Tag Archives: Saturday

Getting Away For The Weekend. 27th 28th June

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New Walk to Naburn, River Ouse

Arrrrghhhh! Frog in it’s throat.

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.

Inventing the inventions

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.

Spikey and stingy things

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!

Himalayan Balsam

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.

No one out sailing today

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.

Cottage

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.

Pair 100!

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.

Moo!

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.

Too bold?

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

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.

Walking down the back lane

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 pub

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.

Castle Howard

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.

Chilled medication

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.

Best friends

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.

That’s more like it!

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.

Doing A Briar Rose. 14th June

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Granary Wharf to below Fishponds Lock, Aire and Calder Navigation

As we had breakfast we could hear the gulper pump over on Lady Teal the hotel boat in almost constant use. We wondered how big their water tank must be and how big their califorier to be able to have enough hot water first thing for four showers one after another. It was then obvious that they were filling with water. The official tap is just above Office Lock but where Lady Teal was moored is where restaurant boats used to be, there must be a tap in one of the little boxes there. When they pulled out Mick asked the lady at the helm about the water point, yep it’s there behind the closed, unlocked door.

Waiting for the tank to fill

We rolled up the covers and pushed over, set the water filling and did a Briar Rose, got a load of washing going. Having been in water conservation mode for a while we’ve a lot of washing to catch up on. The tap had good pressure and our tank was soon full, I headed to the lock as Mick pushed off and winded Oleanna, the wind today not being too much of a problem as it can be here in the middle of Leeds.

Winding at Granary Wharf

I tried unlocking both ground paddles and giving them a turn as we’ve spotted other people using them this week. But try as I could I just couldn’t get them to turn more than twice, maybe that’s all anyone can manage, or maybe I’ve lost my umph power. A family stood and watched as I filled the lock, using just the gate paddles takes some time and they’d wandered off. But as soon as I started to push open a gate I could hear running feet approaching, we’d have an audience and assistance with the gates once the lock was empty.

River Lock

Time to say Ciao and thank you to the city, hopefully next time we visit the Leeds Liverpool will have sufficient water to make a passage easier across the Pennines.

Back on the river, under the numerous bridges and down stream to the Armouries. A beep of our horn to warn those who might be turning out from the basin. Key of power to work the gates and sluices, then we were on our way again.

City Bridges

Paul Balmer had asked us to double check a couple of things as we left Leeds. One was how long, if at all you could moor on the pontoon near the services for, the next mooring in towards Leeds had changed from 3 to 2 days. As we passed the pontoon we could tell there used to be signs on the posts, but someone has removed them. Whether that be CRT or a boater who knows, also what they used to say is impossible to know. The services here have been hit time and again by mis-use, the elsan being mended what felt like weekly for months on end, so it’s not impossible for CRT to have removed signs regarding mooring.

Two signs instead of one

At Knostrop Lock I let Mick know that there were rowers below the lock about to set off on the river. I counted three boats, more being made ready to set off. We kept our eyes open for rowers and the next bridge. Thwaite Mills Bridge used to be number 3, but new CRT blue signs now have it as 3D and Thwaite Mill Bridge, another thing checked for Paul, who’d only caught a glimpse of the signs from his bike. We wondered where bridges 3A, B, and C might be, the next bridge downstream being 6!

Being followed

Round a few bends we caught up with the rowers. Then more boats headed towards us, boat after boat after boat, far more than the three I’d counted. Fortunately we were spotted by them all, so collision courses were avoided.

Coming towards us

Fishpond Lock had had a grass cut, four chaps laid on the ground by the tower, hi-vis Community Payback on their backs. It must have been their lunch break. Once back on board we spotted a nice sunny stretch of bank, the solar could help with more washing and the whirligig could be put out to make the most of a drying wind, we pulled in, tied up and Tilly was given her shore leave rules and four and a half hours. See ya! Tilly made some use of her shore leave, but then stayed pretty close waiting for the ding ding bell to ring.

I can smell freedom!

After lunch, I opened up the latest draft of the panto script, John has worked the scene changes into it now, plus there are all the lyrics for the songs, which usually means lots of added props! Time to take notes to start putting together a props list and check we were on the same page as each other with regards to the scene changes. Act 1 then a walk around the block, followed by Act 2. I’d missed one thing, but it’s an easy addition to a propy bit of set.

