Category Archives: Selby Canal

Windy Passage. 4th July

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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

1 flood lock, 2 locks, 1 left, 1 right, 13.3 miles, 1 wind, 2 much wind, 2 helpful CRT staff, 1 pouncing cat, 1 props list, 1 very blustery night.

The River Alone. 2nd July

Eggless. 19th June

Selby Basin to Naburn Visitor Moorings

Around 10am a black van came past, headed down towards the lock, came back and pulled into the passing place close to us. Sean from SPL Covers was on his way to Barnsley and had stopped off to measure up for a new side panel for our pram hood. A template was made and the canvas samples looked at, the closest chosen. Hopefully we’ll have a new side within a couple of weeks. Much easier than me making a template from brown paper and sticking it in the post to Gary. Sean also showed us how they do the front panel of pram covers so that you can open your rear hatch fully. When Oleanna is repainted we’re thinking of gettng smart new covers too, if budget allows and being able to open the hatch more would be a bonus, something to think about.

As I added a colour to my panto portals Mick pulled us forward to the water point to top up the water tank, next yellow water was dealt with. It was nearing midday and a breasted up pair had arrived ready to head to York. The ladies onboard the pair had hired someone to accompany them up to York to give them some confidence on their first tidal water. He certainly was knowledgable of moving a pair.

We shared the first locking down with NB Poppy, another couple doing their first tidal water, they’d hired a pilot to assist them too. We felt slightly left out it just being the two of us, Hey what about me! I’m an invaluble help. From your nest on the bed!

Freya passed our centre line round a bollard to see us down, ‘whilst I’m in training it all has to be just so’ she said. The lock dropped, the gates opened and we waited for the go ahead from Freya, a gap in any passing debrise found. We opted to lead the way and out we came, dipping to the side as the flow caught us, then we straightened up and were zooming along with the flow again as if we’d not had a night in the basin.

Behind us NB Poppy turned out onto the river, the lock gates closed ready to be reset for the breasted up pair.

Under the bridges and round the bend, the exciting bit of the trip over quite quickly. When we came to a longish straight I headed below to put lunch together for us, hoping I’d be back up top by the time we reached the first tight bend in the river.

On previous journeys there have been numerous Kingfishers, today not one to be seen, but how many Egrets? Or was it just the one flying off ahead and reappearing round the next bend.

Sheep and cows on the banks moo’d and baaa’d back at me when I said hello.

***More tidal water! This is getting boring now!***

Soon the push of the tide wained, it really didn’t feel like there was much push anymore, had we outrun the tide? Possible as we’d been let out as soon as we could bump our way over the silt build up outside the lock. It was quite odd compared to yesterday rushing along with little effort on Oleanna’s part.

The bridge keeper at Cawood waved from his sunny seat outside his hut. As NB Poppy came into view the keeper popped into the hut, possibly to let Naburn know we’d just passed.

**So low, the speed boats would have a job being launched today**

Just where had all the wood gone? When we returned from our last visit to York the next stretch of the river was filled with trees, today there was the odd one, but nowhere near as much as there’d been then. Was it all behind us coming in on the tide? Or had the last lot of Spring tides swept it all out to sea?

At the 3km marker Mick radioed ahead to Naburn. A very garbled message came back, hmm what had Kenny just said? Well at least he knew we were nearly there.

**Naburn Weir and a narrowboat coming towards us**

As we rounded the last bend a narrowboat came into view heading towards us, maybe Kenny’d been telling us they were on the way. At the lock we were asked to pull as far ahead as possible, NB Poppy would come in behind us. He asked the crew behind us how far behind the breasted up pair were, ‘they’ll be miles behind’. Kenny opted to penn us up,we’d expected to wait for the others. Once we’d risen a foot a horn could be heard down on the river. Kenny got on the radio and was surprised to get a reply from them, they’d have to wait now.

I chatted with Kenny about our reason for returning to York so soon. I also asked him if he had any eggs for sale, Kenny keeps hens, the cockeril will wake you in the morning. Sadly he’d sold the last of his eggs this morning, but there may be more tomorrow.

Once up we pulled over to the visitor mooring bagging the shadiest patch, oh that was nice and cool. What3words noted, then the doors could be opened for Tilly whilst Mick hung up the washing we’d done whilst on the river. Time to catch up with news on Frank and be his PA for a while. Mick had a towpath haircut. A chicken was jointed, most of it popped in the freezer, one lot made into chicken taglitelli which normally has peas in it, but today it was brocolli, not quite the same, tasty all the same.

