It will be OK on the day dear!

Thursday 25^th May 2017

It is not unusual that when you are about to embark on something that you have not done before and/or has a little bit of apprehension associated with it that you tend to wake up early – and so it was for Diane, who was concerned about our return trip to Selby.

Don't let that smile fool you - there was a lot of apprehension in there

Predator coming in to join us

We had done the Trent and Mersey going downstream to both West Stopwith and Keadby Locks – the first of these we mucked up a bit but got in, the second was far better and we had learnt a lot from both of these.

This would be a bit different because we had about 40 mins to an hour of going hard against the still incoming tide, but as everyone will know with airplane trips – it’s the take-off and landings that cause 95% of the angst – the in-between bit is a breeze.

I would like to say that was the same for this trip, but….

Getting out from the lock was not much of a problem at all, but still with the tide coming in, it meant that the deeper water was not as deep as it would otherwise have been, but it was plenty deep enough for both ourselves and for Cyril and Jackie on nb Predator 3 in front of us.

What we hadn’t expected was the vast amount of flotsam that was coming in with the tide – there was far more than we had encountered when we came up the previous week and this time it was coming towards us (in the tide) and not going the same way, which meant that there was a lot more of the dodgem cars scenario as we swerved to avoid large clumps of tree trunks, limbs and branches; we both took turns in steering downstream.

A lot more flotsam around than we had seen before...

....and when I say a lot....

...i mean a lot

Weaving in and out of the way became much more of a challenge

At first we were making only about 6kmh – the effect of punching against the tide.

The river was a lovely chocolate colour, almost as if we were cruising through a large lake of  the molten stuff.

We had been told that we would see the waves of the incoming tide about a half hour into the trip and sure enough we did; it was not long after that point when the river became dead calm – completely flat and then as the tide turned and started its outward journey, we started to really fly along – 8, 10,12 then 14 kmh. 

In waves of the incoming tide...

...and then the dead calm

Where we were thinking that the trip might take 3+ hours we knew it would be between 2 and 3 hours as we just simply zoomed along.

There were no more worries about the flotsam as it was sailing along with us.

We contacted the lockie at Selby to confirm our position on a few times so that he would have a time of our arrival – Predator had arrived in the lock about 15 minutes before us.

As we passed the mills on the last reach and about to turn into the home straight we readied ourselves for the manner in which we needed to approach the lock.

Firstly under the two bridges (left hand side);

Bridge number 1

Bridge number 2

Then the block of flats on our right which would signal the time to start our turn;

As we reach the far side of those flats on the right, it was time to start the turn

It was not a turn directly into the lock but a 180^o and then back against a stronger tide than we had experienced before.

"Not right now dear, I am just a bit busy"

About to start the turn - to be side on to the outgoing tide

Around a bit more...

...now completely square on. Cannot go into the lock just yet...

....come around a bit more...

....finally completing the 180 turn, we can start back up the river ...

Then approach the lock, turn towards the apex of the wall and as the slack water around the lock entrance held the boat, we would gently ease into the lock – this time beside a boat already there.

and make for the lock wall - the wall not the lock - yet...

....just about to hit the slack water of the lock mouth...

...and into the lock - it was important to check the speed and slow down as
you change from the tidal part to the slack water.

Like landing a plane, it was about 10 minutes of intense concentration and luckily we made it in without a scratch on ourselves, the wall and most importantly on Predator.

Sheer relief was apparently etched onto my face – just glad to be in there; but have to say that the more you do this, the more confident you become that you know what you are doing.

A huge relief under that exterior

Our journey was not over; we had decided to head down to the West Haddesley Lock for the overnight stay.

One swing bridge to negotiate – both Jackie and Diane went up to get it done – as they started the automated process, an idiot in a small white van decided to beat the red light and drop down gates which upset the sensors on the bridge and then none of the other actions would take place – the lockie came up to do the reset in the box.

Some people are just plain stupid; if this had happened when the lockie wasn’t there it would have meant a call-out for CaRT and all for something that would have been avoided.

Anyway we got through; Predator pulled over so that they could do some shopping and we carried on.

Diane did the honours all of the 5 miles to our mooring spot whilst I was inside snoozing finishing off my work.

Selby Lock now behind us..

...and ready to enjoy the canal again

The sunshine that we had enjoyed on the river was now quite hot sunshine and mooring up was a chance to get some relief.

About an hour later we were joined by Cyril and Jackie who had finished stocking up for the impending arrival of family in a few days.

A few boats made there way through the lock and then it all settled down; the sun sunk a little lower; the temperature fell a couple of degrees; the breeze picked up a bit – all felt a little bit more acceptable.

It had been a fairly long day and we both felt a bit exhausted after it all and glad of a good night’s sleep – Diane was a much relieved woman by that stage.

19 Miles, 2 Locks, 1 Swing Bridge

YTD:  520 miles (837 km), 236 Locks, 15 Tunnels, 9 Lift Bridges, 19 Swing Bridges

Total: 5152 Miles (8291 km), 3387 Locks, 139 Tunnels, 75 Lift Bridges, 191 Swing Bridges

Flying the Ouse

Tuesday 16^th May 2017

We had heard so many stories about the River Ouse journey up to Naburn on the way to York, that we did have some concerns – it is always the same before trying any new river and this year we have been seeing more new rivers than ever before.