4 locks, 5.1 miles, 1 full water tank, 2 Briar Rose washes, 1 wind, 3D not 3, 2 days not 3, 3 signs not 2, acts 1 and 2 read, 4.5 hours shore leave, 1.5 taken off the boat, 2.84 miles walked, 34 minutes briskly.

https://what3words.com/tinsel.crunch.quest

Shower! 7th June

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Woodlesford Visitor Moorings, Aire and Calder Navigation

After breakfast we started to make ready to push off. It was a little damp in the air, but we really now needed to fill the water tank and to improve the internet as that had become seriously dull.

Ahh, don’t they look lovely!

Outside the rowers were heading up stream then returning. The local swan family that process about with their seven cygnets were about. Dad really was not happy with the rowers! He would take off, wings flapping to speed to the chosen boat, landing just by their stern. Screams came from young teenage coxes. Then the next boat actually got collided with, the cob landing just behind the end rower in their boat! The trainers tried to get the rowers to keep moving, but they were all concerned and wanted to know if the end rower was okay. They did need to get shifting before the cob had sorted itself out again and aimed itself at them again. We pulled out and got totally ignored by all.

The poor girl in the end seat

I walked to Woodlesford Lock, the only walking I’d get done today. Up we rose with the help from a volunteer, he pointed out where the bottom gates had been biffed this week by ‘a Commercial boat’. Yellow tape marked where the two walkways now didn’t quite line up.

Up we go

Straight onto the water point above the lock. With clean water filling the tank, we dealt with yellow water and then I gave the bathroom a good clean, followed by a wonderfully hot long shower for myself, no need to conserve water now.

You could almost hear Oleanna’s sigh of relief

We pushed over to the spot we’d vacated a couple of weeks ago. Tilly was granted shore leave, then was ushered inside as we wanted to head back to The Spud Boat moored by the lock to get some lunch. Two tuna crunch potatoes, very tasty they were too and she certainly didn’t scrimp on the butter, just the perfect amount.

Very tasty

The drawing board came back onto the dinette table and I worked through the remainder of the pieces of model whilst MIck headed to Lidl for some supplies and a Saturday newspaper. On his return the only place he could sit was on the sofa, so he watched an episode of Narrow Escapes. We’re a bit out of sync with television programs at the moment, that will need to sort itself out as I’m not so good at watching things twice in quick sucession.

All drawings were completed, one empty box, another full. One job left to do, to have a rehearsal for my model showing, make sure everything is there and pack ready for my trip to Chippy.

Tomorrow I really must pull out some yarn to get some socks on my needles again, as I really can’t just sit and watch tv without something to do. Here’s hoping I have enough time as tomorrow we’re going cruising!

1 lock, 0.9 miles, 1 mardy swan, 2 totally freeked teenagers, 1.5 miles walked, 14 minutes briskly, 1 clean bathroom, 1 clean Pip, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 1 panto ready for a meeting, 1 evening off!

Lock Stuff. 29th, 30th, 31st May

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Aire and Calder Navigation

Thursday I spent working on the storyboard for Panto again. Editing out options, adding in the basic set to all the drawings and working on the one scene that’s still not quite right took most of the day.

The Christmas present felt catnip balls have been requested recently

I walked down one side of the river passing one bridge and crossing the next, opting to take the path inside RSPB St Aidens. The path occasionally gives you a view across the lakes that once were an open cast mine, the river lurks behind many trees on the other side.

Lakes everywhere

Soon I came across what looked very much like a disused lock. A gate recess first giving it away, then curved walls at what had been the entrance to the lock. A mooring bollard and a couple of now bent lock ladders peeked out from the earth that now fills the chamber. I checked Waterway Routes, locations of old locks are marked and we quite often try to imagine what places would have been like.

Lock stuff

In 1988 the river bank near the Lemonroyd Lock collapsed into St Aiden’s open cast mine which then of course flooded, lower seams of coal that had been mined collapsed in too, to a depth of 230 ft! An Act of Parliament was obtained in 1992 to create a new 1.9 mile waterway. Kipax and Lemonroyd Locks were replaced with one big lock, the new Lemonroyd Lock. It took ten years before mining could continue at St Aiden’s after the site had been pumped out. The coal reserves are now exhausted and the land is once again flooded and is an RSPB reserve covering 740 acres.

Stretching off into the grass

I tried to find where the top gates had been, but had no luck as the land levels out and covers any evidence.