2 locks, 14.1 miles, 1 load washing, 3 narrowboats, 1 butty, 2 pilots, 1 cat, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 9 egrets, 3 herons, 0 kingfishers, 2 hours shore leave, 4 messages, 1 crackly phone, 5 potential meals from 1 chicken, 1 plan formulated for our return.

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

May Map.

Well considering we’ve been sat around for what feels like the last month it was a surprise to get the Nebo Monthly Summary through.

This is where we travelled in May.

We moved 11 times, underway for 18 hours and cruised what the report says was 76.5 miles with an average speed of 4.1 mph and a maximum speed of 8.1 mph, we have been on rivers and had the tide to assist us too.

The Nebo reports tend to be more accurate than they have been in the past, but there are still two different distances recorded. One is in the banner of the report and suggests the total distance travelled, the other is at the end of the days log which is a running total, this can often be 0.2 miles or so different.

So my tally of distance for May is 78.125 miles.

My spread sheet also records milage from Canal Plan, but because that is done in miles and furlongs it takes a bit of time to add up, which is currently better spent on model making for panto.

The Floating Forest. 3rd May

New Walk, York to Haddlesey Flood Lock, River Aire

As we laid in bed with our morning cuppas we could feel Oleanna moving, no sign of a boat anywhere, it had to be the effect of a speedy boat’s bow wave. A few minutes later one of the big trip boats came motoring past at great speed totally empty. This was to be todays River Bus and it’s first pick up was most probably at Naburn Lock.

**Picking up passengers from campsites on it’s way back into the city**

Soon after breakfast we pushed off, winding and headed down stream. This stretch of river now feels like we live here, so it was time to put some distance between us and it. The River Bus was on it’s way back up stream, having picked up from at least two campsites by the river already, at least it was doing a more reasonable speed now!

A cruiser just beat us to the water point above Naburn Lock, Mick laid out our hoses to show intent another boat sat between us and the tap, we’d be sharing the trip down the Tidal Ouse with this boat today. Kenny , the Lockie, said he’d open the lock at 12:15 and he’d set us off down stream around 12:45. Water topped up, rubbish disposed of, yellow water sorted we were ready and waiting as the top gates opened up for us.

**Goodbye Naburn see you in a few weeks time**

Mick discussed who would go first with the other boat, we’d lead the way, apparently we’d be faster, we weren’t sure about this, but led the way from the lock. From Naburn you punch the incoming tide for what feels like an absolute age. We’d been warned that a boat was coming towards us and sure enough they came round a bend leisurely at speed as we fought our way.

After a short while we started to meet a lot of detritus in the river. You expect it on the Ouse, but today there just seemed to be so much of it. A constant flow of branches, rafts of twigs, it was a whole floating forest. It kept on coming mile after mile of it. Mick did his best to avoid it all, the cruiser generally following us. Maybe this is why they wanted to be behind us, we’d part a way through it all for them. Trying to avoid it meant sticking to the edges, hoping there was enough depth. Then cutting right across the stream of it all to find more water before we were forced into the bank.

At the water ski club two boats were being put into the river. How would they cope with everything in the water? I’d certainly not want to be on a ski being dragged through all this stuff! Well to be honest I’d not want to be on a water ski in the first place. Onwards we battled, weaving our way slowly forwards, this is our fourth time of visiting York and we’ve never seen it this bad.

Then from nowhere behind us the two speed boats arrived and over took us. Filled with people and towing no skiers, as soon as they were past us they opened up and soon vanished into the distance leaving us in their wake with trees bobbing up to say hello left right and centre! Thanks guys, this was stressful enough without you adding to it.

The flow was pretty strong, Mick had upped the revs, we were only managing 2mph, the engine temperature was gradually creeping upwards. I opened a tap in the galley to run off some hot water. The sink steamed away for a good ten minutes. The engine temperature dropped a few degrees. Mick knocked the revs down.

A clearish patch ahead, the cruiser chose it’s moment and passed us. They could go faster than us and now we’d got through the majority of the detritus they cranked on ahead.

