Head of the Thames to Windsor trip

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rosssavage

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Mission objective:

To navigate River Thames from source to sea.

Mission status:

River navigated from Oxford to sea so far in L'Chaim.

Next leg:

3 RIBS to start at the highest navigable reach of the river and navigate to home base of Windsor. Camping / hoteling overnight.

Requested information:

Threre will be three RIB's, two occupants each, draft approx 1'. How far up river can we start the trip without running aground? Bear in mind we will need a slip way near by.

The intention is to drive for 5-6 hours a day (this is supposed to be fun, so we won't be doing any endurance runs..), how many days will it take to get to windsor?

Any other advice or ideas? Hopefully we'll be camping most nights weather permitting, but a hotel and shower would be nice on occasion too. This is all very much an idea only so far, so help us fill out the bones of the trip :)
 
UTMYC 50th anniversary

We did a "source to mouth of the Thames" in 1996, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the club.
1. Walking from Thames Head to a pub near Kemble. Can't remember exactly where. Mainly dog walkers.
2. Pub lunch followed by launching of borrowed canoes, past some very large swans! Well they seemed pretty large from a canoe! Down to Lechlade where we met the 1st group of club boats.
3. To Abingdon where larger boats joined and on down to the club at Sonning, where we had a marquee and brilliant evening with guests from most other Thames clubs.
4. On down to TMYC at Hampton Court, where we joined them for a BBQ evening.
5. 3 boats, including us in Seascape (Fairline T36), carried on down to Ramsgate, where we were finally signed off by the Commodore of Royal Temple YC.

We now have a scroll in the bar with signatures from every lock keeper (yes, once they all had one!!) and the fional one from RTYC.

Fantastic couple of weeks that involved the majority of the club membership of all ages.

Enjoy it.

PS Lechlade is realistically the uppermost part, but you may get a little further up. Best to do a recce' first.
 
Up to Inglesham is no problem for us, but difficult to find a place to wind...

Took the dinghy up to Hannington bridge but were defeated by a fallen tree.

I'ts very weedy up there even with a 'gull with its weed chopper blade, but if you're prepared to paddle you may be able to start further up.

It's obstructions as much as anything else that'll defeat any powered boat.
 
Took the narrowboat Ernest up to Hannington Bridge, but beyond that it's difficult in anything other than a kayak, although there was an army pontoon dressed up as a narrowboat which made it to Cricklade Bridge in the 70's.

Interested in the "borrowing canoes and going from Kemble" bit; the river above Cricklade is private, and attempts and going west have reportedly been rebuffed by land owners.

Any serious motorised attempt, IMO, would have to be in winter (too many reeds in the summer) and the boat would need to be lift-able over fallen trees.
 
My sat pic centering did not work. If you change the page to map view, follow the river up stream of Lechlade to where the yellow road crosses the river - that's Hannington Bridge and a just a little bit further up than I have taken my small cruiser recently.
 
rosssavage said:
Mission objective:

To navigate River Thames from source to sea.

Mission status:

River navigated from Oxford to sea so far in L'Chaim.

Next leg:

3 RIBS to start at the highest navigable reach of the river and navigate to home base of Windsor. Camping / hoteling overnight.

Requested information:

Threre will be three RIB's, two occupants each, draft approx 1'. How far up river can we start the trip without running aground? Bear in mind we will need a slip way near by.

The intention is to drive for 5-6 hours a day (this is supposed to be fun, so we won't be doing any endurance runs..), how many days will it take to get to windsor?

Any other advice or ideas? Hopefully we'll be camping most nights weather permitting, but a hotel and shower would be nice on occasion too. This is all very much an idea only so far, so help us fill out the bones of the trip :)
Click to expand...

:confused:Need to start a little above Oxford to achieve 'Mission Objective':)
 
Indeed. That's why mission status reads "oxford to sea" achieved... :)

Done that bit in my big boat, now need to do the "head to oxford" bit in the little one.
 
how do you plan to refuel?

Don't forget u will need temporary licence for each boat - get them at Lechlade lock.

Journey time? at 5hours a day travel time then 4 days; maybe 5 depending on how high above Lechlade u start and allowing contingency (a bit longer in the pub!)
 
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Thinking six days conservatively - need some extra time for the rain, no doubt..

All RIBS are currently licensed any way.

Fuel - we'll be taking 22litres each to start, need to work out how far that will get us before we need to top up.

Engines are 20hp Mariner, 15hp Yamaha and 15hp Honda four strokes, and at river speed very frugal.
 
rosssavage said:
Thinking six days conservatively - need some extra time for the rain, no doubt..

All RIBS are currently licensed any way.

Fuel - we'll be taking 22litres each to start, need to work out how far that will get us before we need to top up.

Engines are 20hp Mariner, 15hp Yamaha and 15hp Honda four strokes, and at river speed very frugal.
Click to expand...

I live south of Swindon, work in Witney and keep my boat at Lechlade. Petrol is hard to come by on the river but if you provide the cans (and cash!) I could offer a refuel support dervice for day 2 maybe? Let me know.
 
Ooh, I like the idea of a 'shore support' service.. Can you be despatched to get the take away for dinner too? ;)

Thank you Moxon, that's a very kind offer..
 
Ross, sounds like a lovely adventure!

Regarding petrol on the river you can get it just below Abingdon and Hobbs at Henley then nothing until Bray or Windsor and you are back home then!

When are you planning to go? If we are out and about I can keep some extra fuel on ours for you.
 
rosssavage said:
Ooh, I like the idea of a 'shore support' service.. Can you be despatched to get the take away for dinner too? ;)

Thank you Moxon, that's a very kind offer..
Click to expand...

I would be deleighted to fetch a curry for your entire party. Providing you give me a Madras for going. MMmmmm curry.

I meant it about the petrol run too - because I'd rather help where possible than have you guys with dangerous amounts of petrol sloshing about in cans onboard. Or running out.
 
Would love to attend, but I fear my miserable 2.5hp Mercury and rather unviable Bombardier 2.6 is not enough to keep up! :(

The little tender only holds enough alcohol for a days cruisin' :p
 
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