Off down the tidal Ouse

The tide times are not very convenient this week. We didn’t really want to be getting to Selby much before Thursday, but Wednesday’s and Thursday’s “windows” are either too early or too late. Friday would have been an option, only it meant leaving Naburn at sparrow fart. Then I’d have had to get a hire car and drive Mags to her doctor’s appointment on Friday afternoon. So we opted for today at 3 o’clock.

We filled and emptied as required, then joined NB Pearl in the lock.

At twenty past three we were on our way, followed by Pearl
Nigel the lockie is seeing us off from the lockside.

I caught a fleeting flash of electric blue as we set off downstream…

One of three spotted today.

At this time the tide is still on the flood, and will be for another hour. So we’re pushing against it as it’s stronger than the fresh water going downstream. The problem is that if you leave it to catch the ebb and be carried down all the way, there wouldn’t be enough water at Selby to get in the lock. Timing is everything… so they say.

The day had started beautifully, clear blue skies and warm sunshine. But by the time we got going clouds had started to build.

They formed some impressive cloudscapes, though.

The sun made brief appearances and we had a 5 minute shower, but generally the weather was better than expected.

About 5 miles downstream the River Wharfe joins the fray from the west, then there’s the excitement of passing under Cawood Swing Bridge.

River Wharfe

Cawood Bridge.

Give the bridge keeper a wave… He doesn’t have to open it for us.

Cawood All Saints Church, on the right bank as the river makes a sharp left turn here.

The river twists and turns as it heads towards Selby, but the general direction is always south-east.

Another tight right hander is just to the west of the village of Riccall.

The village is beyond those trees…

It’s here that Norse invaders, in the summer of 1066, left their longboats and advanced upon York, defeating a northern English army at Fulford on the way. The city surrendered and agreed to pay tribute.

The English King Harold was on the south coast waiting for the imminent arrival of another invasion force, led by the Norman Duke Guillam (William), and was forced to abandon his preparations and hustle north to deal with the Viking threat.

Having covered the 185 miles in just three days his small but efficient army took the Norsemen by surprise and routed them at Stamford Bridge. They had arrived in 300 longships, just 24 were needed to carry the survivors back down the river to the sea.

Just three days later the expected Norman invasion took place, and a knackered Harold and his men had to go all the way back again to the south coast. The rest, as they say, is history…

I wonder if one of this guy’s ancestors watched the longships go past… 

A bit of slalom work was involved to avoid floating rafts of branches shuffling up and down on the tide.

Sunny here but that cloud is looking a bit ominous!

Nearly there now as we pass the large Rank-Hovis mill on the left bank.

I gave the Selby lockie a shout on the VHF at this point to let him know we were on our way. You don’t want to get there and find the gates shut…

Under the road…

…and rail swing bridges.

It’s a good job they put that sign there else you’d miss the lock completely!

The next few pictures are courtesy of Aileen, from NB Quaintrelle. They came down yesterday, in rather damper weather.

Lining up to turn around…

I left it a little late to turn and finished up 50 yards downstream. That’s OK, though, the plan was to come back up against the flow then turn in. But NB Pearl turned a little earlier…

After you…No, after you!... no really, you first. Oh, alright then!

We did get both boats in, finally!

Thanks for these, Aileen! (I hope I've spelt that right...)

We both moored up in the basin, there’s plenty of room at the moment.

The trip took 3 hours, lock to lock. On some of the bendy bits upstream we were down to 2½ mph punching the tide, but that rose to around 7½ mph towards the end of the trip with tide on the ebb.

A few days in Selby, now.

Locks 2, miles 14

An eventful year, 1926…

It was a busy old time, 89 years ago. The first transatlantic telephone call was made, between London and New York. WS Gifford, President of AT&T, spoke to Sir Evelyn P Murray, Secretary of the GPO. The recording is remarkably clear…
Also across the water, Robert Goddard launched his first prototype liquid fueled rocket.

Here the miners went on strike, later supported by another three million workers, which became known as the General Strike. The main stoppage lasted for 9 days, but the miners held out for several months before poverty forced them back underground. The strike was a failure; they had to accept a longer working week and lower wages on their return to work.