Cawood Swing Bridge, manned today, we wonder what they do all day if it doesn’t need to swing for boats? Maybe they have other jobs to do, totally unrelated to the bridge. Now the tide stopped coming towards us, soon it turned and aided us down stream. We were now using fewer revs than when we’d been doing 2mph and we got up to nearly 8mph.

Once round the steep bend and out of all the floating logs we had lunch on the move. The kilometre marks on the banks were moving past much faster now. The river wider, the sun showing itself. We radioed ahead to the lock, Nigel was just penning the cruiser up, he’d be ready for us in ten minutes, perfect.

Soon we reached the big final bend before Selby. Mick slowed the engine, kept to the middle of the spans of the bridges and then bided his time to come level with the modern flats. Time to turn to face the tide and drift back towards the lock.

A couple of blasts from the bow thruster helped us to turn, then we drifted back to about level with the lock. Nigel stood on the bank chatting to someone. Mick waited until it felt right, then swing the bow round to face the lock, turning up the revs, Nigel pointing to keep going, keep going, into the lock. Job done another perfect entrance.

We wanted to get a bit further today, so as soon as I could step off the bow I headed off to work the swing bridge on the canal. The key of power only held up a couple of cars. Onwards, I opted to walk whilst Mick brought Oleanna along. New boats sat on most moorings, including a Mr Whippy boat!

Under bridges, some curvy, some narrow to walk. A wide beam had nearly got into the side at Burn Bridge. A boat was at the high mooring, someone must have persevered more than us to removed all the branches. It was warmer now the sun was out and I was striding along. Two boats came past us. How much further? I really could do with a wee. A bridge hole up ahead gave me the opportunity to jump on board, then once I’d added to the yellow water tank I hopped off again to finish walking the Selby Canal in one go.

Ahh! Of course it’s bank holiday, that’s why all the moorings were full, including the ones at the end of the canal at Haddlesey Flood Lock. Well that’s not strictly true, there was a gap, only 22 paces long and we needed 26! Argh. We’d had enough for the day now and really didn’t want to risk getting to Beal Lock and there being no space there either. A lady stuck her head out from her narrowboat, ‘you won’t fit in there!’ We knew that, Mick was just picking me up. We crossed our fingers that the lock landing for the flood lock would be unoccupied and headed out onto the river.

Strictly speaking we shouldn’t have moored up on the lock landing, but as the flood lock is open at the moment and you can just go straight through it we didn’t feel too bad mooring up for the night. Only one boat came past us after we’d moored up, the cruiser we’d come down the Ouse with, they were hoping to reach Staniland Marina this weekend.

For some reason this evening the laptop has decided to process over 200,000 items! Because it is doing this it won’t sync things and therefor is hiding things that were synced from elsewhere! Very frustrating especially when there are lots of photos to go through. The IT department has looked into it and it seems to be a problem other people are having also. For now we’re leaving the laptop on so that it can continue processing things, it could take up to 56 hours!

Apart from the computer it was a quiet evening with a good view along the River Aire, who knew a pipe bridge could actually be picturesque!

2 locks, 1 flood lock, 24.4 miles, 4 swing bridges, 1 opened, 2 held up, 2 rights, 5 mile constant stream of wood, 7 footballs, 2 buoys, 1 trip boat, 2 speed boats, 10 minutes cooling down, 1 emergency wee, 1 lock landing mooring, 0 shore leave for Tilly.

Internet tonight.

Hard to tell really

https://what3words.com/forgot.desk.embellish

Wet, Brown And Willowy. 21st April

Selby Swing Bridge to Naburn Visitor Moorings, River Ouse

Just what we expected a rainy Bank Holiday Monday!

Waterproofs were put on as four of yesterdays cruisers left Selby Basin. There’d be more room for us now. We moved up to the swing bridge. Looking all round, vehicles come from all directions to cross this bridge, I waited for a gap in traffic then pressed the button. Only two cars held up.

We pulled up by the pump out machine, time to do our chores. Water, yellow water, Tilly’s pooh box and rubbish. Mick chatted to Nigel the Lockie, yesterday he’d suggested that we should be ready at midday, but he might hold off sending us out until the tide had built up a bit as it was quite a low tide. However this morning the tide was already on it’s way in, so we should be ready to go at midday. We pulled into the lock just before the day turned to afternoon and soon next to us was NB Ooer Josh. They were returning to Naburn after being blacked in Goole.

