished the working drawings. Just the groundplans and section to finish off now, but they can wait for tomorrow.
I popped burgers and what would have been veg kebabs into the oven to cook, outside not really suitable for a bbq. We’ll end up having eaten everything suitable for outdoor cooking by the time the next heatwave arrives, which looks like it is on it’s way. Shady trees will not be so easily found as they were in York. Plus our route southwards is more than likely to be blocked due to high temperatures, low levels and sand bars! What will be will be, and we’ll see where we can get to once we are no longer tied to my panto designing.
Neither Mick or myself have ever been the gooey smaltzy romantic types. We don’t call each other darling or babe or anything much other than our actual names, well there is the occasional ‘Stinky Boy!‘ but that’s it. So this morning when Mick leant over and said Beautiful Lady, I knew it was one of two things.
One. The puzzle I was working my way through was titled ‘Beautiful Lady’. He can read when he’s got his glasses on!
Two. Today would be a sport filled day and he was trying to butter me up so that he could watch both the cricket and cycling highlights later!
Enforced resting
The wind was still very strong and blustery. Tilly was given shore leave to start with, but the gusts were really very strong so we kept her in for a couple of hours hoping things would calm down. We also stayed inside, the thought of battling along the canal, crabbing to get a couple of hours cruising under our belts was not appealing.
LIfe on the cat walk
So the drawing board came out, I could spend the day updating and inking in my technical drawings for panto. Ground plan and section looked at to check the ‘out deads’ for pieces of scenery. This is how far out a flying bar can go, which isn’t very far at Chippy. If you want to fly things in then they are either limited by their length so they are out of view behind other things, or they have to ruch up on themselves. One piece of scenery needs to ruch up, but is there enough depth for it, or will I need to move it somewhere else. Out deads of the bars will need checking with Paul as the tech spec is a little bit ambiguous.
Now they won’t let me back in!
Mick listened to the cricket whilst I worked, Tilly was allowed back out as the gusts got less. It wasn’t until part way through the afternoon before we saw any boats moving. The three cruisers that had seemed like they had a permanent mooring above Woodlesford Lock came past, the three ferrits tucked up in their hutches on the back of one.
The chicken ended up being a Saturday roast, accompanied by roasted new potatoes and a big bowl of salad. If the temperatures rise again we’ll be glad of some cold chicken.
Yum num yum!
Yesterdays cricket was caught up with and the start of the Tour de France watched.
0 locks, 0 miles, 2 windy for boaters, 2 windy for cats, 3 ferrits on the move, 7 sheets of drawings, 1st day of cycling, 0 a good day for cricket!
Selby Basin to Stubbs Bridge, Aire and Calder Navigation
A boat headed to the water point first thing, once it was done and it had reversed to behind us, we set about winding, and then heading back to a mooring ourselves. Time for breakfast, then we’d be ready for the off. Today we were lucky as it was a training day at the lock so there were five CRT staff about, so plenty to help us through the swing bridge.
Swing Bridge Swung
Two chaps came to help us. We’d not seen them before, apparently, they do a refresher course on the tidal locks every couple of years and today was that day. One chap pressed the buttons on the panel for the bridge, the other stood by the little hut on the off side, where presumably they can operate it by hand if needs be. The bridge seemed to behave well and as soon as we were through a couple of narrowboats came into the basin with passages booked up to York today. There’d be six boats heading out onto the river.
Look at those creepers!
So far this year I’ve only walked the Selby Canal, so today I opted to stay on the boat and not get my brisk walking minutes in. After my panto meeting I need to get back to walking every day, I’m quite missing it.
If I had walked I think I’d have beaten Oleanna to the other end. We’ve been on the Selby when it’s been covered in duck weed, but today it was blanket weed which needed avoiding as much as possible, it’s horrible when it’s round your prop. Certainly no 7mph along here, very slow going!
Out onto the river
I sounded our horns as we came through West Haddlesey Flood lock where we turned onto the River Aire. Here it was windy, very windy and with all the twists and turns you didn’t know which side of your hat to keep hold of.
The boat that had been on the bank is now sunk!
At one steep bend a wide beam came past, he shouted to us that he’d had difficulty at Beal Lock with the gates. This is where we’d had difficulty a few weeks ago and had had to use the boat to help open a gate to get the lock equalised. But as we approached it was obvious that CRT were there checking things over. They opened the gates for us.
Beal Lock with assistance
This was the same two chaps who’d helped us through the bridge, we wondered what time we’d be meeting them at Bank Dole Lock later? They’d been called out but hadn’t found anything wrong with the lock as yet. They worked us through and opened the top gates, one of them only partially opening, maybe that had been the problem?