Abroad again, and Chiang Kai-shek came to power in China, fascist leader Benito Mussolini survived two assassination attempts and part 2 of Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf was published. Leon Trotsky was thrown out of the Soviet Politburo, leaving the way clear for Stalin the following year.

John Logie Baird demonstrated the first moving television picture in his lab in London, and traffic lights were installed in Piccadilly Circus.

But of course the most important event was the arrival into the world of Mags!

She’s seen a World War, the development of nuclear power, colour TV, three kings and one queen and sundry political leaders. She shares her birth year with the current monarch…
The internet and mobile phones she’s happy using, although she does have her moments.

So this is for you, Margaret, my love. Happy Birthday!

We had three nights in York, I know, slapped wrist! But we didn’t want to get to Naburn too early.

Anyway we were having guests yesterday, and it was a good day for a short cruise.

Heading downstream out of York, King’s Staithe on the left, Queen’s Staithe on the right.

Arthur and Wendy on the tiller

Arthur’s looking a bit nervous…

We had lunch when we arrived at Naburn, followed by a walk around the lock area.

The newlyweds again, this time with Naburn Weir behind

Wendy being a swinger…

We had tea and an early birthday cake.

A Good Day!

On a more sombre note, we were sad to hear of the loss of Mo, NB Balmaha. He’d been fighting cancer for over a year, but finally lost the battle on Saturday night. Our hearts go out to Ness and the family. He was one of the good guys…

Happy times at Whitchurch on the Llangollen Canal.

Locks 0, miles 6

All the way to York

Our plan to stop above Linton Lock today went by the board as there were two boats moored on the end of the pontoon already. Both of which had been there longer than the posted 24 hour limit…

It was about 10:45 when we pulled away from the Boroughbridge moorings. Another fine, sunny morning, but it wasn’t to last, unfortunately.

Sunshine through the trees overhanging Milby Cut

I’d had a chat with a chap on another narrowboat, Mike on NB Quantrelle. We’d agree to share Milby Lock, at least, to ease the strain of tackling these heavy gates.

Milby Lock

I was a bit dubious, though. Both boats are 57 feet long plus fenders, and we struggled yesterday to get out of Wightwick Lock, having to put the boat diagonally across the chamber to open a bottom gate. But we thought we’d give it a go.


All went well for a start, Mike pulled back till his stern was against the cill, and we were able to get the gate open on his side.
But we still struggled, just a couple of inches too long. Our stern button is longer than theirs…

After a bit of toing and froing we did get out, and set off after Quantrelle.

Heading downstream again

Swale Nab, the River Swale joining from the north

The villages stand well clear of the flood-prone river, the first sign of civilisation is 6 miles downstream at Aldwark. And that’s only a distant sighting of a church..

St.Stephen’s, Aldwark.


…and two bridges crossing the navigation.

Aldwark Toll Bridge
The bridge crosses at the site of a Roman ford, the village name of Aldwark is Old Saxon for old fort, referring to a Roman fort built here to protect the river crossing. The bridge now connects Aldwark with Great and Little Ouseburn. For a 40p charge drivers get to avoid a 25 mile detour.

Getting ready for an afternoon’s paddling…
Just downstream of the bridge the Central Yorkshire Scouts have created a Water Activity Centre, offering a variety of water-based activities.

Below Aldwark the Ouse Gill Beck, a minor tributary, joins the river. It has a major impact, though. It’s here that the name of the river changes from The Ure to The Ouse.

Somewhere around here…

There should be a sign, I reckon.

Approaching Linton Lock we saw that the upstream moorings were occupied, but luckily we’d caught up with NB Quantrelle, so dropped down the lock with them. To save any problems this time, I lifted the front fender up onto the foredeck, saving us about 8 inches on the length of the boat. We came out easily…

We pulled onto the moorings below the lock (privately owned, £6 a night…) to wait while our locking companions filled with water before taking their place and topping off our own tank.
Then we were on the way again.