Nigel asked who would go first, we opted to lead. Once he’d opened the gates we were to wait for his signal, there’s a LOT of stuff goes up and down the Tidal Ouse and it’s best not to meet it when turning out of Selby Lock. Down we went to meet the tide, the gates opened, a big tree went past. After a minute or so Nigel waved us out.

The current here is pretty strong. Mick set us going and I knew what to expect. Once across the slack water by the lock, Oleanna started to turn to follow the current up stream. The force of the water pushing hard against the side of Oleanna means she ends up leaning over quite a bit. Disconcerting to say the least, but as we straightened up with the flow she settled herself back to being upright.

Pretty quickly you come to Selby Rail and Toll Swing Bridges. The right hand span should be taken. Both of us saying ‘stay in the middle’, the force of the water through the Toll bridge really wants to twist you round to hit the pier (or so we almost found out on our first trip up the Ouse on Lillyanne) a tight bend in the river closely following not helping with matters. Through without touching the sides, phew!

**Stay in the middle of the span otherwise the bridge will get you!**

With our Ouse charts at hand I kept note of where we were, only small lengths of red line to follow, don’t cut the corners. Last time we’d made this trip I think we counted five Kingfishers, today we saw none! They were all being sensible sitting in their dry burrows possibly sitting on nests.

Jon on NB Oor Josh now had an umbrella up, the rain constant, not down pouring, just constantly wet. Thank goodness for Mick’s rugged tablet, not minding the rain as we whizzed along.

Logs and detritus sit on bends. Last time I think I referred to it as a log flume, it’s not changed! At one point Mick knocked Oleanna out of gear for us to glide through a thick patch.

NB Oor Josh was kept in sight most of the time, a distance behind. Were they gaining on us? We picked up the revs a touch. Were they dropping behind? We knocked the revs back.

The Ouse on a wet day is pretty much brown and willowy. Mud banks to either side, high flood banks obscuring any views and then the main type of tree, willow.

Something different! Cawood Swing Bridge, we’d not need it to swing for us today, plenty of air draft. The bridge keeper normally waves, but we saw no-one today. Where had our buddies gone, it felt like an age before they appeared under the bridge.

Now the river narrows, I’d forgotten how much it narrows near Acaster Selby. Cows and sheep peeked up from behind the flood banks.

Moreby Hall stands on the east bank. I think last time we’d come through it had been a hotel, or was just about to open as one. Today it’s been converted into apartments with airsource heat pumps, EV charging points. Plenty of them to choose from if you’ve a few spare pounds. Have to say I think the photos on the details have been generated by AI as they just don’t quite seem right.

Round the last bend, Naburn Lock comes into view. Kenny the Lockie stood up high and waved us into the lock. We pulled in against the wall, bow rope around a riser, the stern not quite close enough so Mick used the boat hook around the ladder, not ideal. Oor Josh came in alongside. Ropes passed round our T studs, gates closed behind and then we gently rose up to Yorks river level. It was such a gentle rise there was plenty of time to chat with our buddies, very nice to meet you both, maybe our bows will cross somewhere on the Ouse in the coming weeks.

We pulled up on the visitor moorings. Not at the far end in case the trip boat was running, but near the middle. The top of the path wet with puddles from todays rain, last time we’d been here it got fully submerged and we’d ended up rafted up to three other boats by the pontoon!

Tilly was granted shore leave, she did take some despite it raining. After a late lunch I headed out myself to get 40 minutes walk in. Along the river bank towards Naburn and York, a nice path to Naburn Hall. 20 minutes out and back and chance to check if the tea rooms by the lock were still there. Yep, it’s a vegan tearoom.

**Tides and when the lock is manned for April**

Back to Oleanna to dry off and check in with my brother Andrew regarding some plans. This was followed by attempts at some serious planning. We’d aimed to be in York for a few days, then head upstream to Ripon. But we’ve a few trips to Scarborough over the coming weeks, would Ripon serve us well? Would we run out of time on the moorings? Would we need to book into a marina? Ripon Motor Yacht club don’t have room for a narrowboat of our size, the Marina does, at £22 a night or £140 a week?

But as much as we want to visit Ripon again, it was making things far too complicated. We needed a rethink. A few options and a change of route may be required, all tide dependant too. Perhaps a stay in a marina? We went to bed with a possible solution for the next couple of weeks. The next few will have to wait to be solved.

