Is St Kat's the best marina in the world?

[Bristolfashion]

We'll, after a week there, I'd say it's a contender. It's clean, quiet, friendly with great dining & drinking but, boy oh boy, the history on your doorstep; Tower Bridge, Tower of London, St Paul's, Greenwich, Wapping, Houses of Parliament etc etc. I even had a look at the Watermen's Hall where my paternal ancestors were indentured & admitted. The mural for the Battle of Cable St where Moseley's fascists were prevented from marching by the common folk of London is moving.

And the markets; Smithfield, Spitalfield, Borough etc. Thames barges to ogle.

Oh, and the single tide whizz up the Thames is a classic!

 

[capnsensible]

Nah, not even close! ??

In my opinion, of course. ?

 

[Bristolfashion]

Nah, not even close! ??

In my opinion, of course. ?

Where then - don't keep it to yourself!

 

[pvb]

It's a stunning location, we've visited a few times. The locking-in process was fraught, but once inside it's lovely.

 

[Bristolfashion]

It's a stunning location, we've visited a few times. The locking-in process was fraught, but once inside it's lovely.

We were lucky - we hit it on high water slack, the lock was open & there was only 1 other boat. The 7 days for the price of 5 is excellent value.

 

[capnsensible]

Where then - don't keep it to yourself!

Loads, really. Being adjacent to wet, grey attractions you could reach by bus or train doesn't do it for me. I like the idea that going by boat is a bit more .......interesting. With blue water. And sunshine.

I'm very fortunate to have been to a lot of them!

 

[Bristolfashion]

Loads, really. Being adjacent to wet, grey attractions you could reach by bus or train doesn't do it for me. I like the idea that going by boat is a bit more .......interesting. With blue water. And sunshine.

I'm very fortunate to have been to a lot of them!

What could be more interesting to the marine type than the Thames? I had a drink in a pub where Bligh inspected the Bounty!

 

[MoodySabre]

When it was built by Telford 11000 people were made homeless.

 

[Gary Fox]

What could be more interesting to the marine type than the Thames? I had a drink in a pub where Bligh inspected the Bounty!

Absolutely, St Kats is in the middle of world nautical history in all senses, you are floating in hallowed waters.

 

[Slowboat35]

It's a stunning location, we've visited a few times. The locking-in process was fraught, but once inside it's lovely.

In what way is the locking fraught? I'm thinking of headng there for a night just to see it if the price doesn't choke me first.

 

[capnsensible]

What could be more interesting to the marine type than the Thames? I had a drink in a pub where Bligh inspected the Bounty!

Ive been in the church where Columbus took a final mass with his crew before evading the wrath of the Governor of Gomera ( girls love sailors) and nipping off to ravage the Americas.

And sat in the seat in The Pub, Valetta, where Oliver Reed had his heart attack.

And the Wardroom in Nelsons Dockyard, Antigua where Nelson did nelsonian stuff.

??

 

[Gary Fox]

When it was built by Telford 11000 people were made homeless.

Let's not get too hysterical.
Telford was one of the engineers on the project, which was launched by an Act of Parliament.
The homes you allude to were insanitary slums, the building owners were compensated, and the docks provided lots of employment.

 

[Gary Fox]

Ive been in the church where Columbus took a final mass with his crew before evading the wrath of the Governor of Gomera ( girls love sailors) and nipping off to ravage the Americas.

And sat in the seat in The Pub, Valetta, where Oliver Reed had his heart attack.

And the Wardroom in Nelsons Dockyard, Antigua where Nelson did nelsonian stuff.

??

This could almost be another thread..I've drunk a beer in Admiral Donitz's house in Lorient, where he commanded the U-boat packs. There is a secret bunker entrance in the back garden, the locals went very silent then got angry when I asked about going down there, I wonder what is hidden?

 

[pvb]

In what way is the locking fraught? I'm thinking of headng there for a night just to see it if the price doesn't choke me first.

A couple of times we visited, there were loads of boats milling around outside the lock. The marina seemed incapable of agreeing any order of priority, based on who radioed first, so when the gates opened it was then a free-for-all rush to see who could get into the lock. Once in the lock, instead of just allocating berths and then sorting out people's details later, there was a very long period of form-filling before the lock eventually opened and allowed boats into the marina. It was frankly chaotic. But perhaps they have now learned how to do it more efficiently.

 

[Gary Fox]

In what way is the locking fraught? I'm thinking of headng there for a night just to see it if the price doesn't choke me first.

Breathtaking, dangerous incompetence, ignorance and inefficiency, make sure you have a Plan B in case there is a hitch.
I think there are a couple of Yoube videos of the bridge being lowered early, hitting boats etc. It's a spectator sport!

 

[LadyInBed]

My daughter lives just around the corner from there, so my visits don't need the boat for accommodation ?
There's a good Saturday cooked food market around the dock, well there was in normal times.

 

[Beelzebub]

And sat in the seat in The Pub, Valetta, where Oliver Reed had his heart attack.
?

I've had a few beers with Mr Reed but unfortunately on one occasion he also had Alex "Hurricane" Higgins in tow. Now that is one character to avoid when he is in his cups.

 

[capnsensible]

This could almost be another thread..I've drunk a beer in Admiral Donitz's house in Lorient, where he commanded the U-boat packs. There is a secret bunker entrance in the back garden, the locals went very silent then got angry when I asked about going down there, I wonder what is hidden?

In the early nineties I got well pi££ed with the then German Flag Officer Submarines, his driver and a couple of shipmates. This was in Bergen after a NATO Excercise. Our submarine captain was somewhat unimpressed with our United brothers of the deep excuses the next day.

 

[Bristolfashion]

Ive been in the church where Columbus took a final mass with his crew before evading the wrath of the Governor of Gomera ( girls love sailors) and nipping off to ravage the Americas.

And sat in the seat in The Pub, Valetta, where Oliver Reed had his heart attack.

And the Wardroom in Nelsons Dockyard, Antigua where Nelson did nelsonian stuff.

??

Huh, I just strolled down to see the uniform Nelson was killed in, had a beer in the pub where hanging Judge Jeffries was captured & seen the post used to drown pirates. You won't beat London for nautical history.

The Queen's Royal barge was actually on the end of our pontoon at St Kat's!

 

[capnsensible]

Sorry, Bristol, it's a bonkers thread drift!