Farewell to Sheffield

Wednesday 10^th May 2017

Although we had not been here for such a long time, it was about right for us to leave.

We had rung through to CaRT the previous day to make the booking and so we were up a bit early to get to the top lock before 9:30 – actually we got there about 8:15 and the lock-keeper was just preparing the locks.

He advised that there would be a wide-beam following us down and if we were ready in about 30 minutes we could start our way down and he would catch us up.

Breakfast time then and after we were finished it was time to move off – it is always nice to be cruising with the sun around and today looked like being a lovely day.

We worked our way down, pretty much the same as we had done on Sunday when we came up.

We saw more of the lock-keepers (yes plural) than we expected – they were all very good – looking after us and the wide-beam coming down after us and also keeping a check on the single-hander coming up from Holmes Lock – a busy day compared to Sunday – but Nigel (who was on again) said it was about average – even all the way through summer.

He reminisced about the time a few years ago when the basin was first re-opened and there was a boat festival in Sheffield – apparently the two mile stretch between the top lock and the basin was so full of boats that it was practically two-up breasted on one side and one on the other, with just enough space for a single boat through the centre (obviously before the prevalence of wide-beams).

We made it down the Tinsley flight and then through Jordan and Holmes locks to complete the escorted section – in just over 2 hours – we simply then had to just move a little further through Rotherham and past the oil works (where the Exol Pride visits) and we moored up in a little place called Kilnhurst.

When we had passed it going towards Sheffield we thought the moorings looked alright – so why not try them.

There is nothing in Kilnhurst to make you need to stop, but the moorings were quiet and peaceful and conveniently located after the trip down.

Bright sunshine, quiet mooring spot

11 Miles, 18 Locks, 2 Swing Bridges

YTD:  380 miles (612 km), 208 Locks, 15 Tunnels, 5 Lift Bridges, 15 Swing Bridges

Total: 5012 Miles (8066 km), 3359 Locks, 139 Tunnels, 71 Lift Bridges, 187 Swing Bridges

The final assault on Sheffield

Sunday 7^th May 2017

We were due to meet the CaRT guy at Holmes Lock at 9:30 - and there was just the matter of a couple of miles and two locks to negotiate before we got there.

It is called Swan Lake because of their numbers - on the way into Rotherham

Home to the Exol Pride - the nemesis barge..

...but reprocessing old oil products has got to be good for everyone

The precarious entrance to Rotherham Lock - that white beam is the lock

New York Stadium - home to Rotherham FC - today was their last home game
for the season and last in the Champioship - they have been relegated back
to League 1

It seems to be our custom that we like to get somewhere early and in this case it was no difference – so we had some breakfast and not long after that, Nigel, the CaRT guy arrived and unlocked the paddles.

 

No shortage of water here...

Lock full and locked

We had a chat and it was then time to get going.

Nigel had already unlocked all of the flight and had the locks being emptied by leaving a paddle up on each of the bottom gates.

He would work with us as needed through the entire flight plus Holmes and Jordan Locks and, as we were the only boat passing through, he would also lock everything up after we passed through.

 

Again, the scenery is great...

...not so the weir - this one just beyond Jordans Lock - the River Don flowing down

Along the way we had plenty of chances to talk with Nigel about all sorts of things including the flight of locks – especially the flight of locks; learning more about the history and current situation with all sorts of things.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the lock gates – both top and bottom – were extremely heavy – in one case, Lock 9, it needed two of us just to close one of the gates.

The dynamics of the in-flow of water from the gate paddles was quite strong, so care needed to be made – as always, you find out these things after a couple of locks.

We made it to the top of the flight about 12:10 and then there was only the two-mile cruise into Sheffield – all moored up at 1 o’clock.

 

You might be waiting a while for some boats to slow down -
but we certainly complied

Beyond the swing bridge are the moorings with power, but we opted for those
bollards on the right - in the sun and very open - good signals.

Arriving at this time allowed us all afternoon to re-explore the city centre and re-aquaint us with the layout – we had been here in 2014 for 1 day.

Check list – Tourist Information Office found (check); coffee shops found (check); Crucible Theatre found (check); find quickest way into the city centre (check); plan for tomorrow (check).

 

The Town Hall - side view

No it is not a green Tardis
- it is the last of the South Yorkshire Police Boxes

For Diane' sister Vivienne's who has a thing for elephants - this one is
in The Wintergarden

One thing caught my eye whilst I was preparing this blog – in all of our travels over the time on Ferndale we have made it to 5000 miles of canal travel – it is a fair distance but at the speed that we travel it is a long time spent on the back of the boat.

8 Miles, 13 Locks

YTD:  369 miles (594 km), 190 Locks, 15 Tunnels, 5 Lift Bridges, 13 Swing Bridges

Total: 5001 Miles (8048 km), 3341 Locks, 139 Tunnels, 71 Lift Bridges, 185 Swing Bridges