2 locks, 14.3 miles, 1 swing bridge opened, 3 swing bridges far 2 high to need to swing, 2 held up, 1 left, 1 small tide, 1 wet day, 2.66 miles walked, 40 minutes briskly, 1 stove lit, 1 new tube of stove rope glue needed, 1 plan out of the window, plan 6 to check tomorrow.

https://what3words.com/bleak.calms.renewals

Easter Oranges. 20th April

Selby Swing Bridge

A lazy start with the Saturday newspaper in bed, listening to the Abbey bells. We were up in time to join the Geraghty zoom, breakfast had to wait for later though. Subjects covered, empathy, sheep with hankies, sponsored relay cruising and a walkie talkie lunch.

**We forgot to defrost some sausages, just as well really**

Yesterday we’d found some gf black pudding so that was added to our egg, tomatoes and mushrooms. Tasty.

A walk down to the lock to see if a Keeper might be about. The door to the little hut was open and Nigel was sat relaxing, he’d had an early start checking the levels up on the Ripon Canal this morning. We checked that we were still booked in for tomorrow and heard that there were five or six cruisers headed from Naburn this afternoon. That would be worth coming back to watch, we headed into town to see if we could find the Easter Bunny.

We’d missed all the fun by the market cross. The Abbey was setting up tables for something later today. Not many people about. We had a good wander around.

Houses for sale, this nice looking little terraced house down Rupert Street, wiped clean of any interior detail. Mr C’s Chippy, now when did we have 2 of each from here? Did we have a car at the time? It turns out it was when we were waiting for the River Ouse to come down on our escape from Goole in 2021, Tuesday night is GF night.

Down a side street towards St James the Apostle Church. A row of rather fine terraced houses, one of which is prime for some TLC, filled with original features. But would you keep the avocado sink and toilet?

We made our way back past the station and my favourite door in Selby. It used to roll to the sides and has had some remedial work at some time. But the tarmac on the pavement restricts any possible movement along with brackets at the top, possibly holding it now to the building.

Back at the lock the first of the cruisers was coming up off the river. Just as Nigel was dropping the water for the following boats they arrived. One winding to face the tide, the gates just opening in time. The other winded a little further down stream and then made their way back to the lock and entered before Nigel had given the go ahead. Nigel wasn’t too happy with this.

**The Lockies Key of Powerful Powerness!**

Several gongoozlers watched on, crew from the first boat came to help, but all were very much kept in check by Nigel, looking out for everyone’s safety. Ropes round bollards and risers these two boats were penned up. The boats had all timed their arrivals with penning up in mind, good gaps between them.

The next arrived winded and had to stem the tide for a bit as the lock emptied. The next and final boat came past the lock, winding further down stream. Would they both fit in the lock together? The lead boat was nudged right up to the top gates. Tail end Charlie waved in to join them, directed by the Lockie, instructions relayed by the crew to the skipper inside the cabin. A perfect entrance to the lock, the skippers first time turning into Selby and their first time on a river!

Close to Oleanna was a newly arrived boat. We stopped to say hello thinking they might be joining us tomorrow. But the crew despite having boated for well over fifteen years and been just about everywhere, they have never gone on tidal water. They’d come and watch tomorrow and give it some more thought.

I was short on my walking for the day, so carried on past Oleanna to see if I could find Staynor Hall which looked like it was surrounded by a new Persimmon development. I walked round into the houses. Looked for what I thought would be an old building but could see nothing but a green modern school building at the back of some playing fields. It may still be there somewhere, but disguised in a plain modern building.

I tried to find a path back towards an older housing estate, but found it fenced off, so had to return through the land of little boxes. The road arched round to Denison Road which brought me back to the Swing Bridge. Time to put that joint of Pork in the oven.

The flotilla appears to have now split into three. Two crews having headed back to their houses for Easter, another two in Hemel and I’m not sure where the lead boats are now. Happy Easter to them all. Just incase you haven’t signed it yet, here’s a link to the Fund Britain’s Waterways petition

0 locks, 0 miles, 8:45 start at the tip, 4 slices black pudding between us, 1 slow walk, 5 cruisers, 0 space in the basin, 5.36 miles walked, 48 brisk minutes, 1 joint of pork, 2 beers, 4 glasses wine, 1 quiet evening, 0 Easter eggs, 2 chocolate oranges left from Christmas.