A Whooper swan?
There were two boats on the pontoon above, we tucked ourselves in at the far end and had a lunch break before carrying onwards, todays aim to get off the river and catch up with where we should have cruised to yesterday.
A windlass lock
It was now very VERY windy out there. I left my hat inside as I’d not want to loose it when I needed both hands to work Bank Dole Lock. The chamber was full, a couple were magnet fishing above. Mick and I emptied the lock and opened the gates. Oleanna was just coming in as a cruiser arrived above. There was plenty of time to chat to the crew who had borrowed their son’s boat for the day and they’d already been through this lock, only one top paddle working. We swapped over with them and headed back to the main Aire and Calder Navigation.
Coming up slowly!
Gosh that wind was strong! We just wanted to get that bit further, to Stubbs Bridge where we seem to moor nowadays. Oleanna was held into the side by the wind as we tied to our chains and retired inside. Tilly was given an hour or so, we thought she’d not like it out there, but she was kept occupied sitting in the shelter of the boat and then pouncing into the grass.
Fenders
I put together the first draft of a props list for panto. I’m really hoping we don’t need quite so much fake food, but we’ll see what John thinks when he’s seen the list.
Sheltered hunting today
The evening was a very VERY blustery one. With one side of the pram cover missing things had a tendancy to be moving around out the back. Our bedroom porthole needed closing and a bung bunging in it to stop it from rattling all night long. Here’s hoping we manage to get some sleep.
A couple of sips of tea in bed then we were up. The wind had lulled, we were quick to get ourselves winded so that the port side could be by the bank ready for Sean to arrive to fit our new side to the pram cover. All went well and we were soon tied up back to the bank and having breakfast.
Can I go out now?
The Sainsburys delivery chap called checking he was heading in the right direction having pulled up at the end of the road. Mick had already spotted him with his trolley of five full trays of groceries. This all needed to be stowed away. What should be frozen and what shouldn’t? I’d ordered lots of things that could be barbequed, but will the weather be suitable now? Should I joint the chicken or save it for a roast at the weekend?
Mick had left a message for Sean yesterday, he left another this morning. This week he was taking as holiday, so we didn’t want to pressure him just because we were in a handy place. Sadly no answer came. What to do?
Now to find room for all this!
With the swing bridge being temperamental at the moment we’d be needing assistance from C&RT. It would be opened this morning, should we reverse through to the other side, but to wind we’d either have to wait for the bridge to be opened again or reverse all the way to West Haddlesey. We opted to stay put for the day and hope Sean would be with us sometime.
The finished box
I got my model back out and successfully worked my way through all the remaining painting notes except for the blue lining of the portals. Popped things in the model box, ahh one more note to give the barrow a slightly darker brown. The finished model is within a gnats hair of being finished. Hooray!!!
Can I go out now?!
Mick came back from a walk, Sean had called and apologised. He could be with us tomorrow afternoon. Not ideal we kind of need to start moving to get to a station for my next panto meeting. As much as it would be nice to have all sides on our pram cover again, we opted to catch up with Sean next week somewhere. We’ll be on our way again in the morning.
Floor sprayed, edging and black done
0 locks, 0.1 miles, 1 wind, 1 model almost finished, 1 darker brown, 2 boats through the bridge, 6 bags shopping, 2 joint or not 2 joint? 2 boxes gf couscous, 4 burger buns? 0 Sean, 0 side, 0 shore leave for Tilly.
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.
Well deck cleared, shower filled!
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.
A daintier arch on the right
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.
Gates closing behind us
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.
Clear peaty river
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.
Dormant speed boats
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.
Cawood and wood
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.
Going under
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.
Choppy waters
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.
Turn as you pass the flats
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.
Into the lock
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.
Same again for another day
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?
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!
It wasn’t Sunday, but ….
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?
Millennium Bridge
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.
Major works by the station
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.
The view down to Lendal Bridge
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.
Our shady tree mooring
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.
Leaving York behind
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.
Just a few bits to finish off
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.
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.
Green base
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.
2 shades of green leaves
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.
Bead roses added
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.
Quality chilled 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.
Panto floristry completed
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.
Viking Recorder at 7pm
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.
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.
New hose with some old hose
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!
0.56m at 2pm
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.
Just you be careful out there!
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.
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.
A touch of glazing
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.
Trains!
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.
A good dramatic photo from Mick
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.
A chippy nearby
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!
Impressive keystones
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.
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.
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!
Ouse Bridge
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.
Lendal Bridge
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!
Long hoses required
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.
Lots of walls today
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.
Cheers to Franks continued recovery
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.
The river wasn’t bad either
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.
