My Trip to The Thames

[BarryH]

Re: St Kats

Tut Tut Geoff........ditch crawling. Next you'll be telling me you've gone the whole hog and gone all canal boaty. Wash the salt off......how dare you, get back to the briney!

 

[Geoffs]

Re: St Kats

Hi Barry, reckon I'll be pleased to get back to salt after 100 miles or so or fresh water. Had a narrow boat once, surprised Byron will even speak to me, been there done trhat, got the bitumen stains! Good to see our old mate Gordon, yesterday.

 

[Geoffs]

Re: St Kats

' but i am sure you covered that one just after Big Ben '

Bother didn't think of that, appropriate as they sh*t on us enough /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Geoffs]

Re: St Kats

Yes, it's been realyy great. I trip I've always wanted to do, brings back memories of my youth a couple of years ago. Weather looks set fine thro to weekend. What a splendid chap Byron is for choosing this week. Although if I remember I think some else did.

 

[No Regrets]

Re: St Kats

[ QUOTE ]
Oh and Hampton court has a pump out station but i am sure you covered that one just after Big Ben

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm....just UPstream....nice touch /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Gavi]

Nice to see you today /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[bradtarga34]

do you ever do any work, or only when the sun isn't shining? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[teddington_lock]

Hi there,

Looks like a good trip up so far ...

Sadly i was on leave , so didn't get to meet you , presumably you met Peter ( oldish chap , slightly abrupt , but a good guy /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) ....

Maybe see you on the way down ....

Best wishes

H

 

[Geoffs]

Excellent photo Brendon, shame about the subject. Yes good to see you today, as well.

 

[Gavi]

[ QUOTE ]
do you ever do any work, or only when the sun isn't shining? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Which would mean quite a lot /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I was working in the shed... mainly because I could not get a glare free screen on the mooring but also because the wireless isn't working down there at the moment. I have plans for solving both issues....

 

[rr_123]

I find "working from boat" very therapeutic. Can go either way, I can sometimes get loads done and be inspired, or i can start poking around looking at the boat-jobs that need doing!

We should cite your photo as "the correct amount of wake" for all Thames Users!

 

[Geoffs]

Windsor

Windsor tonight. Not taken any photos of Windsor getting dark now. I guess everyone knows what Windsor looks, if not let me know!

Left Kingston about 10:00am this morning.

Trundled up the river doing very well keeping to speed limit. But some rower had a go at me between Molesey and Sunbury, I was making a few ripples. Go slower says he, I can't says I, engine tickover. Get a smaller engine he says, get more free board says I. He didn't answer that. Joys of the Thames I guess.

So onwards and upwards to Shepperton.

Took this photo as its the junction of the River Wey, I used to spend a lot of time on the Wey, lovely river.

Then through Chertsey to Laleham and Penton Hook, where I visited the idillic residance of Mike (Doolittle), who was living up to his name. I was made most welcome and filled with beer and sandwiches. Thanks for your hospitality, Mike.

Nice shot of Mikes frontage and head!

Said hello to Brendon (Gavi) at Staines, but he's covered that. Motored on to Windsor, had to work Old Windsor lock myself.

Looks like weather set fine for rest of week including BBQ on Saturday. Will call in at Bray tomorrow for fuel, and a pump out. Hope to say Hello to Mike at Bray as well. The old D4 using hardly any fuel on the river, at tickover speed.

 

[Gavi]

Re: Windsor

Someone's nicked a bit of Mike's hair /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Will be interested in Geoff's view of the journey time from Staines to Ashmount.

Really enjoyed seeing you pass by - thanks for calling and saying "hi".

 

[No Regrets]

Re: Windsor

[ QUOTE ]
Get a smaller engine he says, get more free board says I.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats the spirit /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Geoffs]

Yes sounds lke the chap I met, very helpful and friendly. Apologised for holding me up, hadn't realised he had. A very smooth, efficient operation at Teddington.

 

[Geoffs]

Re: Windsor

I shall take 3 days as I'm not in a hurry. I'm sure it could be done in two without too much pushing.

 

[Doolittle]

Re: Windsor

It was a pleasure meeting you too Geoff. I'm so envious of you being able to take a few weeks to blast/meander around the coast and up the Thames. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Apologies for the scruffy windsurfer on the moorings. We had unloaded the canoe rack over the weekend to tidy stuff up and it was waiting for jet washing!

Brendon, I gave up retrieving my hair from the headboard a while ago. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BarryH]

Re: Windsor

"Dad are we there yet?".......its been a good account Geoff. Why do we not bump into each other in Poole anymore? Oh yeah, your ditch crawling..........

 

[Geoffs]

Re: Windsor

I'll be back towards the end of May, beginning of June, weather permitting. So hopefully see you again. I've got a frIdge with cold beer in , now. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Geoffs]

Marlow.

Another glorious day in all ways. Left Windsor about 10:00am this morning in lovely sunshine.

Went up to Windsor Marina and met Mike Gates. Thank you very much for all your help, Mike. Filled with fuel, pumped out and filled up with fresh water. Mike suggested I might enjoy lunch in the restaurant at Bray (with Club Outlook discount!), sounded like a good idea, and Mike booked me a table. So up to Bray and a very pleasant mooring just outside the marina.

I was greeted by a great bunch of people and a drink courtsey of Mike was waiting for me. Thanks Mike.

Took a long time over lunch as it was such a nice place. So then chugged up through Maidnehead, Clivedon, Cookham and to Marlow.

Thought I'd see what the river wake shot would turn out like /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I mst say the Larson handles quite well at river speeds, going along at a fast tickover, 900rpm, and none of the wander usually associated with V hulls, 21 deg deadrise.

Don't think we need to play the 'where is this game' I'm sure you all know. Note Windsor Marina burgee, a sort of Thames courtesey flag /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Another day tomorrow, I wonder what that will bring???