jecuk
Well-Known Member
I can't say I have seen it that busy in years. Longest waits at lay-bys I can recall all the way down to Windsor. Lovely day to be on the river unless you had a long trip to do...
Busy on river yesterday
- Thread starter jecuk
- Start date
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
All manner of vessels and bodies floating all over the place.
Dinghies, kayaks and the like pottering along mid-stream ignoring all else, a group of strong swimmers on the "wrong" side (sensible), but without clearly visible headgear. A small event 'twixt Sonning and Reading on Saturday with badly marked course and no "get over" signs at either end. Pointless really as the kayakers straddled the occasional marker buoys anyway.
Great - the River buzzing with activity. Excellent.
Just as well as there were no accidents....
jecuk
Well-Known Member
Yes, going through Windsor was nerve-wracking. Little hire boats going everywhere, never looking behind either. I haven't looked forward to later in the day with self service before but that was the nicest part of the day.
plumbob
Well-Known Member
Yep took us 5 hours to get from Sonning to Hurley last night, left at 3 and arrived back at the mooring at 7.55pm. Did not encounter too many idiots except for the 3 lads waterskiing on the Wargrave stretch!
watson1959
Well-Known Member
Absolutely packed....we just went out for a picnic from Reading to Lower Shiplake and the plan was to stop at the G&D for a beer with Matt's friend from Uni.
On the way up there were boats rafted up 4 deep! We left it till the return leg and managed to be just against one other boat. Went inside and the bar was packed out with virtually no staff serving so we gave up.......then there were 7 boats with us in Shiplake Lock.....
It was a lovely day to be out but just too busy.
Sooooooo tempting to moor up next to Paul Daniels and Debbie McG having lunch on their boat but I resisted the temptation.
The real highlight was the dinghy racing between Wargrave & Shiplake: everyone was 'gob-smacked' at a narrow boat who decided to pull away from his mooring and plow right through the race bringing the whole thing to a halt......he appeared to be completely oblivious to the chaos.....perhaps it was the sun
On the way up there were boats rafted up 4 deep! We left it till the return leg and managed to be just against one other boat. Went inside and the bar was packed out with virtually no staff serving so we gave up.......then there were 7 boats with us in Shiplake Lock.....
It was a lovely day to be out but just too busy.
Sooooooo tempting to moor up next to Paul Daniels and Debbie McG having lunch on their boat but I resisted the temptation.
The real highlight was the dinghy racing between Wargrave & Shiplake: everyone was 'gob-smacked' at a narrow boat who decided to pull away from his mooring and plow right through the race bringing the whole thing to a halt......he appeared to be completely oblivious to the chaos.....perhaps it was the sun
russ
Well-Known Member
Came back home to Bray from Henley this Sunday. Busy but all good fun.
Until we came across a sailing regatta at Bourne End. Bl**dy boats zipping everywhere. Nearly causing a collision.
How is that they can take up the whole river width with no concern for other boaters? Grrr!
Whilst I'm at it what about boaters not moving up when waiting at locks, not leaving in the order they entered without keepers permission.
Boats speeding past us at 4am.
I won't even mention the rowers.
Still a lovely weekend though.
Until we came across a sailing regatta at Bourne End. Bl**dy boats zipping everywhere. Nearly causing a collision.
How is that they can take up the whole river width with no concern for other boaters? Grrr!
Whilst I'm at it what about boaters not moving up when waiting at locks, not leaving in the order they entered without keepers permission.
Boats speeding past us at 4am.
I won't even mention the rowers.
Still a lovely weekend though.
Deefor
Well-Known Member
Saturday - 3.5 hours PH to Bay lock.
Sunday - same journey, 5 hours
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Sunday - same journey, 5 hours
.rosssavage
Well-Known Member
Lovely day. Loooong wait at the only lock we used (Boveney). Then I clouted my stern and put a lovely gouge in it cos I'd moved up so far I couldn't get the turn into the lock right. My fault, who cares, gelcoat is easy to fix and I've got a few other chips to sort anyway. Had a chat with the couple behind me in the queue - its all part of it really.
Couldn't get near the Brocas at 14:00, but managed to get the front half of my tub on the EA moorings by the bridge house restaurant - right outside the grumpy gits window.
Stayed a couple of hours then moved up and found space on the Brocas. Had a bunch of pikey kids ask if they could look around my boat "no" but had the cheek to jump on my bow anyway!!! They wandered off to annoy others and fiddle with mooring lines... No real harm done, but makes you wary...
BBQ, Paralympic closing on tv. Back home today
Couldn't get near the Brocas at 14:00, but managed to get the front half of my tub on the EA moorings by the bridge house restaurant - right outside the grumpy gits window.
Stayed a couple of hours then moved up and found space on the Brocas. Had a bunch of pikey kids ask if they could look around my boat "no" but had the cheek to jump on my bow anyway!!! They wandered off to annoy others and fiddle with mooring lines... No real harm done, but makes you wary...
BBQ, Paralympic closing on tv. Back home today
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jecuk
Well-Known Member
My biggest issue was overtaking dangerously. We had lots of boats jam past us just coming out of the tail gates at Romney in the very narrow section which was brave given the depth and lack of options a 13 ton boat has there.
Also one guy hurtling past at Marlow who if I had not taken action, would have lost his flybridge in the trees above Bisham Abbey.
I have no issue being passed but I wish people would do it sensibly and safely.
Also one guy hurtling past at Marlow who if I had not taken action, would have lost his flybridge in the trees above Bisham Abbey.
I have no issue being passed but I wish people would do it sensibly and safely.
Sulley
Well-Known Member
Just went out on Sunday up to Boulters and back and had lunch on the boat, lovely day but the busiest I have seen this year.
Lock queuing and etiquette seemed to go out of the window, all good fun still!
Lock queuing and etiquette seemed to go out of the window, all good fun still!
russ
Well-Known Member
Sulley
Well-Known Member
russ
Well-Known Member
You should have seen the it the other side of Boulters, they were waiting along the whole length of the moorings. We had to move up twice before we could get in the lock. Which as you know is quite a large lock.