We Have No Bananas. 19th April

Burn Bridge to Selby Swing Bridge

Our plan to see if we could get in along the full length of moorings at Burn Bridge was thwarted this morning by there being an angler who’d set up camp half way along from us to the bridge. Instead Mick went along with our boat hook, dipping for depth. Shallow, shallow, until he prodded at about the point where the old moorings had extended to. We reckoned there was under 2ft of depth by the bank all the way along the moorings. An email to C&RT with photos will be sent as it’s all very good to make the moorings safe, but only if it’s worth mooring there!

Mick pushed off and I walked the towpath in to Selby, by the end of the day I’d walked the full length of the canal. Oleanna’s speed was greater than mine today as there were a few sculptures to stop and look at on the way. Little if any information can be found about them which is a shame.

In towards Selby we passed Selby Boat Centre, this is where we purchased chain for our anchor and a new set of ropes from a boater who let us moor alongside, way back in 2014 on Nb Lillyanne.

Two boats had passed us this morning, the first was moored close to the Fire Station. We tried pulling in behind them, the chap coming to lend us a hand and have a good natter. Then we tried in front, just before a bend. Then on a bit further round the bend. I remembered we’d had the same problem last time we were here, but had eventually succeeded opposite the Council Tip. We kind of managed to get in behind a widebeam, this would do us.

**One of the canal culverts leading to a drain alongside the fields**

No shore leave for Tilly as the road is close and had a queue for the tip today.

After lunch we walked over the railway to the supermarkets. Meal plans for the week hadn’t included anything extra nice for it being Easter, so at least a chicken was sought. First call was Aldi, who are reportedly trialling a Gluten Free range of products, however Selby doesn’t seem to be a store that stocks them.

Next was Tescos. Big signs where the bananas should be. What is it with Tescos and Bananas, the lack of them seems to be a regular thing in their stores, yet Aldi was full of them. No Saturday newspaper of our liking! Then there was a serious lack of suitable roasting meat of all varieties, unless you were going to have 24 for roast pork!

**We decided not to choose this option for our Easter Sunday meal**

Third supermarket was Morrisons. Newspaper, bananas, and some choice of meat. We got a pork joint that should last us a few meals but not the rest of the month. To finish off my walking for the day I briskly walked down to the lock. The tide was heading out to sea, but not at the great speed I’ve seen here before. Minutes ticked off I returned to Oleanna to make a fish crumble for our dinner.

In flotilla news , the boats continue heading southwards. 2 new cables were fitted to one boat this morning by RCR. Hopefully that will be the end of problems for them all. Petition Link here.

0 locks, 2.2 miles, 2 shallow for all, 1 angler, 2 sculptures, 1 woofers wee, 1 more enquiry, 3 supermarkets, 1 joint pork, 1st of the year I think, 0 Easter eggs bought, 5.42 miles walked, 42 minutes briskly, 0 shore leave.

https://what3words.com/gathering.twee.drip

All Nice And Spicy. 18th April

West Haddlesey to Burn Bridge

Showers. Tilly was offered some shore leave, which she took up for a while before retreating inside. I’m a fair weather cat and I like it like that in my older years. Thankfully the showers petered off, not that they’d been very soggy.

We’d toyed with staying put for the day, but our options for shopping were just about none existent and if we left it too long before heading into Selby then it would be Easter Sunday with just about all shops closed. Mick spotted a Tesco Express near to Burn Bridge so that was our aim for today.

I opted to walk, at about 3 miles it would be a good way of ticking off the brisk minutes. We both suspected that I’d beat Oleanna as the Selby Canal is really quite shallow, so slow cruising. It also gave me chance to check out the footpath along the first stretch.

A big sign showed lots of local walks and that the towpath continued to Tankards Bridge, information already passed on to Paul at Waterway Routes. The footpath was good and obviously well used. I kept my pace up and kept just in front of Oleanna with enough time to pause to take photos.

**Paperhouse Bridge with the tunnels/culverts/aqueducts either side**

Yesterday I’d crossed Paperhouse Bridge where two round areas sit alongside the canal. Our maps suggest that the canal passes over these on aqueducts, even though they look just a bit like fancy side ponds. But information from the big notice says they have a tunnel, culvert between the two of them. These were designed by William Jessop to collect water and help stop the canal from getting flooded. There were originally four such tunnels/culverts/aqueducts, one has since been filled in.

