New Crew

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 20:45

We have a new crew member

For a few days Dom, my Great Nephew, is acting as our "third man". So we set off from Ripon this morning once the top lock had been opened.

Moored at Ripon (sani-station)

We arrived at the Lock, Rhodesfield Lock and Julie from BW asked us to wait for the 55 foot narrowboat Scrumpy so we could share the four locks on the Ripon Canal. Julie said this is the first time the locks have had to be regulated due to water shortage.

Looking back as Narrowboat Scrumpy leaves the lock

Oxclose lock is the last lock on the Ripon Canal and after this we were on the River Ure again. Sadly today the weather was not as good as when we came up - it was grey and windy, almost like the autumn!

Entering Oxclose Lock

Westwick Lock on the River Ure has extending balance beams on the bottom gates - a natty solution to giving more leverage to heavy gates. John and Dom were now working the locks and I was back on Epiphany.

Unextended and extended balance beam

We arrived at Milby Cut, just before Boroughbridge moorings and took the left fork - there is a small gap in the weir barrage for local boats to moor at "end of garden" moorings.

Weir barrage an,d Milby Cut

At the well hidden Swale Nab, the River Ure becomes the River Ouse and then there is a short stretch to Linton Lock, an interesting lock. The bottom clouts (paddles) are hydraulic and opened by Adams wheels.

Wheel paddle gear

It is a very leaky lock and I had trouble getting out. In fact when we moored up we had to use the bilge pump to empty the engine hole; this is a very rare occurence on Epiphany!

John and Dom opening the clouts

The water was shooting from the top gates and my shoes, trousers and the steps down into the boat were all very wet! Short locks and leaky gates do not compute! As  we paid our £5 for mooring here we were told tht the lock is having new gates in September, so hopefully this will solve the problem.

Empty lock showing the water coming in

We moored below the lock for the night and I wandered back to take a few more photos.

Salmon leap beside the weir

There is rain promised for tonight; we have already had an heavy shower and we shall go to sleep with the sound of the weir in our ears.

Pan of moorings and Linton weir

Ripon Canal, Ripon to Linton Lock, River Ouse

5 hours 55 minutes, 16.55 miles, 6 locks