Inventing for inventions sake

Friday. I forwarded the new storyboard to John at Chippy. There had been a staff read through of the latest draft during the week, footage posted on social media, my storyboard sat in the middle of the table. Time to crack on with the model, lots of propy set pieces this year, so my bead tray is coming in handy. I spent much of the day inventing things panto style.

Late afternoon a familiar voice saying Hello could be heard, Mick had returned from Scarborough having picked up a hire car. Well it was meant to have been a van, £20 a day rather than £60 for a car, but the only van they had was a transit which would be an inch taller than the car park Mick would be heading to in the morning, so he got an upgrade to a car. An evening off work for me and a vat of Yaxni made, which will last us for a couple of meals.

Saturday. A very early start for Mick, off the boat by 6am. He was heading to park in the centre of Liverpool and to then meet up with Marion and John for a trip on the Waverley out to Angelsey and back. A van, petrol and parking were far cheaper than a hotel for the night. If you are lucky he might come along and tell you about his voyage. If I’m lucky I might be able to upload a photo from the trip, but the internet here seems to be getting worse!

Only an empty plate to show

There was one egg left that needed eating so the start of my working day was delayed by some blueberry pancakes, well Mick was going off for a treat so I could have one too! Then Tilly and I got on with what is now just a normal day for us. She sites on the roof hatch whilst I work. Then she gets ushered indoors for me to go out for a walk, just around the block today including a trip to the bins. Just gone 11pm, I’d just tidied upmy work when Mick stepped onboard, he’d had a good day if a bit breezy and I’d managed to finish of the model for Act 1.

Metallic green critters

0 locks, 0 miles by narrowboat, 1 Paddle Steamer to Angelsey and back, 1 car not van, 3 days model making, 1 storyboard finished and sent, 1 gafforing read through, 1 Queen of Oleanna, I wonder if we could trust Tilly to lie on her bed as we cruise? Nope, she’d be off hunting as soon as the oportunity arrived!

Residuals and Birthdays. 24th, 25th May

Lemonroyd Marina and Hackney

Another look through my sketches this morning before I sent a link. Time to forget about panto for day or two. Time to think about how we’d be getting back into the marina tomorrow after a night away. Still no-one had returned Micks phone messages, still no-one had replied to an email he’d sent yesterday, still tumbleweed!

Puddles!!! Remember them!

I sent a message to Sarah from NB Honky Tonk, well actually right now they live on Dutch Barge Pheonix. Might they be about tomorrow at around 4pm to be able to let us into the marina? She offered us a spare key and came to meet us at the gate. A quick exchange of greetings and thanks before we were off along the towpath to Woodlesford Station.

A bag of socks to finish off

From here we headed to Leeds, one stop, the dark red widebeam still moored just above Office Lock on the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Out through the barriers to pick up something for lunch, M&S didn’t do too well, but I found a nice chicken salad. Then onto a train bound for London, time to catch up on a bit of knitting as the countryside whizzed by.

St Pancras

London was busy! It usually is, flashing lights and being funneled out of the station, was something happening, or was this just to accommodate football fans heading to Wembley? A long wait for the No 30 then we could sit back and enjoy the ride towards Hackney. That was until the bus decided to change its destination! Oh well we’ll get the Overground one stop. Nope that was closed for the weekend! Back on the bus, finally reaching our destination.

Today, Saturday, is Jac’s birthday. Big hugs all round and Josh had made a surprise visit for the weekend. Cuppas and chats, followed by exchanging presents. Jac got a mattress topper and some olives from us, Mick got an oil filter wrench and a head band to wear in bed which has flat speakers, so he can keep up with the test matches abroad without having ear buds in.

Jane, Jac and Kevin

Glad rags on, and face mask off for Jac, the next guests arrived bang on time. Jane and Kevin, who were over from Australia on a celebratory trip for a significant birthday of Janes earlier in the year. We last saw them in 2022, since then they have married, so there was even more to celebrate. Andrew and I grew up with Jane and her sister Emma, so there was lots to catch up on. Their celebratory trip funded by Inspector Morse, Jane was in an episode and her residual payments from one episode tend to be enough for a trip back to the UK and Europe every few years. A friend of Josh’s, Mia, bobbed in on a break from work to wish Jac a happy birthday. The pub where she works was very quiet this evening, so she managed to get the rest of the night off and came back to join us.

Pip, Mick, Josh, Mia, Jac, Jane, Andrew and Kevin

A very lovely evening, with very good company, a huge salmon, apple cake and homemade ice cream and maybe just a little bit too much wine!

