Jorvik at last!

This morning at 0730, the sun was shining brightly and it looked as though it was going to be a glorious day. But it was not to be, by 1030 there was a thunderstorm and the sky fell down and rained all its clouds on us! We commenced our journey an hour or so later, hoping for a dry one, but Barry got soaked once more just outside of York. Ah well, we arrived at last and although the river level is fairly high, it still looks fairly safe – for now!

It seems that Barry is not the only one in strife for the inaccurate predictions, today’s headlines are all slating the weathermen who promised the British a ‘BBQ summer’! Oh dear, I don’t think so! Maybe a BBQ June if you’d got your skates on, but certainly not in July and disappointingly it is reported that August is looking likely to be a wet month too. Still, there’s always the possibility of an Indian summer in September …

One of the many tour boats that cruise up and down through York

This one was collecting people from the Naburn Lock where we'd moored

On the way to York after the first thunder storm of the day had passed

Another boat heading away from York amidst all the cruisers

An unusual sculpture on top of the railway bridge at Bishopthorpe

Some of the permanent moorings left a little to be desired

These were moored around Bishopthorpe

'The Palace' home to the Archbishop of York. Very humble looking residence - not!

Lots of boats use the river

All shapes and sizes

The Millenium footbridge on the outskirts of York

The old Dockyards

The Kings Arms on the left, called the 'Flooding Pub' because of the number of times the rivers come through it

Lovely old buildings with arched exits onto the river

The angel adorning the middle of Lendal Bridge

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We’re moored up right next to the railway bridge, about a 10 minute walk to the station, so we took a walk there and picked up my tickets for tomorrow’s travel to Birmingham and Bath. A short stroll along the wall and we were into the centre. We decided that the Jorvik Viking Museum sounded interesting and we’d splash out and pay an entry fee for once. It wasn’t what we’d expected, more of a Disneyland ride than anything, but the exhibition of artefacts at the end was interesting. As my mum and dad were originally from the North of England (Sunderland and Huddersfield respectively), then my original roots may be from the Danes who dominated this area of the country.

The view from the railway bridge towards Lendal Bridge. Northern Pride fourth along

One of the tour boats. We get a short snippet of commentary as they go past, sadly always the same bit

York Station, when first built was the largest in the world

You can walk around the old city wall which takes you right around York

Interesting looking building

Sandra spotted "The Scream" face in one of the paving stones on the wall

Flower bike, wouldn't be too comfortable had thorns on the seat

Clock on the 'St Martin-Le-Grand' church. The clock was originally installed in 1668, but has been restored several times since.

'The Three Tuns' pub in the centre of York

Not sure what this is all about. Might have been the sex trade street!!

So much of York is like this

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We had an amble through the Shambles, a gaze at the majesty of York Minster, then back to Sainsbury’s for a spot of shopping to keep Barry in food and beer for his weekend alone.

Lovely old sweet shop in The Shambles

The Shambles where these two houses are almost touching

View of York Minster between the buildings

Statue on the corner of bookshop alley

Some views of the impressive 'York Minster'

This evening we were picked up by Tim and Catherine dinner and wine at their home in small place south of York called Bishopthorpe. The Archbishop of York has a palace there, one of only two Archbishops in the country we're reliably informed. It certainly looked palacial.

Katie and Amy, a couple of livewires

Katie, Tim, Amy and Catherine

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We had an awesome evening getting to know one another and meeting their children Amy and Katie, two gregarious, giggly, beautiful blonde girls. The food was great and the champagne, wine and port flowed far too freely! We decided not to catch the last bus home but got a taxi back to the boat in the wee small hours. Barry will meet up with Tim again over the weekend.

Catherine gave me a list of some of my ancestors going back as far as 1620 which is just amazing! I now know that we are second cousins once removed, and the name of my 8th great grandfather on my father's mother's side (!) was called John Drake and my 8th great grandmother Ann Wright. She has got an incredible amount of information, it was faascinating.

Tomorrow I'm off to Bath for my English hen weekend and returning to York late on Sunday with my eldest sister Katherine who's coming to do the river to Ripon with us, until Wednesday evening.