I paused by the high wall mooring. Mick rang. As it was available, should we stop here for the day? Plan changed, he reversed Oleanna back to attempt to moor. There seemed to be quite a few branches in the way. He got the stern in and then with the boat hook managed to pick a branch out. However there were more branches and these were stubborn to shift. Back onboard to try from there, it wasn’t easy. I helped by staring at the branches. But that didn’t even help. After quite a bit of revving we decided to give up and continue to our original mooring.

On we plodded to Burn Bridge. Mick pulled in at the end furthest away from the busy road, under the willow tree. We’ve been here before several times and despite the road it’s a nice mooring. Had something changed? There seemed to be more grass on the bank. The stern came in, but when trying to pull Oleanna in she stopped just that little bit too far out to be able to comfortably step across. The bottom was far too close to the top! We tried again, nope! Not wanting to go any further, or to try mooring nearer the bridge we opted to bring the stern in and have the bow sticking out, after all we’ve not seen a moving boat for a couple of days and we’d still not be blocking the navigation.

Some mixing and stirring was required by Tilly, some festive baking needed despite watching what is eaten at the moment. This was left to rise whilst we walked to Tescos for a few essentials, we’ll do a bigger shop in Selby tomorrow.

Whilst I added spices and fruit to the mix, Mick chaperoned Tilly’s shore leave. We knew she’d be far more interested in the friendly cover at our end of the mooring, but every now and again she’ll do something unexpected, if that involved the road that would be very bad indeed. I took over once the buns were proving again.

Mick checked the stoppage notices. The moorings at Burn Bridge have been closed since June last year.

Please be advised that some moorings at Burn are currently unavailable due to ongoing safety renovations. The original footboards, planks, and structure had deteriorated beyond repair and are being replaced along the original banking. Alternative moorings are available at Haddlesey, and Gateforth landing. The notice stopped on 14th April.

**The mooring is a quarter of what it used to be**

Looking back at old photos, it looks as if they have removed and not replaced the original footboards. This extra few feet may have meant having enough water to get into the side and now it is far too shallow. We’ll have a go at pulling in further along in the morning to see if it’s all too shallow for us.

**Hot paw buns with their marzipan prints**

All was baked and ready to be a pudding after our main course this evening. We can’t have Easter without Hot Paw Buns! The boat smells all nice and spicy now.

The flotilla to London has had quite a few problems today, failing hydraulics on one boat and a second morse control cable has broken. RCR are on their way to fix it tomorrow. Petition Link.

0 locks, 2.8 miles, 3 tunnels, 1 towpath, 2 attempts to moor, 2 many branches, 1 willow tree trimmed, 1 very jaunty angle, 5 bananas, 1 pot humous, 130 grams cranberries, 12 Hot Paw Buns, 1 willow climbed three times, 2 pairs of socks wrapped and ready to send.

https://what3words.com/backyards.comical.grazes

Nothing To See Here, Or Here, Or There. 17th April

Whitley Lock to West Haddlesey, Selby Canal

Sunshine!!! Not much wind, a much better day for cruising.

We pushed over to the other side to fill with water and empty the wee tank. Jobs done I headed to the lock with the key of power to empty it ready for Oleanna. Today no glitches in the system, last year there had been a power cut so the panel hadn’t worked for quite sometime and the lock had been temperamental too.

A little chat with Richard from NB Isabella who were now moored above the lock. I wonder where we’ll see them next?

Today we wanted to make up for not moving yesterday, so at least 2 hours cruising required. We passed quite a few familiar boats from these parts. A pylon caught our eye as it has three sets of arms. Then a Leeds Liverpool Short Boat Mersey, looked like it had recently been blacked.

Past the huge slag heap to the south, a new distribution centre to the north, the solar farm and then the rubble which is still Kellingley Colliery, one day it will show signs of progress, one day.

At Bank Dole Junction we turned the tight right towards the lock. It’s been five years since we’ve cruised this way, would Bank Dole Lock work without problem. In the past it’s been an extreamly slow filler, in fact we once had to go away and come back the following day after C&RT had to remove silt from around the bottom gates so that the lock could make a level.

As I started to fill the lock a car drove up, a gongoozler ready to lend a hand with the gates. He’d never seen a boat come through the lock before and because there were a few weeds in the top gates he’s assumed it wasn’t used anymore. If he saw some lock gates around the system with their fully grown gardens he’d have quite a shock!

