Opening the barrier

Sunday, 01 August 2010 16:57

In this case, it was just a swing bridge!

We went to Sheffield Cathedral for the morning service and then left Victoria Quays through the swing bridge. It is not our Watermate key that is broken off in the lock! It had been a good mooring and surprisingly quiet.

Beside the swing bridge is the old dry dock which the owner of CV Marine is trying to get planning permission to use. He is also trying to open a diesel facility, but planning is being obstructive. It would be helpful if BW could support this, as the nearest supply is at Thorne. The old railway arches are "retail units", some of which are occupied. One arch is the entrance to the Hilton Hotel, built above the arches - another is their bar.

As we passed Victoria Boatyard, I spotted the distinctive bow lines of the Jonathon Wilson narrowboats. The sea-going motor cruiser is being restored by Jonathon Wilson. It will be fabulous once it is finished.

We could not leave Sheffield without a photo of the rolled steel bars that once made the city prosperous - I also reflected that we were sailing by in a steel hulled narrowboat. I wonder where our steel came from? I think Colecraft told us when they built her hull, but my forgettory has forgotten!

Leaving Sheffield in the sunshine, I felt more positive about our visit - the city is worth visiting and like any city has bits that the visitor would rather not see! It is sad to see the old factories beside the canal which are no longer active. The photo below is almost the exact location for a scene in The Full Monty film. I was glad that there was no car ahead in the canal today.

After we had passed the tramway bridge, a tram crossed it obligingly! The tramway was now alongside the north bank, with a station that serves the Hallam Stadium and Sheffield Arena. Hallam Stadium is just visible over the trees and once again we passed what could be some lovely moorings in the winding hole there. Sheffield Arena is also hidden by trees but a footbridge across the canal affords a glimpse of the entrance.

There are remains of an old lift bridge still visible around the corner after Greenland Road Bridge, although there is no clue to what its purpose was.

We were locking down two of the Tinsley locks today, ready for Dave (BW Lockie) to meet us tomorrow morning to do the rest of the flight. I hung around, whilst John filled the top lock and then wandered down to Lock 2 to see the state of play. It was empty too, with the bottom gates open. John could see Dave and another narrowboat in Lock 3, so rang Dave to check we could still moor above on the pontoons there. It was still OK and so I waited in the exit of Top Lock for the other boat to come up Lock 2.

John and Dave had a chat and Dave rang to see if he could find out any information on the stoppage at Keadby Road Swing Bridge - the wedges are broken. We shall be wanting to go through sometime this week! Apparently we will be able to go through the bridge - the engineers will jack it up if it is not repaired and sufficient boats are ready to go through. Dave is extremely helpful and knowledgeable and the Tinsley Locks (which are as hard as the Caen Hill Flight on the Kennet and Avon) are almost a pleasure to do!

We reversed onto the pontoon, turning above Lock 3 and confirmed the arrangements with Dave for tomorrow.

You may be able to spot our strange arrangement for the satellite dish in the photo below! My flower pot will never be the same again; it is very ingenious of John to use the fenders and bow rope to fix it! Now we can see the F1 highlights and watch the brilliant new Sherlock Holmes series this evening!

Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, Victoria Quay to above Tinsley Lock 3

1 hour 56 minutes, 2.76 miles, 2 locks