Crossing The Forums (fora?) - pics (lots of pics, broadband only!)

[rr_123]

Ok, I know that it's considered bad form to "cross-post", but here's my little story of last weekend that starts in the Thames Forum, and ends in the Mobo forum, look on if you want to see what a cracking weekend it was!

The point was that I had been persuaded to go to the Isle of Wight Festival; now I like music as much as the next man, I like the atmosphere of festivals, but I am just too old for the toilets/showers/burgers lifestyle that it entails, so inspired by Jeff (JE_Cuk) 's story of motoring around, but seeking a quick fix alternative, I embarked on the following odyssey with a couple of very good friends:-

Started with a potential stowaway looking for a nook:-

Then to the driveway, here's the willing crew:-

Off to Penton Hook, where we noticed some invaluable advice on the slipway

We heeded this, and braved the cunning dogleg that has been built into the slip

Boat ON

And Boat OUT

Ok, a few piccies make it look easy, but by the end of this we were absolutely shattered, and had to eat curry and drink beer, returning the following day. Decided that the boat wasn't far enough on the trailer, and at 2.5 tonnes it was a bit heavy to hand winch. The crane op made a suggestion. We weren't sure whether it was a wind up (sic) or whether he was serious, but faced with little choice, I took the landy up to about 5 miles an hour and slammed the brakes on!! Heart stopping moment, but it did the trick!!!!! To make a Landrover, get a lump of iron ore, and carve away the bits that aren't Landrover!

A final check up top

A pit stop

A coffee stop (this is boating on the hedge):-

And a story that finishes in the Mobo Forum...

Click Here if you want to see the end...

 

[Gavi]

Great story and photos. All Gold is a boat we often point out to friends on board, if only due to the, er, unusual colour scheme... and character. At least she isn't a Birchwood /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Would be interested in learning how long she has been on the river for, type of engine/fuel, and notable lessons such as smoke and oil burn.

When does she return?

 

[Ramage]

>>At least she isn't a Birchwood <<

Have a look at this months MBM. There is a feature on buying a Freeman 27.

Its been treated for Osmosis though................ /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[rr_123]

The colour is a bit of an acquired taste, but strangely one that I seem to have acquired! (anyway, coloured hulls are coming back into fashion...)

What you need to do is come aboard and have a beer, you will then realise that she was built on a lay-line, and is a great place to spend a bit of time (c:

She is a smokey old girl (that's for sure), but I am assured that this is a feature of the AD41 (series A, low compression, high output); doesn't seem to burn any lubricating oil, doesn't actually burn that much diesel at river speeds.

I bought her from a well published forumite who knows much more about her history, he cruised her extensively on the South Coast and up the Thames (she attracted many puzzled glances when I cruised past his club the "wrong" way during a sail-past a few weeks ago, she being - er - distinctive)

I have a "free" mooring in Chichester for most of July, she will be back in the Massive after that!

 

[Flashheart]

[ QUOTE ]
>>At least she isn't a Birchwood <<

Have a look at this months MBM. There is a feature on buying a Freeman 27.

Its been treated for Osmosis though................ /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh dear. Has its hull gone all Gooey!

Shame.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

>>>
I have a "free" mooring in Chichester for most of July, she will be back in the Massive after that
>>>

Well now Rob, that's about 10 miles away from me so how's the old girl enjoying a visit to her old cruising grounds?

And the colour grew on SWMBO and I too

 

[rr_123]

[ QUOTE ]
that's about 10 miles away from me

[/ QUOTE ]

So you're living down by Chichester and driving up to take Jeddi out on the river, and I am living by the river and driving down to take All Gold out of Chichester... hmmm, hang on (c: as was mentioned on another post, we should wave on the way past!

It is lovely to let her stretch her legs, she really is a great little boat, small enough for river use, strong enough for the coast, and v.comfortable with the big battery bank - I should 'fess up to sneaking back and having a cold beer whilst watching red dwarf during the Sex Pistols' gig... well I could hear them ... (c:

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

>>>
during the Sex Pistols' gig... well I could hear them ... (c:
>>>

Going down past Putney a few years back there was a Pistols tribute band on one of the trip boats pretty much holding station on us. One of the children asked "Daddy, why do you, Uncle Stuart and Uncle paul know all the words but cough a lot while singing?"