Sunday morning there was only really enough time for a cuppa in bed with Ziggy and Finn and a brief chat with Andrew and Jac before we headed to catch our train, it was far too early for us to see Josh! Bus and tube, enough time to buy something to eat for brunch on the train then we were hurtling our way back northwards.

Opens in the autumn!

Tilly had looked after the boat well, but was understandably seriously bored!

Time to return the key to Sarah and Phil on Pheonix. We were invited inside for a cuppa, it’s always a bit of a shock going inside a wider boat, soooo much room! They bought Pheonix just over a year ago, Phil is tall and NB Honky Tonk was just a little bit too low when they decided to live onboard full time. NB Honky Tonk is moored on the Trent and Mersey currently and used to cruise further south when there is time.

A rather good clock on the underground

We’ve followed each other on Instagram for a few years and recently Sarah was added to the Ladies of Finesse group, so it was really nice to finally meet her and Phil. NB Honky Tonk was launched about a year after Oleanna, so we had quite a few things to chat about in common. Their evening meal was just about ready so we did our best not to disturb it too much and headed back to Oleanna to finalise a supermarket delivery and get something to eat ourselves.

Kings Cross waiting for our platform

Still no sign of anyone from Aquavista!

Bridge over Lemonroyd Marina entrance

0 locks, 0 miles, 4 trains, 3 buses, 1 tube, 7.32 miles, 51 brisk, 1 birthday party, 2 antipodean visitors, 1 surprise son, 1 lovely evening catching up, 2 much wine, 2 M&S lunches, 1 loaned key, 1 good old chat, 2 boats Tonks, 1 load washing, 2 loads drying, £10 added to our account, 0 Aquavista.

https://what3words.com/inherits.places.tropic

Stickyickyness. 17th May

Aire and Calder Navigation

With Mick being home (boat home) today it was a day for chores and not for work.

The yellow water tank needed emptying and then disposing of thoughtfully. The washing machine was put to use as I’d been good at keeping my water usage to a minimum last week we could do this without moving to the waterpoint.

A rare sight, Mick about to wash the boat!

The next thing was to try to give Oleanna a good wash to get ride of the stickickyness she’s accumilated over the last week, plus that still present from our stay in York. Mick pulled us along a boat length from under the none shade giving stickyicky trees.

Sweeping down the roof wasn’t really an option as the stickyickyness was just clinging onto everything. We opted to use canal water to wash her down, not the cleanest, but certainly better than hogging a water point in times of near drought! Yorkshire Water are considering imposing a hose pipe ban.

Mick sluiced down the roof, as I started to wash down the cabin sides with the blue brush the Canal Gods of the South gave us years ago. The first passing of the brush revealed just how much dirt was sticking to the cabin side. The second lifted it, the third rinsed it all off. Not a full shampoo and set, but it will do for us.

Hitching a ride

The most important bit to have a good wash were the solar panels. At the beginnning of last week they’d kept up with my power needs very well, but as time went on, plus the cloud cover won’t have helped, I’d been needing to run the engine for a while to top up the batteries, so not just for hot water.

Tilly, you’re not really helping much in there are you!

Port side done, it was time to get the second mate back on board and spin Oleanna round. Tilly obliged in being picked up and popped inside. The engine started, we untied leaving the chains in position and span Oleanna round 180 degrees.

Erghhhh!!

Oh Blimey! This side hadn’t been touched since we’d got stickyickynessed in York. Birds and tree sap had all done their worst, then this last weeks stickickyness had led to stickyickyness dribbles down the cabin side. Eww!

We repeated the sluicing down of the roof and cabin sides. Four passes over with the brush were needed to lift the grime. Then there was the bird poo! These we really should have attended to sooner. Baked on hard requiring a good soak and repetative scrubbing. The cream and blue paint beneath having crazed revealing little veins of the white undercoat! Good job we’re getting a repaint! Also something to keep on top of once we’ve spent the money on it!

That’s better

Every windows got a good clean too, no longer frosted, I can be nosy again.

Mick gave the pram cover a soaking. He then got told off as the stickyickyness dribbled down the cabin side I’d just cleaned! The horns needed a wipe over and then the cratch glazing. Other doors and hatches could wait, we were pooped and wanting lunch.

Bird poo damage!