Red marker buoys indicate the channel below the lock, but anyone with half a brain cell would know not to cut the corner – wouldn’t they?The large sandbank in the middle of the river is a bit of a clue…

Newton–on-Ouse sits high on the left bank, All Saint’s Church is visible through the trees.


Alongside the river, part of the Beningbrough Hall estate.

A water tower, perhaps?

Another bend, another confluence.

This time it’s the River Nidd, coming in from the west above Pateley Bridge.

A couple of large launches passed, going upstream and causing us to wiggle a bit in their wake…

Not far to York now as we pass under the twin railway bridges at Skelton.

A distant glimpse of the Minster from Clifton Long Reach

And finally Scarborough Bridge, with the Museum Gardens moorings beyond

We pulled in just behind the boat visible through the arch on the left. Further on there’s an annoying shelf just below water level, and TV is a bit iffy with the large building opposite. It’s just a bit nearer the railway here, but it’s not intrusive.

Having got here early we’ve now got a couple of days off. We’re booked to go down Naburn Lock on Tuesday afternoon.

Locks 2, miles 20

And we’re off! Back downriver to Boroughbridge.

After the longest stay in a marina (apart from when Mags was recuperating during the winter of 2012-2013) we’ve had, we’re finally away, out on the water. And it’s a relief, too. here’s nothing wrong with Ripon Racecourse Marina, the place is pleasant and the natives are friendly, but marinas and us don’t go, somehow.
Still, it was a useful base for our visiting that needed to be done.

We were thinking about moving out yesterday, but the weather was a bit grim till it brightened up later. But today is a different story, After a chilly night it’s been bright and sunny since dawn, warming up very nicely.

Reversing out of our temporary berth

We pulled onto the service wharf to fill with diesel and have a chat to Annabel the warden, and then we were off!





Free, freeeee….

Sun-dappled Ripon Canal as we head towards Oxclose Lock and the River Ure

The lock was full, ready for us, so it didn’t take long to drop down to river level and join the main flow.

Out of Oxclose Lock

No problem with water levels

Out onto the Ure

Beautiful, innit.

We weren’t alone, but I think this guy had forgotten his boat!
He mentioned that the water was cold… not from where I was!

Two miles downstream is the next lock at Wightwick. The entrance to the lock cut could easily be missed…Good job that sign’s there.

Mags looking cool in my baseball cap.
She was complaining that the sun was in her eyes. I’ve now got a slightly tender bald patch…

At just over 58 feet with fore and aft fenders fitted we’re actually slightly longer than the recommended for these locks. It shows when you’re coming downstream, we had to wiggle about a bit to get a bottom gate open. The rudder was up against the cill and the swinging gate just cleared the bow fender.

I had a bit of assistance from a group of walkers. Any help on these heavy gates is welcome!
Thanks, guys.

More fine river cruising

Another three or so miles saw us passing under the A1 road bridge just to the west of Boroughbridge, our stop for tonight.

Reflections
There are three bridges crossing the navigation here, a testimony to the evolution of the Great North Road into the A1(M).

The earliest crosses furthest east, carrying the old roads over Milby Cut adjacent to the moorings. This is the site of a bridge since medieval times, replacing a ford near Milby Lock.



Moving upstream is the first of a pair of bridges, this one carrying the first Boroughbridge By-Pass, badged now as the A168. The second carries the three-lane dual-carriageway A1(M).

The bypass was opened in 1963, carried over the river here on a steel cantilever bridge. With massive increases in traffic on the road, the Boroughbridge By-Pass was included in the scheme to upgrade the A1 to motorway standards. Opened in 1995 it passes over the river on a new steel and concrete span.
At around the same time the 1963 bridge was replaced, using the same construction method.

Approaching Boroughbridge, the boom on the right protects the large weir from boats.
Or should that be the other way round?

We pulled in opposite the service wharf, in the same place we used on the way up. Tomorrow we’ll head on, hoping to stop above Linton Lock. Failing that we’ll probably keep going to York.

Locks 2, miles 8. It’s good to be able to write that…