North Yorkshire Cruise: Speeding up the Ouse from Selby to Naburn Lock on the flood tide

Tue 14 June Catching the flood tide
After the heavy showers over the weekend, we hope the Yorkshire Ouse is not too lively this week. In Lincolnshire, we have had a busy weekend: John was bellringing and serving at church, then ringing at several local churches for the Queen's 90th Birthday celebrations, followed by a Lions Club BBQ which a shower failed to spoil! International soccer, F1 and a Lions business meeting all completed, today York beckons!

Lock keeper Fred had advised that we would go with the flood tide at about 3PM, so we readied Annie, sorting anchors, etc, and wearing life jackets on the rushing river, just in case.

On Selby visitor moorings to use the facilities before setting off up the Ouse

Letting us out early, at slack water, meant that we passed under both Selby town bridges with  very little flow to make things difficult.

 

 

 

 

Passing old flour mills and high wharves, we soon reached the countryside. In fact, this was the case all the way up to Naburn: John expected the tide to catch up, but we guess that the moderate incoming flood tide and the moderate fresh water coming downstream just about cancelled each other out, so as we moved upriver, the high tide moved with us, the level going up like in a lock, we assume!

Two narrowboats passed us two miles below Naburn, heading South, so it must have been High Tide at Naburn, more or less.

Passing through the lock, the helpful lock keeper told us where to moor (on the right after the house), and we passed a peaceful night.