Battery Charger and toilet

We left Naburn Lock at 2.45pm and at the start of our journey the incoming tide reduced our speed. 

Pulling out of Naburn Lock.  To the right of the weir is a floating pontoon which floats up the two poles when the water level rises.

As the tide turned our speed increased but we didn't reach 8mph which was an advantage at Selby.  Selby Lock entrance is at right angles to the river and is only about 18 feet wide.  Turning into the lock can be tricky so Kev always follows the advice given by the Lockie on our first trip up the Ouse.  We sailed passed the lock entrance, turned Brent III to face upstream and then travelling against the current, turned into the lock.  

The entrance to Selby Lock 

We took our time on the return journey and met up with John, Cath and the kids for an excellent weekend.  We said our goodbyes not realising we would be seeing them the next day after we discovered our inverter/charger was not charging the batteries.  After a phone call to the manufacturer we pondered our options.  The unit had to be returned to Sterling for repair so then we would be without the inverter and the 240volt system.  We rang John at Viking Marina and he came to our rescue with a good deal on a replacement unit which resolved our dilemma.  So back to Goole we sailed. 

The new unit was quickly installed and we decided to stay on and tackle another job, servicing the toilet.  This task is one of the joys of owning a boat and involves replacing various seals.  Unfortunately the first time we put the toilet back together a puddle appeared around it's base.   Thankfully the second attempt was a success without Kev having to resort to a tube of silicon.

Satisfied everything was shipshape we sailed off from Viking Marina to resume our travels. 

Leaving Viking Marina

Our journey from Naburn to Goole

York and Naburn

From Goole we retraced our route on the Aire and Calder as far as Knottingley where we turned into Bank Dole Lock and onto the River Aire.  The river took us to West Haddlesey and onto the Selby Canal which we always thought was one of the prettiest canals and still do after travelling further afield.  The clear water teems with shoals of small fish, electric blue damselflies flash in the sunshine and there is an abundance of small birds in the plants and trees lining the canal. 

Tankards Bridge on the Selby Canal. 

The rural setting gives way to the outskirts of Selby and we were surprised to see some of the moorings have a one hour maximum time limit.  This is to give boaters operating the swing bridge into Selby Basin a mooring but the space allocated, enough for four narrowboats, does seem excessive.   There was space in Selby Basin so we moored up there for the night ready for an 8am lock out onto the River Ouse. 

The Ouse is tidal and the Lockie let us out on the incoming tide.  The current pushed us along and we were soon travelling at a speedy 8mph!  As the river reaches high tide we slow down but   after 2 and 1/4 hours Naburn weir and lock came into view.  Just before turning into the lock we saw a large salmon leaping in the water in front of the weir.  

The River Ouse took us on into York passing an unusual wire sculpture on Naburn Bridge. 

A wire man and his dog fishing on top of Naburn Bridge

The moorings at York are near the museum gardens, a central spot ideal for visiting the city and as with all Canal & River trust visitor moorings there is no charge for our stay.  The river at York is almost as busy as the streets.  The large tour boats tower over the small hire boats and rowing boats are out most of the day with their trainers shouting instructions from the bank or small motor boats.

On the moorings at York.  Some of the trip boats are moored up in the background.

  When it was time to leave we kept a careful eye on the river traffic before turning Brent III round and heading for the rural peace at Naburn.  At night we heard owls calling out and Ken, the Lockie, has seen a tawny owl feeding her chick in the bushes at the bottom of his garden.  Less welcome he had a swarm of bees settle in one of his trees while we were there. 

We had visitors for Father's Day weekend.  Shaun, Laura, Nic, Gaz and all the grandkids came over on Saturday and as always it was good to see everyone again.  Nic and Gaz stayed on the Naburn Lock Caravan Site so we were able to enjoy the evening and a barbeque with them.   On Sunday we all enjoyed an excellent carvery lunch at the Blacksmiths Arms in Naburn.

Our journey from Goole to York and back to Naburn

Goole

On arrival at Viking Marina our first task was to replace the rapidly deteriorating leisure batteries.  After some research we'd bought 4 traction batteries which are more suitable for our demands.  They are 6 volts instead of the 12 volts in a leisure battery so new wiring was required as well as a slight modification to the battery box.  When everything was in place we switched on the mains and gave them a good first charge. 

Before we went for our check-ups Brent III had one of her own, the Boat Safety Certificate.  This is due every 4 years and is required for all boats kept on the inland waterways.  Every boat also has to have boat insurance and a Canal & River Trust License.  

Our journey to Rotherham wasn't straightforward.  A massive landslip at Stainforth in February moved the rail tracks so a replacement bus service is running between Goole and Doncaster.  In an unexpected complication Bess and Brinny weren't welcome on the first bus but luckily the second driver was happy to take them.  We enjoyed our stay with Nic and Gaz and were able to see family and friends.  Thankfully Shaun saved us any problems with the return journey by giving us a lift back.  

Goole town centre is a short walk from the marina and we enjoyed taking the footpath round the docks and over Ocean Lock, one of the locks connecting Goole's inland port to the River Ouse.  Narrowboats can use this lock but we will be taking the scenic route via Selby.

Looking down Ocean Lock with the River Ouse in the background

Looking across the docks, the two distinctive towers are water towers and are known as the salt and pepper pots.  

Wen all our tasks were complete we sailed out of Viking Marina in glorious sunshine leaving the familiar skyline of Goole behind.  Not so familiar was the sight of Southcliffe, a humber keel, in sail outside the Waterways Museum. 

Southcliffe in sail