A few pictures from our Thames cruise

[Murv]

Wonderful trip from Rochester to Pangbourne, ran for 52 hours in total.
A few things we learned:

• Cheese is expensive in Cookham
• A Turbo36 is a bit of a handful for a newbie
• People get very excitable at locks if they think you're going to push in (we weren't)
• Rowers rarely look where they're going and take deep offence to any mobo that isn't moored
• Narrowboats take up an awful lot of room but the occupants are extremely pleasant people
• Mooring in Reading town centre overnight isn't as intimidating as it looks
• Hire boaters are a bit of a menace
• Lock keepers are some of the nicest, hardest working people on earth
• The flow is surprisingly strong when swimming
• Don't go into nautacalica and expect to come out with anything left in your wallet
• Forget Windsor bridge, Cookham lock cut bridge is the one to be scared of...

Had a fantastic time, really didn't want to come home.
Followed RCC members up on the Friday, but came back alone so quite chuffed to have completed a journey on our own even though we've done it before in very experienced hands.
Even went into Shepperton marina for a diesel top-up and despite my heart rate peaking at around 300bpm, managed to get in and out with no issues.
The boat performed fantastically well, not a single issue but I wish we'd taken a generator as the batteries just couldn't keep up running at tickover all day long.

 

[Murv]

Was sorely tempted to add this one to my collection...

 

[Murv]

 

[capnfishy]

Lovely photos Murv, look forward to your return and thanks for the kind comment about our lock keepers, I may be biased but I agree whole-heartedly. Come back soon!

 

[ogod]

Ace trip, fab photos. Taken with the shopping trolley one.

 

[Chill]

Super pictures glad you had a trouble free cruise

 

[oldgit]

Excellent pixs.

 

[Ramage]

Looking forward to seeing you guys at the ATYC Rally. You may have to bring your own shopping trolley though....

 

[oldgit]

Looking forward to seeing you guys at the ATYC Rally. You may have to bring your own shopping trolley though....

We are mere beginners down here,last time we came to WID,seem to recall the PLA sonar scans revealing a mini and a van at the bottom of the dock. ?

 

[Ramage]

We are mere beginners down here,last time we came to WID,seem to recall the PLA sonar scans revealing a mini and a van at the bottom of the dock. ?

Both flying RCC burgees......

 

[oldgit]

Both flying RCC burgees......

Both presumably would have had two "balls" on them ?

 

[CX54WEK]

A nice set of pictures there.

 

[Actionmat]

You're a talented photographer, Murv. Thanks for sharing

 

[Murv]

Thanks all

 

[CX54WEK]

We are in the very early stages of planning a trip to the Thames with Naughty-Cal.

We are heading to the Caledonian Canal and west coast of Scotland next summer but if we get on ok with trailing the boat plan to head to the Thames the following summer.

Your pictures have made us more determined to make sure we get there

 

[Murv]

Good stuff

I'm sure you'll love it, should be an even more relaxing trip if you don't have to keep dropping a heavy GRP radar arch for the bridges!

 

[CX54WEK]

Good stuff

I'm sure you'll love it, should be an even more relaxing trip if you don't have to keep dropping a heavy GRP radar arch for the bridges!

Not sure just how far upstream we will be getting dropped in yet so not sure if we will have to be lowering the stainless steel arch or not.

 

[SnowCat]

Lovely photos

 

[Newbroom]

Great Photos, rather like the look of those T36s

 

[Murv]

Thanks both
They do make a striking sight don't they Let me know if you want any of the original hi-res images and I'll mail them to you.

I'm putting them onto DVD for OldGit this evening, I'm sure he only really wants the T36 pictures