A Spectacularly Sunny Day in York

I have been many many times to York, as had my friend, when we met up for a day out there.  Neither of us, though, in our entire lives, in my case lengthier, had gone on a day when it was fit for a trip on the river.  This day it was, to such an extent that we didn't even have to don our cardies against the Ouse breeze.  I learnt that the name of Minster, originally, had nothing to do with being a Cathedral of note but simply meant that it was some kind of church by a stream.  There were students frantically practising their competitive rowing skills as we drifted by and happy drinkers unable to believe their luck that they could sit by the river on a sunny day, which we joined in with afterwards.  There were owls, hand reared, in the old Abbey grounds, which for a fee you could have your picture taken with.  The owls, though, were old hands at refusing a photo opportunity, having heads they can turn 360 degrees at will, so try as you might, if they don't feel like it, they simply will not face front.