Tues 28th June 2011
York to Ripon
Departed 10:20 Single Handed today
Both parents bailed out on my trip up to Ripon - good chance to practice some solo cruising! Bit grey but pleasant enough and more importantly no wind. About on hour up to Beningbrough, past the Nid (nice spot)
and Dawnay Arms in Newton on Ouse (Recommended but no time to visit), and two hrs up to Linton Lock.
Looks rather imposing and deep for my first solo attempt. Parked on pontoon and went to see what the crack was. Cruiser in the lock coming down so asked if they could leave gates open. In and parked against the wall - great! But it's a long slimy climb with the centre rope up the ladder - nearly lost footing in front of the gongoozlers. That would have been embarrassing! But all went well and chatted to a couple of interested cafe goers (there's one at the lock)
Above the lock - very busy - no space at visitor moorings -crammed full of cruisers. Banks now a little lower but still no view over the willows on the bank. Nice Ouse/Ure sign - made the customary urghhh noise! The fence is to stop the sheep eating the sign seeds, meaning other new signs can grow too.
Memories at Aldwark - this is where i learnt to canoe - or capsize properly. Never really enjoyed
going over on purpose and of course the rickety toll bridge. Used to cycle out this way and pay 1p to take the bike over!
Waved at the swale. Wouldn't it be nice to get all the way to Richmond - rather optimistic i think as i could see trees right across within yards!
Annie in Milby Lock nr Bouroughbridge (3.30).
Nice quiet location and cut through BB nicely maintained - pleasant relief from the monotony of the river. Changed facilities at the immaculate BB sanitary station and before i know it under the A1 (which apparantly used to have one of the 1st iron bridges in the country - now gone).
Westwick Lock - i think it was here that going was rather slow with just one top gate paddle operative. Another nice short cut before joining the river once more.
Fantastic view up a tree lined avenue to Newby Hall - no time to stop though. Due to meet Katy in ripon at 6!! Well pleased to reach the Ripon Canal - quite well hidden even though there is a sign - somehow I thought it was referring to something further upstream.
Made it to oxclose lock 5.40pm.
Def the nicest lock i've seen so far with tidy shrubs and flowers.
I now realise 6pm meet in ripon is not likely to happen so decide to take advantage of a great mooring beyond Nicholsons bridge (strangely not marked in Nicholson's guide!) Picture from the next morning.
Within minutes i get a call from Katy - she's lost in Ripon somewhere. Thanks to google i work out where and walk/run into Littlethorpe village to intercept. Now about 6.30-7pm.
Wed 29th
08:15 to Ripon Basin Tim / Mum
Last few miles into Ripon - no way i'm getting this far without going to the end! Also good to have mum onboard too. Another long day ahead.
Through Bell Furrows lock we see a BW lady - mum starts chatting and we find out how knowledgable and valuable these staff are. Unfortunately with the change in BW their jobs are insecure as they can no longer even cut the grass, plant flowers and sort everything themselves. Work is now apparantly contracted out - and completed to a much lower standard - and no doubt at higher cost.
Why is someone that's worked the same 5 mile stretch for 15 years having their experience ignored??
Rhodes Field Lock is the last one - and as we approach the basin (09.30) I can smell bacon - I must find out where it comes from - so i run off to locate the source and find the old forge - yummy! Moored beside an Australian Gent (upside-down) who comes over every year to cruise the waterways. Nice one!!
Oh and i like his fake dog on the cabin - much easier than the real thing.
And now all the way back again. Left basin about 10.00 i think
BW lady has set the locks for us so make good time back to the Ure. And going with the current helps us along too.
Lunch on a small pontoon just upstream of Aldwark 2.15pm.
And impressively back to York for 17:30.
