Is the River now open for navigation??

Boveney to Teddington yesterday. Nice day for it. Quite quiet but a few boats out.

Penton hook is open but there was a blackboard saying closed for 1 day on the 12th of April. I believe there is some more work to be done on the hydraulics.

Also the top layby is partly blocked by a Cook piling raft/platform and the little layby immediately below the lock on the weir side has a platform barge with a nasty steel bar sticking out over the side.

Care to be taken and worth checking the 12th as it did say closed for the day.

I think it might not be all day but could catch someone out so worth checking..
 
Lock restrictions:

When: Tuesday 12 April 2022, from 10am to 5pm.

Where: Penton Hook Lock.

What’s happening: Lock hydraulic maintenance – Penton Hook Lock will be closed temporarily to allow engineers to flush and replenish the hydraulic system that controls the lock gates.

Many thanks
River Thames Waterways Team
 
Yes collar broken just walked past took same photo !

One hopes the winch attachment point has been tested ;)

May be a better approach to do all 4 when one fails. Top same side went last year. They probably have a predictable life span.
 
Come from Shepperton upto Goring so far heres a sit rep

approach heading upstream to temple a bit treacherous with a fallen tree in the water.

No pumpout at Shiplake.

Lock keepers thin on the ground as previous poster mentioned

River is very quiet so far
 
I just wandered to Mapledurham to get myself a card for the new style pumpouts...no go I am afraid.

The resident Paul was apologetic and very helpful, but he can't sell me a card yet as he can't credit it - a IT issue yet to be resolved apparently. He has to go to the pump and do the honours. So it's working, but isn't if you know what i mean.

Shiplake I am told IS working but is old style cards... So if you don't have one, or can't persuade a duty keeper to turn the pump on, you will be out of luck. That was direct from EA office.

My walk did take me past a patrol launch out and about on enforcement duties. Checks were being made and notices were going on boats.

It's gorgeous out on the river and set to get warmer for Easter... Enjoy.
 
Cleeve lock water supply update:

The original old tap is still operational but as we all know really slow, apparently 3 litres a minute!

New supply still not finished maybe next weekend or the weekend after but will have to see.....

On the plus side the new tap is apparently meant to be 3 times faster so 9 litres a minute.

Still wouldn't want to get stuck behind a narrow boat with a big tank though ?
 
If one has a big tank it is good manners to let people with smaller tanks fill up then do yours afterwards.

Basic really. People are out to enjoy the River not wait for others to fill water tanks.

It's about the boating. The best activity that was ever devised by humans during the existence of humans.

The obvious solution to all this nonsense was to fit several taps at sensible intervals. Very easy on the Cleeve site as there is that wooden layby. Not so easy at other places but still not rocket science. And use buckets to transfer the water rather than hoses.

In 1995 I split a polyprop tank on my narrow boat at Cookham while having a cup of tea with Adam in the house. Water over the floor. I lived to tell the tale.

Red Chubb fire hose. OK they were a elfin safety problem and broke people's tanks but they got the job done !

Campaign for fire hose reinstatement.

Good solution to a problem that a lot of people might think is insignificant.

Get it done.
 
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Left Penton Hook around 07:45 arrived Cookham by 15:00, very quiet and plenty of mooring space.
Only 2 lockies for the whole journey but that’s not an issue especially when it’s quiet, only shared a lock twice.
Bray lock only allowing 2 boats at a time due to some work on one side of the mooring bollards so expect delays Sunday Monday if it’s busy, especially as there is a new lockie on Monday who hasn’t worked that lock before.
 
Just me and fuel boat at Laleham and as others have said the river is very quiet but we shall see what it is like today as it is glorious.
 
Teddingtown said:
Just me and fuel boat at Laleham and as others have said the river is very quiet but we shall see what it is like today as it is glorious.
Click to expand...
Passed you this afternoon on my way back in. Did think about tooting but thought better of it as might have woken you from an afternoon nap ?
 
I had a close look under the lower part of that last year in the dinghy and yes it is a little bit ropey in places. Nice bit of firewood?
Will have to be replaced at some stage and it will definitely not be cheap. One wonders if it is an EA owned asset or local council.

The wooden footbridge at Temple was closed for a while not long ago but then reopened so maybe they just need a proper inspection and a box to be ticked saying yes it's okay for people to be using it.
 
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