York: Underwater

Flood barriers, York
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As it’s still quite early I decide to head back into York for a few hours. The weather has really brightened up and the sun is putting in its first appearance for a few days. When I arrive, the first thing I do is go down to the river to see how all the rain in the last few days has affected the Ouse. The answer is badly. It’s immediately apparent that it’s a hell of a lot higher than yesterday. As I follow it along into the centre of town, I’m greeted by the sight of flood barriers and the kind of thing you see on news coverage.

Flooding, York
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One particular stretch of road that sits low alongside the river has completely disappeared, along with the bottom half of all the pubs. In fact the wooden benches outside have already drifted off, luckily getting caught on the fence a little further down. Surely if you flood every time there’s a drop of rain, you’d fix a chain to your tables! Anyway, the local residents’ misery is the tourists’ photo opportunity! There are loads of us all snapping away with our cameras. A little further down and I come to a park I walked through yesterday. Today half of it is underwater. However bad it may currently look to me now, it is nowhere near as bad as it could be. There are flood marks on the wall that show this whole park has been underwater on several occasions. In 2000 the water had reached all the way to the mound the Castle stands on! That would leave me standing up to my waist in water.

In fact the wooden benches outside have already drifted off, luckily getting caught on the fence a little further down.

Escaping picnic tables, York
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Having achieved my main goal for this evening I decide to wander round town taking photographs. It’s an amazing turn around since this morning. I’m basking in the glorious warm glow of a real summer evening. First stop is the Merchant’s Hall, a magnificent black and white timber framed building, almost hidden below street level. Inside there appears to be a wedding or posh party taking place as the guests are all done up to the nines.

Eventually after wandering through the main pedestrian areas, dodging the drinkers who are spilling out of every pub, I reach the relative calm of the Minster. Just behind the main entrance is a tranquil park, already full of sun bathers. Sadly the back of the Minster is clad in unforgiving scaffolding and green sheeting, but it is fascinating to see newly carved stone gleaming through the gaps.

A new water feature in a local park, York
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Last stop of the evening are the Museum Gardens. I take a quick look at the final piece of the city walls and discover a large group of teenagers hiding in the space beyond. This seems to be the perfect place for underage drinking, although surprisingly just the other side of the wall I later discover Police riot vans! Last time I was here I evidently missed one of the parks usual residents. Everywhere I look there are squirrels, cleaning up the mess left by visitors. This does provide me with some fantastic photo opportunities, but I’d rather they weren’t trying to smuggle plastic bags back to their dray.

Local resident in the Museum Gardens, York
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At the furthest end of the park, beyond the railings, is the river. Looking beyond I realise that the tiny pieces of wood breaking the surface are benches on the footpath. However, the water is currently lapping (and occasionally breaching) the park boundaries.

Suddenly I realise that the earlier sun has disappeared and big black heavy clouds are building above me. Time to head back! Thankfully I just make it back to the bus stop when the heavens open. It doesn’t stop again until I step off the bus back at base – I couldn’t have timed it better if I’d tried.