After half an hour I could already spot the first signs of sap landing on the windows. Time to move again. Tilly was encouraged back on board and we did a leap frog past the next boat where the nearest trees are a distance away.

We had a walk/hobble up to Lidl to do a restock. A chicken made it into our trolley, a roast tonight to be enjoyed with a glass or two of wine. The whirligig went on the tiller making the most of todays sunshine to dry the washing.

This evening Mick had a look at the first draft of winter stoppages, especially on the South Oxford Canal. When I start work at Chippy it is before the winter works start and in past years there have been stoppages that have meant Oleanna has needed to be quite a distance north before panto opens. I think last time we were on the boat Mick had to high tail it to Rugby. This year (so far) it looks like there will be works at Somerton Deep and Dashwood Locks before Christmas. This means Oleanna will need to be north of these, so Banbury which isn’t too bad so long as I can catch the last 488 at weekends to get home for a night or two.

The rest of our trip northwards looks pretty good too. Only one stoppage at Barton Turns on the Trent and Mersey which opens for Christmas, so not holding us up. Our choice of route avoiding rivers as much as possible so they won’t hold us up reaching Redhill on the River Soar. If needs be we can sit out high levels and then at short notice make a dash for the Soar and Oleanna’s repaint. Fingers crossed the stoppages on our route stay this way through the next rounds of consulations.

0 locks, 100ft, 1 wind, 1 slightly confused cat, 1 sightly dizzy cat, 3 outsides, 1 non stickicky boat, 1 fridge full again, 1 roast chicken, 3.17 miles, 42 minutes.

Goodramgate Curry. 26th April

New Walk to Museum Gardens, York

A very busy river today

Preparations for moving the boat today with guests onboard. We undid our means of tying to the chains and just passed the ropes round them as a temporary measure, covers were rolled up and flattened, life jackets at the ready should anyone require one.

How many boats? York will be full when we get back

Our passengers arrived, the London Leckenbys, we found a gap between trip boats and day boats and pushed off, winding to head down stream. The boys were at the stern and Jac and I at the bow. Several landmarks were passed, numerous cruisers pulled out from York Motor Boat Club, then we slowed right down to align with the grid line on our maps.

Boys

A pesky day boat was close on our tail and didn’t understand that we wanted to try to hover in the river, so they were totally in the way! They shouldn’t have been that far downstream anyway!

Josh at the helm

The roof line of our house was spotted, photos taken. We winded and tried again without the pesky day boat, but we’d ended up too close to the bank for a better view holding against the flow of the river. At least we’d all seen our house.

Back into town. Under the bridges, Skeldergate, Ouse, Lendal. Andrew had been keen to continue on to Clifton Bridge, but we quickly spotted a narrowboat sized gap in the moorings so slipped into here quickly before anyone else got it.

Rowers

On the opposite bank the world was very VERY busy. Today was the Roses Regatta. York and Lancaster Universities had gathered to battle on the river. Crowds lined both banks and announcements were being made. We’d timed our arrival very well, further up stream and we’d most probably have ended up being part of the regatta.

Cuppas and cake all round as boats headed off upstream to race back a km of the river. The red rose boats seemed to have the edge on the pale blue York team, in fact the final score was 5 to Lancaster 3 to York.

We split up in the afternoon, the London Leckenbys headed off to do work and jobs at the flat whilst I walked up stream along Clifton Ings where flood water is kept until the river recedes when there is flooding in York. Back into town through Clifton, passing the old cinema, St Peters School then back down Marygate to the moorings.

The back of Youngs Hotel

A quick freshen up and we were out again, heading into town to see what the Guy Fawkes Hotel was like. Back in the 70’s this was Youngs Hotel and on Saturday lunchtimes you would find my Mum and Dad sat on stools by the bar with a group of friends. We’ve not been in for decades so were interested to see what it was like now. Well it’s grown in size a touch and seemed to be very popular, we found seats in the yard and enjoyed some nice beer and wine.

Then a walk to near Monkgate. When children in the 70’s Dad would bring us to an Indian Restaurant called the Taj, he was well known here. He’d spent several years in India at the end of WW2 and I’m not sure Mum’s version of a curry wasn’t quite as good as that he got in the restaurant, after all back then ingredients for foreign cuisine were scarce. The other day I’d spotted The Bengal Brasserie, almost where the Taj had been, this had been a no brainer where to eat tonight.