**An interesting level marker, possibly EA**

The gates are heavy, the paddles endlessly turn, but it all worked fine and we were down onto the River Aire with it’s twists and turns.

I used to enjoy the river, meandering back and forth, three power stations to spot, Drax, Ferrybridge and Eggborough. The first of Eggborough’s cooling towers were demolished in August 2021. Ferrybridge started to be demolished in 2019, the last of the cooling towers detonated in March 2022. Now only the most distant power station still stands, Drax, only occasionally visible above the banks. So there’s nothing to see here, or here, or there! The river is now just brown, green banks and sky.

As we were getting close to Beal Lock Mick had a phone call from his friend Chris from The Pink Narrowboat. Chris is currently walking from Lands End to John O’Groats raising funds for Hope and Homes for Children. It’s his 70th birthday this year and he’s hoping to raise £70,000. But being Chris he’s not only walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats but back again too! He’s currently posting a video on his channel every day, today being Day 15 on the Somerset Levels and along the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

At Beal Lock we paused for lunch. This is where Houdini our first second mate discovered she could swim! Tilly wasn’t allowed shore leave, we wanted to carry on and we’re not too keen on her going out on pontoons. The lock cut has recently been given a tidy up, very little growth between the pontoon and the bank, I wonder if all the Himalayan Balsam will return later in the year?

The lock only has a small drop. Today I didn’t even bother checking the level boards as back at Bank Dole the river wasn’t even in the green! Below back on the river there was quite a bit of noise. This next stretch can sometimes have speed boats with water skiers in tow. Today however the boat that was speeding around was a touch too small to pull a skier along, it just went round and round in circles far quicker than Oleanna ever could! The chap came up to lend a hand with the heavy gates, he then said he’d race us to the next lock.

Tighter twists and turns. One day, will a flood end up creating more Oxbow lakes or do we now manage water too much to allow such things to happen? Still no power stations, oh well!

We’d heard of a boat having been in trouble along this stretch in some floods this winter. Alistair from Goole had been called out to the boat, but there was nothing he could do to help in the conditions. We thought it had been a widebeam, but today the only boat out of the water was a narrowboat.

**Through the flood lock that protects the Selby Canal**

West Haddlesey Flood Lock was open to us, no need to operate paddles or the very big gates today, we just sailed straight through and pulled up on the mooring.

Our location noted, I took a quick look at the OS map, plotted a route to see the weir and back through some fields and headed off so that five minutes later Tilly could have her shore leave without following me.

Along the river bank, I kept my eyes open in case I could see a widebeam on the bank. Nothing to be seen. Then into Chapel Haddlesey with the hope of crossing the river on the A19 to then join a footpath to the weir. But there was no footpath along the road, it’s a busy road, so I wasn’t going to risk it. Instead I carried on walking towards St John’s The Baptist, it had caught my eye because of it’s Rapunzel like tower. Rebuilt completely in 1836 and extended a couple of times, with tower and spire erected in 1891. Sadly the door was locked, a quick check in the graveyard for any access to the river bank, none obvious but I did spot George Best’s grave stone, from 1934.

**George, wonder if he was a good footballer**

Back the way I’d come, then across fields towards Paper House Farm where a track crosses the canal. No footpath shown on my OS map and no towpath shown on Waterway Routes, I chose to carry on along the footpath, across fields of Rapeseed and down into the village. An interesting looking Indian Restaurant where there was once a pub. On reaching Tankards Bridge I noticed that there was a path alongside the canal towards Selby. When we come back I may investigate further.

**Footpath through a hedge near Paperhouse Bridge**

Tilly had had shore leave, but wasn’t impressed by the young lads fishing Can’t they read the signs! Even I’m not allowed to fish! A pot of chilli was put on to cook.

Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla news. Some boats had a day exploring Bletchley Park, we can highly recommend it too. Others stocked up at Tesco and Aldi in Leighton Buzzard continuing on southwards. Link to petition

4 locks, 1 a flood lock, 10.6 miles, 3 waterways, 1 right, 1 left, 15th Day, 1 speeding boat, 2 donkeys, 1 tower, 4.49 miles walked, 63 minutes briskly, 2 outsides, 1 vat of chilli.

https://what3words.com/seasick.appealing.cowering

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna