Summer Trip 3 – Naburn to Woodlesford

Saturday 21 August- Left York at 9.30am and had a nice cruise through to Naburn, arriving at 11ish.  Nice sunny day, sat out and chilled. 

Pam, Natalie and James popped over to see us, they are camping nearby.  Also John, Fiona and family popped in for half an hour whilst on a bike ride nearby.

Jon and Rosemary joined us in the evening,  had wine and nibbles and a nice pleasant evening sat out.

Sunday 22 August -   ITS THE BIG 50 TODAY!!! – Happy Birthday Chris!

Nice sunny day, stayed in Naburn.  Pam, Natalie and James came late afternoon with a box full of 50 presents for Chris! Had a glass of bubbly whilst opening them, they were great, a lot of thought had gone into buying each gift.  All walked to the Blacksmiths Arms in Naburn for the BBQ, which they hold every Sunday…   The steak was absolutely delicious and plenty to choose from the buffet of chips/potatoes/salad etc

Pam, Natalie and James got a taxi back to the campsite and we walked in the moonlight through the fields back to Coventina… great day and evening. 

Monday August 23 –  Chris booked the locking down to Selby for tomorrow.  We will be leaving Naburn at approximately 8.30am… Took Pam’s car to her at the camp site and then the heavens opened, didn’t stop raining the rest of the day and evening… 

Tuesday August 24 –  Got up at 7am, feeling a little bit nervous about the trip on the Ouse.. Locked down at 9am with two other narrowboats – it was pouring down!!  For the next two and half hours there were intermittent heavy showers and the odd bursts of sunshine..  Had previously arranged for Mum and Dad to be at the lock so they could film our entry into the lock.  They were there to greet us along with the lock keeper and some other spectators (no pressure then!)  We did notice that there was a lot less debris than on our journey up the tidal section.   Arrived at 11.40am, the tide was going out fast and we zoomed past the lock entrance and started turning - it was difficult to turn Coventina in the right direction and quite scarey…We made it and managed to get her in the lock   without any damage – yippee!

Moored up and then went with Mum and Dad into Selby for lunch.  Went to the ’Londesborough Hotel’, just next to the Abbey on Market Place.  We all had a main meal, a sweet and a bottle of wine between all four of us – total bill £26. 50 – excellent value.  Had a nice  relaxing evening in after an eventful day!  

Wednesday 25 August – Left Selby at 10.10am, stopped off at Selby Boat Yard at 10.25am bought a couple of things and then set off down the Selby Canal and were really pleased as we managed to get a mooring at Gateforth landing.  This is a lovely spot, only room for one boat, but in a rural lovely area.  Sat out as the sun did make odd appearances but rested all afternoon and evening.

Thursday 26 August -   Left Gateforth Landing at 9.45am and arrived at West Haddlesey at 10.30am.  Not far today, however a nice little spot to stay  overnight before we join the River Aire tomorrow.  Went for a walk into the village and popped to the pub the ‘Jug Inn’ for lunch.  The pub has a lovely outdoor seating area, which would be lovely on a hot summers day, toilets immaculate (a well presented pub) Had a platter to share and a glass of cider and then headed back to Coventina.   Weather not too good, overcast, cool breeze and drizzle… but the rain held off for our walk. 

Friday 27 August – Nice sunny, but cool morning - left Haddlesey Lock at 9.35am and had a lovely cruise down to Beal Lock.  There are quite a few twists and turns on this part of the River Aire and Helen had a steer for a change.  Apparantly water skiers practise on this stretch so you do have to be extra vigilant!   Moored up at the top of the lock at 11.00am, (48 hour moorings on a pontoon and water available here).  Had a walk into the village and found a pub ‘The Hungry Fox Inn’ for lunch.  Had sandwiches in baguettes, with chips and salad, wonderful, really tasty, these were £5.50 each but worth it – excellent value.  As quite a nice sunny day, walked to the next village, Birkin.  St Mary’s Church is  a Norman church, unfortunately it was not open to look around due to theft. If you wanted to look round you could borrow a key from a nearby house, giving your name and address etc.  We thought this was really sad, how can criminals stoop so low.  Came back to Coventina and sat out and chilled as the sun shone most of the afternoon.  In the evening we were listening to a local radio station when  they announced that if you look out in a South Easterly direction between 9.20pm and 9.22pm and if a clear night you will see the International Space Station.  Popped outside at that time and there it was, very bright, moving quite fast for approximately 1 minute and then out of sight…apparantly we should be able to see it again tomorrow night if a clear sky between 9.45pm to 9.48pm, will look out for it!

Saturday 28 August – Had a bit of a lie in – must have been all the excitement from seeing the space station!  Extremely windy day today, left Beal at 10am for the short cruise to Ferrybridge.  A couple who we had met the night before on a superb cruiser helped us through Bank Dole Lock.  Arrived at Ferrybridge at 11.45am fighting the wind most of the way.

Due to the Bank Holiday Weekend, there are lots of boats on the move but we did manage to find a mooring at the BW moorings.  Stocked up again at Morrisons (a walk of approximately 20 minutes from the moorings) and bought some bargain books from the Sue Ryder shop.  

Sunday 29 August – Left Ferrybridge at 10ish and headed to Castleford.  Were really pleased to see Carol and Chris on ‘Batavian’ moored there.  Had a catch up as had not seen them for a couple of years and we all went to ‘The Griffin’ for a pint or two early evening.  It was great to see them again, we learned so much from them on our trip in 2006. when we travelled with them on the Leeds and Liverpool.. great evening.  Extremely windy all day..

Monday 30 August – Had a bit of a lie in and then waved goodbye to Chris and Carol and then Pam Gerard and Natalie arrived on ‘Renegade’.  All went for lunch at Wetherspoons and then Chris and I headed back to Woodlesford.  What a great holiday it has been, although the weather could have been better, (we only got wet twice though)!   Oh well, back to work and reality now…. looking forward to next years travels… However, I am sure there will be some short trips over the next couple of months.