Ring of 12 in action with the carillon bells above
Great Peter 11 tonnes and well balanced for chiming!
Not a great deal of excitement, though some new places I’ve visited.
I rang (but just with the light 6) with the York Minster people: very intimidating, with a heavy ring of 12. Still haven’t rung in a 12 when all bells are being rung- way too challenging. The York people are very good, and very much aware of that… I watched… They did take me into the belfry as they were ringing. Ear defenders required. Watched all 12 ring, then to other tower where the clock bells are, including Great Peter, an 11 tonne swinging bell. Is sounded for service on Sunday, and chimed by clock mechanism every hour. You can hear this all over the city, even when you cannot hear the other bells. Most impressive.
Then, after visiting the railway museum, walking the city walls, and generally soaking in the atmosphere if this amazing city, I made my way up the River Ouse (which turns a corner and becomes the River Ure), then up the Ripon canal. This is for boats of 57′, so a very tight squeeze, across the lock at an angle, and then most carefully for my 60′ boat.
Ripon is a gentle town, with a magnificent cathedral. I hope to ring there (or just watch again…) tomorrow, then back down the canal and river(s) to Selby, where I will leave the rivers to again appreciate the serenity (even with duckweed) of the canals.
