TNC On Tour 2003 - 5 (XP)
Neil Arlidge
Earlyish morning start from Sprotborough at 07:35. Overcast, cold and very
windy................a bit different from down south and what the WWW
promised!
Neil started the steering followed by a large bash from Martin C. All locks
set to boater operation. Mexborough seemed somewhat more cheerful than we
last found. The rather excessive steel fencing round Mexborough Top Lock has
been softened by laurel hedging. The laid up barges at Waddington Lock
seemed to have not been moved since our last visit. The dumb barge "Earnest"
was noted!
Kilnhurst Flood Lock was not set straight through, so had to work this.
Working barges seen at Thryberg Steelworks. A pair were manoeuvring just as
a BW stone pan was coming down. We all managed to pass at the same point! BW
bod in Eastwood Lock did eventually take over control of lock and did top
gate operation for us. Many private vessels seen in the Waddington's basin
above, the "new" 1980's sheds have still not been let. Barges just above on
the last modernised wharf doing steel rod transportation. Just after this is
the last lengthened winding point, then the original 61ft S&SYN section up
to Sheffield Basin starts. Coming out of Rotherham Lock caught a LONG piece
of platted plastic round the prop, causing terminal engine stop failure.
This took 15 mins of Stanley knife attacking before it came out.
Some confusion with Tinsley Lockies about start of the locked assisted
passage up. This is now just below Holmes Lock. We arrived here at 12:30,
half an hour before our booked time, soon another NB we passed on Ickles
Lock upper lock mooring arrived. Dave, chief Tinsley Locky said he was due
at 10:00 and they were a bit upset at his lack of communication. Derek the
"southern" Tinsley Locky (he has now been here 18 years, but still is
classified as an outsider!) arrived at 13:00 and was ultra helpful getting
us up in a couple of hours, having set the entire flight and doing most of
the work in a very laid back effortless way. When we said we would like to
book the flight to come back the next day, he sounded almost disappointed we
were not staying for longer and wondered if we would be back soon.
We eventually arrived in the basin at 15:40, after we watered up and moored
up just beyond the closed basin managers office, with a CCTV camera pointing
at us. Just about to go out for the night, crew change tomorrow, Heading
back down at 12:30.
--
Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest
Follow the travels of the TNC at http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk