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Friday 17th September

Selby to York

We were in the second locking into the River Ouse at about 9am. Passage through Selby was rather turbulent, then had a scare at the first left hand bend where we pushed through the bushes on the outside of the bend, but we escaped without damage.

The rest of the trip to Naburn was swift but uneventful. After Naburn we stopped for fuel at Naburn Marina where we had been told it was cheaper than further upstream.

Moored in York above Lendal Bridge and went for a late lunch in the Maltings.

Thursday 16th September

Doncaster to Selby

Turned onto the New Junction Canal and then onto the Aire and Calder heading for Knottingley, where we hoped to get lunch at the Steam Packet Inn. This didn't appear to be open and the moorings nearby were not suitable in view of the commercial boats which pass there. So we carried on to the visitor moorings near Ferrybridge lock where we had lunch on board again.

Turned round after lunch and headed for Bank Dole Lock where we got onto the River Aire and thence onto the Selby canal.

Moored for the night in Selby basin. Eventually found some food in the hotel which did not have real ale. After a few other pubs we finished off in the Albion Vaults which was in the 2004 GBG. Little did we know that it wasn't in the 2005 edition.

Wednesday 15th September

Sheffield to Doncaster

Turned round aafter going through the straddle warehouse then headed off to Tinsley top lock where we met a different lock keeper. This time he went ahead unlocking the locks and leaving us on our own more, as it's it's much safer going down.

Pressed on through Rotherham and stopped for lunch at Hooton Road Bridge. Unfortunately the Ship Inn by the railway was not open for lunch and the other pub futher east was no longer a pub. There was a shop selling take away snacks so we took advantage of this and went back to the boat where we could enjoy it with a bottle of beer in the sunshine.

Moored for the night on the secure visitor moorings in Doncaster. Having eaten in the Wetherspoons on the market square we went on to visit the Leopard and the Tut'n'Shive.

Tuesday 14th September

Sprotbrough to Sheffield

Another early start to ensure that we would make Sheffield for the evening.

Made good progress so we stopped for lunch in Rotherham. The first GBG pub we tried turned out to be a Wetherspoons so we tried the other entry which was also a Wetherspoons!

Made Tinsley bottom lock in time and the lock keeper escorted us all the way up on his bicycle and doing most of the work.

Monday 13th September

West Stockwith to Sprotbrough

Got up at 7am to prepare for our tidal trip. Moved down to the lock at 8.15 to get fuel and gas. We shared the lock with another narrowboat and a third boat was also going to Keadby after us.

Left the lock at about 9.15. We had no current to help us initially but slowly picked up speed and eventually managed 8.5 mph at 800 rpm, ie about 3.5 mph current. Calm trip sheltered from the worst of the wind by the banks. Make a good entrance into Keadby lock.

The third narrowboat from Stockwith had managed to catch us up and arrived shortly after the other boat. All three of us were going at least as far as Thorne so we leapfrogged through all the swing bridges after the Vazon rail bridge which was looking much better than last year.

In order to make it to Sprotbrough we did not stop for lunch, instead we had it on the move after Thorne. Passed the black boat from Shireoaks at one of the few narrow bridges.

Booked a passage up the Tinsley flight for 3pm tomorrow.

No trouble getting to Sprotbrough where we ate in the Boat Inn, a spoon pub, then went into the village proper for some Sam Smiths at the Ivanhoe. We were forced to move into the public bar when the music quiz started.