River Ure and Canal Rage!

Newton-on-Ouse to Oxclose Lock, River Ure and Ripon Canal, 15.5 miles 4 locks

We had a scrumptious meal in the pub last night, we were so pleased we were lucky enough to find that mooring.

Today we left for Ripon, the weather is dry, but very cloudy and extra windy! We had not gone far (Linton Lock) when we encountered our first real 'canal rage' I had to fend off a boat which was moored by the mooring for the lock, and the guy came running out with his friend from another boat and started shouting and screaming at me that I had smashed into his boat. I didn't knock his boat at all, what he felt was me fending off which meant that his boat was pushed against the jetty, that is what he felt! These people got terribly upset, and at one point out came the fists............ dear me, all averted though when I grabbed one of them by the shirt and told them to pack it in..... Here is one guy inspecting his errrr 'smashed up' boat?

I saw some beautiful oyster catchers on the way along the River Ure, there was a lot of wild life along the river, just a pity it was so windy not to be able to study further.

We decided to stop short of Ripon tonight, the wind was really getting to me, and I had had enough for one day, so we moored just above Oxclose Lock, the first one on the Ripon Canal, it is very sheltered here, and I spied some wonderful wild orchids.

Time for fishing I think