Its a unique time to go down through London on the Thames...

[Adios]

...as long as you don't have to go under Hammersmith Bridge.

Yesterday I put my 2.9m SIB in at Putney, ticked over going down with the tide to Wapping. Had Scampi and chips outside the Town of Ramsgate pub, served to us on the beach. Came back up with the tide. Used less than 3L of petrol.

Apart from the Uber river buses there is nothing on the river. The usual chaotic wash that would make this trip a problem in a 2.9m SIB just wasn't there at all as the sightseeing boats are out of action and nothing is coming from upriver. This situation will change on the 17th May so if you fancy an explore in a small boat now is most definitely the time

 

[Gary Fox]

My old stamping ground, back in the 80's. Nice trip taking advantage of a unique opportunity.

 

[oldgit]

Came through last year , could count the number of tourists standing on the bridges on your hands hand, mightactually have seen a couple of fast cats.
Booked into St Kats at end of month . Hopefully the museums will be open but before the hoards of returning tourists start clogging up eveything. .......again.
Fortunately, still same number of attractive young ladies (all with pony tails) jogging along the river banks

 

[Adios]

My old stamping ground, back in the 80's. Nice trip taking advantage of a unique opportunity.

I used to live aboard in Limehouse and Blackwall in the early 2000s. Took many trips up through London on mine and other boats but I realised it was never at low tide as I'd have to lock in and out. Plus you can have a better poke around in the tender than in the mothership

 

[Stemar]

That brings back memories of my first proper passage, crewing a Westerly Chieftain (Centaur with a boot centre cockpit) from Chertsey to Portsmouth. We took a spring ebb down through central London and I'm not about to forget the 4' standing waves under Westminster bridge.

 

[Adios]

That brings back memories of my first proper passage, crewing a Westerly Chieftain (Centaur with a boot centre cockpit) from Chertsey to Portsmouth. We took a spring ebb down through central London and I'm not about to forget the 4' standing waves under Westminster bridge.

I planned it with avoiding springs in mind for that reason. We found a little set of standing waves just up from HMS Belfast though and even with that we shipped a bit of water. The bows on these SIBs are not great at pushing water away, I think I'd want a drysuit for a busier day.

 

[dom]

Great idea and some great pics there Athomson

 

[TLouth7]

Fortunately, still same number of attractive young ladies (all with pony tails) jogging along the river banks

This comment is kind of gross

 

[Gary Fox]

This comment is kind of gross

Don't worry, I'm sure there are plenty of attractive young men with ponytails out jogging as well.

 

[trevbouy]

.

 

[Adios]

This comment is kind of gross

Not again. In your opinion. I find it kind of gross that people keep shoving their opinion about like someone appointed them micro-managing dictators.

 

[Biggles Wader]

I bet the gross ones were not up to jogging anyway.

 

[Adios]

I bet the gross ones were not up to jogging anyway.

Damn shame! (for the people who want to live in a world where no one is attractive or finds anyone attractive ?)

 

[TLouth7]

Not again. In your opinion. I find it kind of gross that people keep shoving their opinion about like someone appointed them micro-managing dictators.

Wow, I didn't expect such response to a comment pointing out that oldgit sounded like a dirty old man.

 

[Adios]

Wow, I didn't expect such response to a comment pointing out that oldgit sounded like a dirty old man.

Lots of people seem to be having this over entitled judgemental self righteousness these days. Not expecting any opposition is one of the symptoms I'm afraid.

 

[Stemar]

Dirty old man for appreciating a thing of beauty? In that case put me down as a dirty old man, even though your daughter, should you have one, be she beautiful or ugly, is as safe with me as she is (I hope) with you. Beautiful woman, beautiful sunset, beautiful dog, beautiful anything. The important word is beautiful.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Dirty old man for appreciating a thing of beauty? In that case put me down as a dirty old man, even though your daughter, should you have one, be she beautiful or ugly, is as safe with me as she is (I hope) with you. Beautiful woman, beautiful sunset, beautiful dog, beautiful anything. The important word is beautiful.

Me too. Ooh err.

 

[dom]

Beautiful woman, beautiful sunset, beautiful dog, beautiful anything. The important word is beautiful.

Yes yes, but it’s the ponytail requirement that puzzles me.
?

 

[penfold]

It's practical for jogging with? It would explain why it's apparently ubiquitous on the Embankment.

 

[dom]

@Athomson , That photo in post No. 4 beneath the HMS Belfast. I so recognise it, but where exactly is it?

Working in the city I know those areas so so well, and yet you’ve managed to capture something intimate and really quite special there.