But…there is always that little voice behind you saying to you “just be careful and in control and you will be OK” – at least the kids will OK be if anything happens to us.

Last minute preparations; another look at the river and early on it was flowing out; a couple of hours later it had turned and we were being called up into the lock.

Three boats in total would be going out – two narrowboats and a cruiser – so two lock movements would be needed.

Ourselves along with nb Predator would be out first – as they had done the trip before, we would follow them.

Down, down in the lock the boats descended and then all of a sudden the lock gates open; the words of the lockie are in your mind about what to do; you ease out after letting the other boat go first; the mouth of the lock is protected by the silt build-up and so at first there is no effect on the bow, but a bit further on and you see the bow move dramatically around as the current captures it – there is nothing that you can do except put some power on and make sure that all of the boat is out.

The bow continues to swing; the starboard side dips as the current seemingly pulls it down slightly, but as you move the tiller to straighten the boat it is all OK and you are out – moving at speed.

The lock gates open and there's a river flowing out there - do we really have to go?

Someone was enjoying it - she didn't have to negotiate getting out of the lock

You need to keep the revs up at bit, even though you are doing 14 kmh, because without it the steering is dramatically reduced.

Bridge number 1 - we had to use the right hand arch - I think it had something
to do with the object on the left (circled)

Wouldn't want to meet that 

Safely through Bridge 1

Under the right arch of each of the first two bridges – as the lockie had instructed – then the first bend and steering is again a bit harder, but as we move further along we have acclimatised to it all and we can settle down and relax (a bit).

Around the first bend and already it had started to get a little easier

Further on it was even calm - in a river sort of way...

What we have seen is that there is an awful lot of flotsam about – especially trees, large branches and the like – no other rubbish – and it takes some care and I have to say a bit of skill to evade/avoid hitting any of this.

...until these started to appear

Our travelling companions have opened a bit of gap and by now are about 500 metres ahead, but we have to be concerned with our own passage.

There was a bit of a gap between us and the first boat, but we were occupied with
what we needed to do

The rain starts but it is not heavy; luckily we have the wet weather gear already on.

We traded places on the tiller to have a break which helps – even in 20 minutes, the concentration has been intense and it is a good time to have a change.

There were stretches where we could simply enjoy it all

The speed relative to the bank was still around 14 kmh – estimated passage time was about 2 hours.

After 7 miles we encountered the third bridge and this was the middle arch – the lockies words for the bridges were “right, right, middle” – there was just a bit of a delay for the final bridge.

Bridge number 3 - the last one

This is just beyond the halfway mark and the river had by now settled right down; our speed was now down to about 12 kmh; we had long lost sight of nb Predator and expected that we would not see them until the lock at Naburn; no sign of the cruiser that came out after us; unexpectedly we found a boat heading towards us – as it turned it was a rib-boat operated by three police officers.

Hill Top Farm (I think)

Moreby Hall behind those trees

We could definitely enjoy the journey a bit more and before long we had reached Moreby Hall, the nominated point at which we contacted Naburn Lock – which we did – unfortunately there was no response, but we were not overly concerned and when the lock came into view we contacted again – no response – a little annoyed that we had done the correct thing and the response was not forthcoming as you would expect.

That's the weir and just on the right of the weir is the lock wall

getting closer...

Anyway as we edged closer to the lock, the lockie did give us the signals of where he wanted us, which we were able to comply with after a little while as we didn’t see the signals until late and were not quite in the right position.

...and in we go

Diane was at the tiller into the lock - a river queen I would say

Roped up on the ladders, we waited and within a few minutes we were joined by the cruiser and then just as the lock gates were about to close, the police rib boat was in there as well.

Diane up front and chatting away - as she does

The cops are here - but they seemed concerned with finding the keys for the car

It seemed like a slow filling lock, which gave Diane plenty of time to chat with the guy on Predator and it transpired that they were in Stanley Dock (Liverpool) a few years ago when the Yellow Duck started to sink and were first on the scene to rescue the people from the amphibious vehicle before it sank, thus saving a number of people.

We were in the company of so many heroes.

We were second boat out and had decided to moor up on the Naburn mooring – Predator and the cruiser were heading into York that day, but for us we had had enough and we were pleased to find plenty of space.

The TV signals were good; the internet could have been better but was fine for what we wanted; the moorings were pleasant and quiet; and the cows beyond the small hillock were out of reach of Diane – for which she was very grateful.

The trip up was a little bit more difficult than we had previously encountered – only because the current was a bit stronger – but we did not experience any problems that could not be handled.

The moorings were reasonably empty but lovely

14 Miles, 2 Locks

YTD:  437 miles (703 km), 222 Locks, 15 Tunnels, 9 Lift Bridges, 18 Swing Bridges

Total: 5069 Miles (8158 km), 3373 Locks, 139 Tunnels, 75 Lift Bridges, 190 Swing Bridges