Cardmeet 1999 by Janet Reeve
Sixteen members from all over the country attended the AGM at the Wold View Hotel in York. After the usual short meeting we celebrated the Circle's 21st birthday with the cutting of a birthday cake by our new President. Alan's first official duty!
We were joined by Sheila Nix, Secretary of the Pockington Canal Society who was to be our guide for the first day and we headed off in great comfort (a seat each) to Stamford Bridge, site of King Harold's last successful battle and the now limit of navigation on the River Derwent. Most members braved the busy road and scrambled down the field to take photos of the dogleg lock cut. We were also able to buy postcards of the "Great Flood of 1999". Unfortunately, in the rest of the weekend we seemed to be in a card free zone.
We now progressed to Canal Head where we had a pleasant stroll to the top lock, a squeeze into the tiny Society shop to look for cards, and lunch at the Wellington Oak.
Then we were off to Melbourne to inspect the restored, navigable length and see the visitor moorings. Sadly no boats to photograph as the Ripon Motor Boat Club Cruise had set off for home. Our next village was East Cottingwith, where a longer walk took in the last Pocklington lock before the canal joins the Derwent. Muriel and I opted out of this and did a tour of the attractive village, sizing up the property market. So on to our last stop at Naburn Locks, the tidal limit of the Ouse. Sheila Nix joined us for a buffet dinner and the evening chat.
Next morning we were off to Ripon, where we had a chartered cruise on Yordale, the small trip boat operated by four members of the former Ripon Canal Society. Starting with the recently restored top section, turning in the basin which is the most northerly point on the Interconnected Waterways, we returned through lovely rural scenery, descending three locks on to the River Ure, passing on the way members of the Ripn Boat Club, returning from their trip to Melbourne. Disembarking at Newby Hall, where visitors where waiting in the lovely gardens to board Yordale for the usual afternoon trips, our coach was waiting, so we were soon on our way back to Ripon.
Here, there was time to have a look at this tiny city, some visiting the cathedral and having lunch in hostelries around the square before moving on to Boroughbridge, with its unusual roundabout.
Here the lock cut runs under the roads and the waterside trees poke up through the centre of the junction. Then further downstream to Linton Lock, where we viewed the rebuilt lock chamber and bank protection. This lock is still in the care of the Commissioners, but soon to be passed to British Waterways, the last bit of the navigation from Naburn to Ripon to be taken over by them. So back to the hotel where we went our separate ways, some members staying for a few more days to explore York.
A very enjoyable and friendly weekend seeing aspects of the waterways which some felt they would probably not have visited otherwise. All beautifully organised by Marion including some unexpectedly lovely weather and a very helpful and friendly coach driver.