Sat Jun 14th - 32 miles, 2 furlongs, 8 locks - Ripon to York Total cruising time 11 hours 45 minutes
Early-ish start today (6.55am), as I had to be back in York by 4pm. All locks against me except for Oxclose lock, so no speed records today. Through Boroughbridge by 10.05am and Linton Lock by 1.05pm, arriving back in York by 3.00pm. Turned up the River Foss and tied up just below Castle Mills Lock to wait for the lock. The local IWA branch have come to an arrangement with York City Council where they have received training and are now permitted to operate the lock themselves thus avoiding the expensive locking fee previously payable. I'd seen a notice to this effect while at Selby, so had phoned up to book a passage through the lock at 4.00pm on the Saturday (apparently the first boat to take advantage of this). At the appointed hour two chaps turned up and after a few false starts, we finally figured it out how the system worked and had the lock emptied and the gates open. Out of the lock at 4.50pm and a slow chug as far upstream as I could get. I finally grounded out about 150 yards short of the low bridge which marks the effective head of navigation. Reversed back to the small arm which goes to the Yorkshire Post wharf and winded there, taking the opportunity to reverse to the end of that arm as well. Back through Castle Mills lock by 7.20pm and tied up above Lendal Bridge again at 7.35pm. Terry Streeter NB Arun - York
