First London trip

Hi Clive,

I think you made a good choice - even better if you can round up a few grandchildren to join you. Particularly if you have some kids aboard, you can spice up your departure by giving 24 hours or more notice for a lift of Tower Bridge to let you pass through upriver into the upper pool and then down river. I still have photos of doing this with my own children in an Elizabeth an 31 in the 1980's. You need to co ordinate the booking of the lock out with St. Kats and the lift with the bridge people.

Peter.
Loads of FREE STUFF stuff on your door step for crew both old and grumpy or small and stroppy.
Most unknown to tourists ...and all less likely to be crowded.
Mudchute Park and Farm
Visit Young V&A · V&A
For the history buff
Homepage | Sir John Soane's Museum The Bloke nobody you know has even heard of.
For the less squeamish....
Homepage bits of people in jars mainly :)
 
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We did the trip, got back into Conyer yesterday.

Departed from Queenborough an hour before low water Sheerness, and reached St Kats around 6 and a half hours later.

Returning on Sunday, we took the earliest lock out of St Kats (2 hours before high water London Bridge). I was concerned that having to punch the tide for the first 2 hours would make the return trip longer, but the tidal boost once it kicked in was huge, and we ended up doing the journey in a very similar time, making it back to Queenborough at sunset (the advice from @Cantata was spot on).

St Kats was excellent (if very expensive), and the kids loved it. As noted in the ECP, the river was very choppy between the dome and Tower Bridge and we were glad we’d heeded the advice to warp and fender early.

Otherwise it was a smooth trip and very memorable, with the weather being particularly kind, although very little wind meant lots of motoring.

IMG_3116.jpeg
 
We did the trip, got back into Conyer yesterday.

Departed from Queenborough an hour before low water Sheerness, and reached St Kats around 6 and a half hours later.

Returning on Sunday, we took the earliest lock out of St Kats (2 hours before high water London Bridge). I was concerned that having to punch the tide for the first 2 hours would make the return trip longer, but the tidal boost once it kicked in was huge, and we ended up doing the journey in a very similar time, making it back to Queenborough at sunset (the advice from @Cantata was spot on).

St Kats was excellent (if very expensive), and the kids loved it. As noted in the ECP, the river was very choppy between the dome and Tower Bridge and we were glad we’d heeded the advice to warp and fender early.

Otherwise it was a smooth trip and very memorable, with the weather being particularly kind.

View attachment 192066
Good to hear it went well for you. We’ll be there with the Hollowshore club next month.
 
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