A pretty good spread

It was busy and quite noisy. A dish each, most of which we’d not tried before, a couple of vegetable sides and some rice and nan breads. A very nice Indian meal, it would have been nice to have been able to turn down the volume from another table, but other than that it was lovely. We finished off with another drink, this time at The White Swan.

Another suitable day celebrating Daddy Fatso’s Birthday.

0 locks, 3.5 miles, 2 many boats, 2 many rowing boats, 3 boys at the stern, 2 girls at the bow, 60 ft space, 8 races, 6 miles walked, 78 minutes briskly, 6 pints, 4 glasses wine, 5 cobra, 1 bottle, 5 mains, 2 sides, 1 curry for Fatso.

https://what3words.com/bats.chose.retire

We Have No Bananas. 19th April

Burn Bridge to Selby Swing Bridge

Not quite into the bank!

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.

I wonder how much diesel they sell?

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.

Out onto the River Ouse soon

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

The Express Train. 12th April

Staniland Marina, Thorne

Tilly was left in charge today with her evening dingding already served before 9am, we were off for a day trip and some culture.

We took the train from Thorne North, the conductor on the train said we’d need to change at Goole for our Express Train to Scarborough. This made us both laugh. How can the train be an express when it stops at every stop and takes 1hour 58 minutes? You can drive it in about 1 hour 20 minutes!

A bit of culture

The train arrived in Scarborough with plenty of time to spare before lunch so we decided to have a look at the new exhibition at the Old Parcel Office at the end of the station car park. Fruiting Bodies is an sculpture exhibition from London based art collective Changeable Beasts. There were a couple of pieces which caught our eye in a good way, a pear tree that has been trained for the last five years to be symmetrical, a pair of red trainers swathed in watches and some large wooden blocks that have been painted and carved with patterns. The rest of the exhibition looked like the pieces had been pulled out of poor unsuspecting human bodies and really didn’t do anything for either of us.

Hmm!

Time to pick up our tickets at the SJT and settle down for lunch. A big treat lunch at Eat Me of burger and chips, they do do other things, but their burgers are so good they can’t be resisted. Quite often we bump into someone we know, today was no exception as Duncan came in soon followed by Jaye old friends of ours. We also had a visit from Annie one of our lodgers at the moment.

Naughty, but very nice

With an hour to kill before the show I sped off to clock up some more minutes and left Mick to saunter to the Town Hall to look out at the sea. I walked across Valley Bridge and then down into the valley to check on the daffodils. One side of the valley past it’s best, the other still pretty good. These are daffodils for Marie Curie.

The Valley daffodils

When I got down to the beach I had to change my planned route as of course it is the Easter holiday and the Foreshore was rammed, the beach pretty busy too.

A hazy Scarbados

I opted to walk to the Spa instead, a wedding soon to take place in the Sun Court, then back over Spa Bridge into town and back to the theatre where we met with Frank, who’d also come to see the show at the SJT.

A fab location for a wedding

Love’s Labour’s Lost (more or less) has been adapted by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane. A hen and stag do end up both taking place in Ibiza. Songs from the 90’s aid the plot with girl power, Cher, Meat Loaf, Shania Twain to mention just a few. Plenty of gyrating hips, mislaid love letters, Hawaiian pills from Swindon, Lara Croft, Blind Date and Stars In Their Eyes. It was as expected bonkers, very funny, great cast all round, but maybe just a touch too long. Having half of the cast staying in our house we had to come to see it, very glad we did. Only one week left of the run.

Love’s Labour’s Lost when the show was at Shakespeare North.

A cuppa with Frank and chance to briefly meet Jo for the first time, another lodger before we caught the train back to Thorne, changing this time from the Express train at Brough.

My favourite quote from my last Ayckbourn show

A very good day out.

Where’s my dingding?! In your tummy Tilly!

In Fund Britains Waterways Flotilla news, all boats have now ascended the Foxton flight, some have made it down Watford and are making their way south on the Grand Union. There may be a little delay in their cruise southwards as a lock is closed on the Marsworth flight, hopefully it will be mended quickly. If you haven’t already please sign the petition

0 locks, 0 miles, 4 trains, 1 exhibition, 2 many entrails, 2 burgers, 4 slices of extra cheese (between us), 1 more Duncan mention, 3.84 miles walked, 41 minutes briskly, 1 busy Scarborough, 1 wedding, 1 hen and stag do, 4 lodgers, 1 bonkers show, 1 cat with an empty bowl, 2nd dingding please, 0 chance Tilly.