Wednesday 10th
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 
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