TNC On Tour 2003 - 6 (XP)
Neil Arlidge
Walked up onto tram bridge over bypass and walked into town. Stopped at the
first place we found - the No1 Oriental Buffet - we missed the cheap timing
by about lumens - but still pretty good value - 8.5 quid for eat as much as
you like. Very good quality for one of these types of Chinkys and
absolutely packed. Martin C somewhat over ate, but did not get the 3 quid
surcharge for leaving a sizeable quantity of food!
After this we went on an aimless tram ride to Meadowhall and back.
Saturday 21st June 2003
Late up at 09:00.Will went out to get some mushrooms for the final week 1
breaky. Last excellent breaky from Will the chef. Peter W was first to
arrive of week 2 crew, followed by Ed (Martin C's boat mate for a day out on
Tinsley Canal / S&SYN), then Martin Wilson. Goodbyes then followed for
departing crew Will Chapman and
We eventually left Sheffield Basin at 12:55, for our booked 14:00 passage
down the Tinsley Flight.
As Derek had said, the flight was open and the first couple of locks filled.
We proceeded down, then was met by Dave the chief locky who assisted us
down the rest of the Tinsley Fight as well as the now permanently locked
Jordans, Ickles and Holmes Locks. Being a Saturday afternoon there were a
good few kids about , but all were good natured, though there was evidence
of swimming going on. We were out of Holmes at 15:30 and soon were on our
way, seeing how far we could get that night. We dropped Ed off at Station
Road Bridge in Mexborough, being only a few hundred yards from the station,
for Ed's return to his car back in Sheffield. We had a few haphazard half
bricks chucked in front of us as we passed through Conisborough. The
Blunderbuss was readied for Conisborough Railway viaduct and was put on
subtle display. All seemed quiet on top of the viaduct, but as we passed on
small kid was seen looking down at us from downstream side - nothing was
chucked.
Donny Lock seemed somewhat confused and both top gates refused to open more
than half way. The gap seemed 6ft 10 ins wide and we just scraped through.We
were wondering if this was to be our stop for the night, but the rest of the
lock worked OK. There were a few visitor moorings left in the lock-in Donny
moorings, but our destination was Barnby Dunn, to avoid the stoppages the
next day due to Dragon Boat racing. Long Sandall Lock was also confused, but
BW knew about this and had put a note telling you to lower and raise top
paddle again, after lock filled, another wait of several minutes. The lock
would then decide that it was in fact full and allow the gates to be opened.
The locky was about and asked if we were going to Barnby Dunn for the Dragon
Boat racing, we said no, we were trying to get passed it to avoid any
stoppages. Neil also commented in the amount of damaged cars that had been
dragged out of the cut and stored in the yard. He said this was now getting
a BIG problem in the surrounding waterways. One of the cars had interesting
damage, obviously caused by a barge taking the bonnet and roof completely
off!
Eventually at 21:55 we moored up above Barnby Dunn lift bridge, seeing as
there were no moorings below. Martin Wilson's excellent prepared completely
from scratch Spag Bol was soon ready and we started on the second bottle of
red wine. A coffee and a random selection from the TNC Islay collection
(Ardbeg) then followed, straight to bed as we had another earlyish start.
Sunday 22nd June 2003
07:30 start on a horrible gloomy day. It was still warm and in the distance
lightning flashes could be seem over the North Yorks Moors, no rain all day
though. 08:45 we were back at Bramwith Junction and down the New Junction
Canal again. Fast through Syke House Lock / swing bridge seeing as some one
was already coming up. The other boat kindly did the lock for us and we were
soon on our way again. We passed an oncoming Dumb (Selby Libra) and motor
barge - a lady was steering!
We met Aire and Calder Navigation at 09:20 and now started up towards
Wakefield. A roving BW locky did Pollington Lock as he had just locked up
Green sand barge - Gladys Lillian. At Whitley Lock a queue developed from
departing overnighters, Lucy Lu from Altofts and a couple of cruisers. The
roving BW guy had departed seeing as Gladys Lillian did not need his
services anymore and had stopped above. We were first out of Whitley Lock
and by the time we got to Bulholme the rest of the boats had stopped. We
locked up Bulholme Lock with a new sailaway boat on trade plates, going to
Fairies Hill Marina. Castleford Junction at 13:25, straight on for
Wakefield. We met no one going up and had a good run to Broad Cut on the
Calder and Hebble (16:50). We are going out to "The Navigation" soon, seeing
as they stop doing food at 19:00. Should be at Slaithwaite on the HVNC
tomorrow night.
--
Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest
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