Sunday 22nd July

We’ve made it to York :-) There were times when I didn’t think we would get here but we are now moored up in glorious sunshine – it couldn’t be better!

It was lovely to wake up to sunshine this morning – it makes such a change. We had a good trip up the river – it was only 5½ miles. I am reading Terry Darlington’s new book, Narrow Dog to Wigan Pier, at present and he is rather scathing about the approach to York – “lots of outrageous old boats hung with tin sheets and tarpaulin and ladders going up the banks and shacks”. I can see where he is coming from but it wasn’t that bad!! Once you get into York everything changes and we were suddenly in a city. The waterfront is not really very visitor boater friendly – everything seemed geared to the trip boats. However once we were under Lendal Bridge the river opened out and the visitor moorings are very nice.

We decided to go into the town and have some lunch but made a bit of a mistake with where we ate – not that the Pitcher and Piano wasn’t nice but later we saw much nicer cafes and tea rooms. York was full of visitors but there was a wonderful buzz. We shambled through the Shambles and mooched along Swinegate and I bought TWO pairs of shoes!! We saw lots of street performers and musicians and thoroughly enjoyed our brief sojourn.

Back on Mary H we sat on the back deck and read our books in the lovely sunshine and watched the York Wheel going round – hopefully we will go up in it tomorrow.