Summer Trip 2 – Ripon to York
Tuesday 10 August - Pam Natalie and I came to Ripon Marina for a girly day and night! Arrived about 10am, unloaded the car and went into Ripon for a look round the shops and for lunch. 
Bev and Nigel popped to see us in the afternoon at the marina which was lovely as havent seen them for ages.
In the evening Pam, Natalie and I walked into Ripon (only 15 minutes) and went for an indian to the ‘Balti House’. Nice atmosphere, great food and you can take your own drinks, really good meal… Saw the Hornblower at 9pm, then got a taxi back to the marina. Had a good laugh and giggle back on board!
Wednesday 11 August - Got up reasonably early and went into Harrogate shopping once again! Natalie tried some prom dresses on (she looked absolutely stunning). Will be fun next year when we are looking for the real thing! Better get saving Pam!!! 
Met Bev and Nigel for lunch in the Wetherspoons pub in Harrogate and then headed back to the marina. Pam and Natalie went home.
Jon brought Chris and Bisto at 6ish, made them some tea and then went for a short walk - Yippee, its the start of our longer holiday, going to take a nice long, hopefully restful journey home.
Thursday 12 August - We have had a lovely stay on Ripon Marina, the people were really friendly on our pontoon (A) and the facilities really good. Handed in our keys and got the deposit back and set off to moor at the top of Oxclose Lock (only half an hour from the marina). Lovely spot, nice and quiet.
Went for a walk into Bishop Monkton and got back to Coventina just in time as the heavens opened! - What a downpoor, however ten minutes later and the sun is out! Rained most of the evening, quiet night in…
Friday 13 August -Rain, Rain and more rain!!!, once it had settled down a bit, left Oxclose Lock at 11.30am and headed down the River Ure. Stopped off outside Newby Hall for lunch.
Headed on to Westwick Lock and managed eventually to get a mooring for tonight, just below the lock. It is extremely busy on the river today, lots of Narrowboats and cruisers. Weather unsettled, hope it improves soon…
Saturday 14 August - Raining when we woke up, however it soon settled and was dry for the rest of the day. Decided to stay here another night, nice and secluded.
Went on a 5 mile circular walk to the nearest village, Roecliffe. it was a bit overgrown by the side of the river on the way to the village, but pleasant enough. Had a walk round St Mary’s Church which was quaint. Went for lunch at the village pub ‘The Crown Inn’. What a lovely pub, all the food is supplied by local suppliers including pheasant and partridge from the Newby Hall Estate (food has been awarded an AA Rosette). 
Had lunch, absolutely gorgeous food, ate outside as the sun was shining – Bisto sat out on the grass. Headed back to Coventina and managed to sit out sunbathing for the rest of the afternoon. Cooled down in the evening but at least it is still dry!
Was surprised by how many night time fishermen come to this spot. They are there till the early hours…
Sunday 15 August- Left Westwick Lock at 10am – lovely day, sun shining most of the day!!
Arrived at Boroughbridge at 11ish, managed to moor up as limited spaces, packed a picnic and went to sit by Milby lock, lovely afternoon, nice and hot.. Sat out with a gin and tonic and then had another delicious chinese take-away from Shan Woo.
Monday 16 August - Went for a walk into Boroughbridge and stocked up on provisions. It was lovely to go to the greengrocers, butchers etc instead of large supermarkets which we are all guilty of doing.
Went to moor just below Milby Lock.
Had some lunch and then went for a 3 mile circular walk along the river and then back through the village of Milby, a nice area. In the evening as it was still nice, had a BBQ, it was really pleasant and still….
Tuesday 17 August- Left Milby Lock at about 9.15am, had a nice leisurely cruise down to Linton-on-Ouse, arriving at about 11.45am . About a mile before Linton, the River Ure receives the name of the River Ouse. Overcast in the morning, but pleasant enough. After lunch the sun came out, had a walk into Linton, saw the RAF base and had a free air show, it was brilliant watching the RAF planes practising.
Had a nice restful afternoon and evening.
Wednesday 18 August - Decided to stay at Linton again tonight. Had a good tidy and clean up in the morning and then went for another walk into the village. Helped a couple of boats up the lock as it is so difficult/heavy and stiff!
Martin, Shirley, Lauren and baby Alex came to see us in the evening. We all went to the ’Dawnay Arms’ pub/restaurant for a meal. It was a lovely place and the food was delicious. They had an ‘Early Bird’ menu (before 7.30pm) which was very good value for the standard of the food … £13.95 for three courses including a glass of wine. The service could have been better, but we had no complaints about the food. We all left full to the top with sticky toffee pudding including little Alex!.
Thursday 19 August - Set off at 9am, luckily another boat was coming up, so we helped the gentleman on Jemma through and he helped us through the lock. Lovely sunny day again, not like the forecast. Arrived at York at 11.20am and yippeee there was one mooring left just large enough for Coventina. Had lunch on board and then a walk into town to hit the shops and purse!!
Helen bought some new sunglasses, but we both think Bisto suits them better!!
Went to a pub just off St Helen’s Square called Lendal Cellars - ‘two meals for £10′ excellent value, food piping hot and good service. We were all set to go on a ghost walk but it started raining and we didn’t fancy walking around in the wet.
Friday 20 August- Had another day in York. Went for a walk on the ancient walls and called in for a coffee at Wetherspoons. Mixed day, sunshine and showers, but nothing that kept us in. 
Went on a ‘Ghost Walk’ in the evening… it was quite entertaining and humourus, however absolutely poured down for most of it, but we stuck it out.