Naburn Lock

We have had exciting times since I last updated this blog, well relatively speaking anyway.  We left Boroughbridge on Thursday morning, intending to cruise down to York and stay there overnight and for most of Friday and then continue on to Naburn, which is only about an hour from York.  However on arrival in York there was limited mooring available and as we didn't fancy the spots on offer we carried on and moored up in Naburn.

As we stopped it began to rain and continued raining for most of the night and on and off for most of Friday as well.  On Friday evening we went to the local pub and had an excellent meal and a couple of pints.  However when we got back to the boat the water had risen right to the top of the bank and we and the other narrow boat, Freedom, also moored there decided to move to the floating pontoon at the top of the weir.  This was a good move as the next morning the path to the mooring was under water and the level still rising.  So we had to sit out the floods, yet again.  Spoke to the lock keeper on Sunday and he said that he would not let any narrow boats out of the lock and onto the tidal Ouse until the water had dropped by 1 metre and this was unlikely to be before Wednesday. 

Before and after pictures of the weir at Naburn Locks showing the difference in the river levels after the rain! 

We found plenty to do though, saw short eared owls again and even saw a fallow deer in a field one morning when we were walking the dogs, watched it for ages.  Went into York on the bus on Monday to do some shopping and have a day out.  Saw Michael and John from narrow boat Evenlode, who we saw on the way to Ripon, and passed on the information from the lock keeper.  Also met up with Steph and her husband on narrow boat Largesse.  Had a good gossip with them all and said we would phone them when the water had dropped enough to moor at Naburn.  The river in York was very high and we were glad that we hadn’t stayed there on Thursday.

Freedom and Jeanie Deans snuggled up on the floating pontoon at Naburn Locks!

A sad sight on the River Ouse!

Eventually left Naburn on Tuesday, a day earlier than expected.  All three narrow boats, Evenlode, Largesse and Jeanie Deans went into the lock at 2:30 and proceeded in an orderly fashion to Selby, where Evenlode and Largesse went first into the lock, whilst we waited outside.  As usual the boat performed beautifully sitting nice and straight against the flow while we waited for the lock, thanks Norton Canes!!  Cleared the lock and moored up overnight in Selby.

This morning we did the shopping, took two trips to the supermarket due to having eaten everything.  Then we moved on, mooring up at West Haddlesey lock where the Selby Canal meets the River Aire.  A short day, only about 1.5 hours.  Had a chat with a couple who were passing and during conversation realised that she was the author of the guide to the Chesterfield Canal that we used earlier in the trip.  She was delighted to hear that we had gone right to the end of the Chesterfield as not many people do and she was involved in the restoration of the locks right at the end.  Chilled for the rest of the day and sitting writing this with a beer.

Tonight's mooring at West Haddlesey Lock

Onto the River Aire tomorrow and onwards to the Huddersfield Broad Canal and Standedge Tunnel (eventually not tomorrow).