Recent content by Lower Limit 1909

On each of the 4-5 occasions I've been in this situation for real (all on the upper tidal Brentford - Teddington) it hasn't occured to me to use any radio or telephone communications. Some of those occasions pre-dated DSC or were when only equipped with a handheld on the upper tidal and very...

I've had similar versions of that without the cycling you describe. (1) Not turning off at all. (2) Turning itself on when turned off (not activating the thruster just 'arming' it). Now on my third new Side power joystick in 5 years :(

I have found a cheapy phone attached endoscope (£20 - £50) on Amazon etc. to be enourmously useful for exploring inaccessible areas of the engine in a confined space. e.g.; https://amzn.eu/d/a9wG6Ew

Not unexpectedly a section 35 anti-social behaviour crime and policing order has been put in place covering the entire river from Richmond to Hampton Court. "A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police in Richmond are warning parents to stay aware of where children are going...

If previous years are anything to go by (and the weather stays dry) then the next 3 - 4 weekends will be similar before it all quietens down again. (Previous years have seen a dispersal zone set up with large numbers of police drafted in so this may yet happen). I'd certainly avoid making plans...

There is a filling station 3-4 mins on foot from various free short-term moorings on the Surrey side of Hampton Court above and below the bridge. Beyond that you are looking at options with either increasing distance from boat to petrol station, or complications of mooring. Or both. Just...

It's also a great bike ride - the whole way from Teddington to Guildford - along the Thames Path / Tow Path. Have long planned to do it in a similar style to you but with a bike stowed on board for the return to base overnight. I'd also add in an 'explore' of the Basingstoke Canal turning...

Trotman's B&B Slum Boats are back in Kingston as of a couple of days ago. Doesn't look like last year's legal action has had any impact whatsoever on their commercial operation.

Just seen a tree come down on the tow path near Teddington missing by about 10 metres 2 adults with child and dog. Does anybody understand the thought process that goes into deciding to take the family out for a walk among tall poorly rooted trees during severe winds?

Eel Pie Island Slipways Services and MSO Marine Construction just below Teddington can accomodate this size / weight with ease. butdon't expect it to be cheap. If you want to save money and don't need facilities then the PLA draw dock drying out facility at Isleworth or timber grid at Chiswick...

Many on here will have some familiarity with the history of Taggs Island (and no doubt their own part in it) but an interesting new article none the less Londoner lives on a 'paradise island' in the middle of the River Thames

I think we can assume thay the EA's costs were also far in excess of £5K so financially it's a 'loose loose'. (Doesn't mean the action wasn't worth taking, but until the EA get the power to seize such boats it's unlikely to deter future miscreants).

That large willow was previously standing on the 'beach' about 2-300 metres downstream from the barge lock. Not a lightning strike - simply 'snapped' at about 3 metres height in the wind. Yesterday - another very large tree 100 metres further down 'snapped' in the same way with noi warning - now...

Lucky escape for three at Molesey Lock yesterday. Molesey Lock: Lightning-strike selfie lands siblings in hospital Not the case with these three, but related to this it does always amaze me when I see SUPs and Kayakers etc. out on the river (as yesterday) in entirely predicted and predictable...

If you are single handing and want a Lockeeper to help with ropes (which 9/10 used to but understandably post-Covid maybe only 6/10 now do) this may sometimes involve a trade off between coming in on a 'preferred' side due to the handling of the boat (i.e; prop walk) and coming in on the side...