Going to London

[TrueBlue]

Limehouse

Make the most of it while you can - BW are going to charge "non narrowboats" to use the lock shortly. They won't give any hint as to what the charges might be - so being of a suspicious nature, it'll probably be expensive...

 

[rosssavage]

St Kats venue is fantastic, the lock is pants. Limehouse venue is pants, lock is fantastic.

Nothing better than sitting on the flybridge on a monday morning at st kats watching everyone going to work as you're about to cast off for the day! Smug mode.

 

[Ramage]

If you got a TRM job at LCY you could go and live there....

(Mind you, we would miss you in T5!

 

[MiskinDriver]

Launching small boats

Yes, there are places you can launch apparently. Have a look at the Interactive Leisure Map on the PLA website (pla.co.uk) - its under the Leisure tab.

As for quiet times: any time before 10 in the morning will beat the tourist boats - but if you go out at that time on a weekend - particularly in anything like calm weather - you will be in the peak time for the rowers around Poplar and Greenwich. But the centre of town should be fine.

 

[Salty Sealine]

Thank you all for your responses and guidance.

I know that I am not confident or qualified enoughto go on the tidal part of the river by myself and after the advice given above, even less so now.

The original question is still applicable and I would be happy to take knowledge passengers with me. Failing that I will join a crusier club as suggested and attend thier cruise next year.

 

[alruss]

being based on the non tidal Thames, you must be used to locks, then Richmond half lock is no problem for you. Teddington lockie has offered to help you work out times to travel. I have offered to meet you on the tidal stretch. How can you decide not to go for it. I live with it all the time in an old unreliable cruiser, pic attached, so unless you only have a few inches of freeboard there is no excuse. Be aware of what is arround you and be careful you will enjoy and come again. Realy not a big deal.

 

[jaws]

Limehouse Cruise

You would be welcome on our Bray Cruiser Club trip to Limehouse next April.
I wasn't planning a tidal trip before then, but if I do I'll let you know and you can tag along.

 

[Salty Sealine]

An update

I am moored up by Teddington weir and will be going through the lock at approx midday tomorrow with the intention of getting to Tower Bridge at aprox 3pm and then turning round to get back through Teddington before it is dark.

That said I will see how it is going once i get to Wandsworth and if I feel confinent will push on.

 

[Salty Sealine]

An update

I am moored up by Teddington weir and will be going through the lock at approx midday tomorrow with the intention of getting to Tower Bridge at aprox 3pm and then turning round to get back through Teddington before it is dark.

That said I will see how it is going once i get to Wandsworth and if I feel confinent will push on.

Have also read the manual as to how the VHF works, just in case.....

 

[teddington_lock]

Just seen this .... Richmond will lift the curtain at approximately 1310 tomorrow ...

Being that Richmond is approx 1/2 an hour downstream of us , if you leave at midday , you will be at Richmond at approx 1230 ...

Richmond don't like operating their lock for 3/4 to 1/2 hour before the curtain goes up , preferring to make you wait , so you may have to hang off at Richmond for a bit ...

Someone is booked to go out at 0300 today ( 3rd ) ...... nice ...

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

>>>
Richmond don't like operating their lock for 3/4 to 1/2 hour before the curtain goes up , preferring to make you wait , so you may have to hang off at Richmond for a bit
>>>
Indeed, not sure that the bit about the curtain going up is needed here, just dont like working the lock and like making you wait! Still surprised that HASEX have not insisted on waiting pontoons!

 

[oldgit]

I am moored up by Teddington weir and will be going through the lock at approx midday tomorrow with the intention of getting to Tower Bridge at aprox 3pm and then turning round to get back through Teddington before it is dar


Worth remembering its dark just after 6.30 ? ,no problem of course if your relaxed with that !

 

[rosssavage]

Paul, I could so do that... only 2 flights a day, BA1 and BA3. Easy money I think it's handling agents for the TRM bit tho...

 

[Ramage]

I bet they would want you to cover the franchise services too.....

 

[teddington_lock]

Choppy on the river today , no ?

 

[Salty Sealine]

Well I have no idea why I was worried, all very easy. Went through Richmond Lock, real pain not having any bollards, just chains. Bit shallow after the lock. There were about 6 other non commerical boats on the river and I followed another boat all the way to Tower Bridge.

To all those that suggested mooring up at St Kats or Limehouse, I agree with you and that is what I will do next year.

 

[alruss]

I told you so!!!!!!

 

[heron]

I did this trip last year, from tedders down to Tower bridge and back to tedders, it was a lovely sunny day and had a great time, but punching the tide coming back was a pain and cost a fortune in fuel. I had planned to do Chatham this year, but time was against me so went up stream instead. I must say I was a bit nervous doing it on my own and would prefer to have gone with other boats. maybe we could organise a forum trip down there in the spring.

 

[No Regrets]

real pain not having any bollards,

Ooh I don't know...it was quite brave doing all that by yourself...

 

[Salty Sealine]

Ooh I don't know...it was quite brave doing all that by yourself...

The slug of brandy before I set off may have helped!!!