Over the weekend I had a job to do, replacing the top and bottom hoses from the engine to the skin-cooling tank. It should have been straightforward, although awkward and messy.
The new ones had been ordered over the internet, and arrived at the local Argos store soon after lunchtime on Saturday. I set to, removing the old ones and allowing the old coolant to drain into the wedge-shaped enclosure alongside the swim. It was then that I realised I’d got the wrong size of hose. I’d measured the internal diameter as best as I was able with everything connected up, and got it wrong. I’d ordered 35mm, they should have been 32!
It was getting on a bit now, so I left it till the morning to give the Selby Boat Centre a ring to see if they had some. Thankfully they did, and a couple of hours later they were installed and full of 50% anti-freeze mixture.
The new ones have a pretty green stripe…
The old ones are quite stiff and brittle.
I didn’t waste the time when I realised I’d got the wrong hoses; an engine service was about due so it got an oil and filter change, as did the gearbox.
The full moon and crossing jet contrails left an interesting pattern in the sky on Saturday night
We were early to bed, it was a dawn-chorus start for us on Sunday to catch the flood tide that would push us most of the way to Naburn.
Through the swing bridge above the lock at 06:30. The barge was coming down too.
We had time to fill the water tank and empty a loo and rubbish while we waited for the flood tide, it was running a little late. But by 07:07 we were down at river level and ready to rock and roll.
And we did a little, heeling over as we were caught by the rapidly flowing incoming tide.
We set off first, being pushed along at a brisk 8½ mph as we passed the old wharves, a legacy of Selby’s important ship-building past.
Clear of the town and out on the wide river
It’s still running up at fair rate of knots…
We’d passed two bridges as we left Selby, then there’s a gap with no crossings till about the half-way point at Cawood.
Cawood Swing Bridge
As we got further up river the effect of the tide became less and our speed dropped off. We could have gone faster, I was only doing 1100 RPM but we’d already left our locking partner behind and it seemed likely that the lockie at Naburn would want to shepherd all the upstream boats into the lock in one go.
We weren’t the only early starters…
Travis, the barge that followed Mags through the swing bridge at Selby, had locked down after us but seemed to be in a hurry…
…but then it didn’t avail him much as we were still behind him at Naburn!
As I suspected the lockie decided to wait for the other narrowboat, and another coming upstream from Goole, so it was another 35 minutes before we made our exit and headed for the moorings in the lock cut.
Four in Naburn Lock
We’d tied up before 10:00, time for me to get a Sunday lunch started. We were having guests…
We’re attending good friend's Arthur and Wendy’s wedding next Saturday. They live locally so came down by bike to see us and join us for lunch.
We spent a great afternoon catching up.
We had yet more guests arrive yesterday afternoon, these though staying with us until Friday. Mags’ son Neil and his wife Val are over from Canada for three weeks and are spending some of that time
with us.
We’d intended to head into York later in the afternoon, but the weather was pretty grim so we decided to stay put.
A walk around the locks was fitted into a gap between showers…
Unusual manual paddle gear on the locks.
Although the gates and sluices have all been mechanised, the manual gear is kept operational, though hard work to use according to the lock keeper!
There’s a flood marker on the wall of the workshop…
You’ll probably need to click to zoom in… It didn’t go high enough to record the 2004 flood level though. The water was 6 inches higher than the top of the board!
The end of the building houses the machine shop, with lathes, drill and a bench press, all originally driven by water wheel. A mill once occupied the lock island, and when it was demolished the wheel and and mill race were “recycled”.
Swing bridges cross the two lock chambers
Adorned with the City of York Coat of Arms, awarded to the City by Elizabeth I in 1587. The colour scheme is wrong, though. The five lions should be gold, representing the city’s support of the monarchy, and they are mounted on the Cross of St George, which should of course be red on white.
Naburn Lock cut
Neil and Val, the duty lock-keeper and a boat just leaving the lock
Today was a different day entirely. Gone were the grey skies and the blustery showers, giving way to sunshine, although there was still a cool breeze.
With 5½ miles to go to the city, and a bit of sightseeing to do this afternoon, we were away at 10:00, heading out of the lock cut and back onto the river.
The old York to Selby railway line is now dismantled, but the bridge carries a footpath and cycleway…
…and a wire-frame sculpture of and angler and his dog.
He’s not got a fish on the hook, though. In keeping with the railway heritage of the city, he’s caught a locomotive!
Fine day for a river cruise
The Bishop’s Palace at Bishopthorpe
The unusual cable-stay design of the Millennium Bridge allows pedestrians (and dogs) a clear view of the river.
The River Foss comes in front the right, navigable for about 1½ miles above Castle Mills Lock a short way above the confluence.
There are moorings below the lock, but passage up through it is restricted.
From here the river passes through the city, with wharfs and warehouses on either hand.
Skeldergate Bridge…
…and the Bonded Warehouse
Skeldergate Bridge carries the (properly painted) City Coat of Arms, and also another emblem linked to the city.
The crossed keys are those of St Peter, representing his role as gatekeeper to the kingdom of heaven. The link to the city is to do with York Minster. It’s correct title is The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, but it’s a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it…
Queen’s Staithe, with Lendal Bridge beyond.
There’s St George again…
Moored up at the Museum Gardens.
We had some heavy showers this afternoon, but managed to avoid them up in the city.
Mags stayed aboard with Meg while Neil, Val and I went to have a look around. I left them went they went into the Viking Centre, we needed supplies and I had the dinner to prepare.
Since leaving Selby Basin – Locks 2, miles 21½
1 comment:
Have a lovely time with family, I bet Margaret was so excited to have them to stay, lots of catching up to do. xx
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