NBs at Tesco moorings - credit where it's due

[DWT]

NBs at Tesco moorings - credit where it\'s due

We wanted to drop some guests off at the Tesco moorings at Reading on Sunday late afternoon. No spaces as usual, mostly taken up by narrow boats with no signs of life on any of them as far as I could see.

One NB was just mooring alongside another just upstream of the landing stage. They suggested I squeeze between them and the last boat on the moorings, but when I pointed out that their was insufficient depth, invited us alongside and for our passengers, two adults, one child and a dog, to climb across the two boats to the bank.

As we moved off waving our thanks, the skipper chuckled, "See, narrow boats are good for something."

So credit where it is due to the friendly and thoughtful narrow boaters.

 

[MiskinDriver]

Re: NBs at Tesco moorings - credit where it\'s due

they do exist .......

 

[No Regrets]

Re: NBs at Tesco moorings - credit where it\'s due

No, they shouldn't be 'living' there in the first place....

Either that, or they are shopaholics..... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[byron]

Re: NBs at Tesco moorings - credit where it\'s due

Glad to hear it but Shamby is right.

 

[DWT]

Re: NBs at Tesco moorings - credit where it\'s due

Yes, I agree about the ones that use it for a long term mooring. The two we encountered I think had just arrived. It will be interesting to see if they are still there or have moved on, but they conformed to my image of most narrowboaters that I encounter as a friendly and relaxed bunch of people.

 

[Brayman]

Re: NBs at Tesco moorings - credit where it\'s due

The load that were there earlier in the year have definitely moved on, it was beginning to look like Little Venice, and thankfully they haven't returned, it's looked quite neat and tidy of late.

 

[TrueBlue]

Time to say something -

I mentioned some time ago that EA feel they are in a difficult position when getting boats to move on.

However - and this is for the good offices of AngelaQ - although the moorings are reasonable clearly marked "24 hours only", such signs are not easily found: I had to make an effort to see one, So, AQ could you find the funds (if you think it worthwhile) to clean them / make more available.

OK the determined will ignore them, but the casual camper might be deterred?

Another suggestion is to mark a length "for shoppers only - maximum stay 4 hours". I note that a similar part of the offside moorings at Staines were marked for trip boats only, but that has been removed, possibly by a disgruntled A.N.O.??

 

[Doolittle]

Re: Time to say something -

[ QUOTE ]
that a similar part of the offside moorings at Staines were marked for trip boats only, but that has been removed, possibly by a disgruntled A.N.O.??

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that long black and yellow sign. I don't think I have ever seen a trip boat using that, except me. By 'Trip' I included myself as having a trip up the Thames for the day for her ladyships shopping. I rather think that 'trip' in this signs sense though, is one of the French Brothers passenger vessels?

Anyway, no one dares to stick around there too long as it is within bottle slinging distance of at least 3 bars.

 

[No Regrets]

Re: NBs at Tesco moorings - credit where it\'s due

NB's friendly? I concur in that respect. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As a relatively 'noob boater' I have discovered the following seems to hold true about boats and people you meet on the River:


1/ Never wave at a boat passing in the opposite direction until your helm is level with the other boats. You will be ignored until this point. Passengers sitting on the Bows will wave prematurely, however. Amateurs....

2/ Narrow boaters nearly always have a cheery wave. As a Motor Boat owner, you only have to acknowledge this by a curt nod. It is impolite to sneer, however.

3/ Never make eye contact with a Rower. Hold your course, and speed until they shout 'Wake! Wake!' and only then consider coming off the plane (Thames only)

4/ Stern-coxed Eights are best sunk from front to rear with a single diagonal pass. This way your wake swamps the entire length of the Robo at once, and you get the added excitement of all eight rowers expressions.
Never attempt this near a lock, or with a low powered boat, as they will catch you, and it will hurt.

5/ Sailing boats can tack... so can you! On the approach, match their tacking manoevres exactly, until you can see the whites of their eyes.
They have a 50% chance of capsizing this way. These are the best odds....

6/ Kayaks never sink. They disappear for a while, but always bob up again. They are immune to wake, but are conversely vunerable to Diesel fumes in locks.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Ramage]

Re: NBs at Tesco moorings - credit where it\'s due

[ QUOTE ]

3/ Never make eye contact with a Rower. Hold your course, and speed until they shout 'Wake! Wake!' and only then consider coming off the plane (Thames only)


[/ QUOTE ]

You cannot make eye contact with a ROBO as they normally have their backs to you!

They are often accompanied by a badly driven powered catemaran which will cause the most incredible wake, but thats ok as they claim its a safety boat.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[DogsBody]

Re: Shamby

Great stuff! You have obviously learned the ways of the river quickly!

(Particularly liked part 4)

 

[No Regrets]

Re: Shamby

Thank you DB. I learnt most of it here, on the forum /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[ QUOTE ]
You cannot make eye contact with a ROBO as they normally have their backs to you!


[/ QUOTE ]

Ramage, not when you're catching 'em up fast they don't.... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[boatone]

Re: Time to say something -

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
that a similar part of the offside moorings at Staines were marked for trip boats only, but that has been removed, possibly by a disgruntled A.N.O.??

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that long black and yellow sign. I don't think I have ever seen a trip boat using that, except me. By 'Trip' I included myself as having a trip up the Thames for the day for her ladyships shopping. I rather think that 'trip' in this signs sense though, is one of the French Brothers passenger vessels

[/ QUOTE ]

Seem to remember that someone from the EA at Reading told me the 'Trip Boats Only' sign had been removed at their insistence as they were not entitled to any priority. Anyway, never seen one there anyway.

 

[byron]

Re: Time to say something -

The moorings at Kingston just below the bridge have been public since Saxon times indeed they have left a section along there where you can see the original landing.
The Trippers put the sign up and had no right to do so. No one would own up to having done it.
Initially anyone mooring there what-so-ever was moved on by a security guard. I was there within days of it being completed and was told to move off. I challenged the guard as to his or anyone else's authority and asked him to get a Policeman and explained that technically all that had happened was that an old public landing had been restored. From that day on they ceased moving people on.
There are loads of places like this on the Thames. Notably the old coaling berth at Windsor, the berth at Shillingford, the berth at Wallingford marked "no mooring" by the pub that is there. One has to remember these points were where people and goods could be embarked or disembarked and were public property.

 

[watson1959]

NB's friendly? I concur in that respect. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As a relatively 'noob boater' I have discovered the following seems to hold true about boats and people you meet on the River:


1/ Never wave at a boat passing in the opposite direction until your helm is level with the other boats. You will be ignored until this point. Passengers sitting on the Bows will wave prematurely, however. Amateurs....

2/ Narrow boaters nearly always have a cheery wave. As a Motor Boat owner, you only have to acknowledge this by a curt nod. It is impolite to sneer, however.

3/ Never make eye contact with a Rower. Hold your course, and speed until they shout 'Wake! Wake!' and only then consider coming off the plane (Thames only)

4/ Stern-coxed Eights are best sunk from front to rear with a single diagonal pass. This way your wake swamps the entire length of the Robo at once, and you get the added excitement of all eight rowers expressions.
Never attempt this near a lock, or with a low powered boat, as they will catch you, and it will hurt.

5/ Sailing boats can tack... so can you! On the approach, match their tacking manoevres exactly, until you can see the whites of their eyes.
They have a 50% chance of capsizing this way. These are the best odds....

6/ Kayaks never sink. They disappear for a while, but always bob up again. They are immune to wake, but are conversely vunerable to Diesel fumes in locks.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

What a splendid sense of humour!!! I sincerely hope that I have the misfortune to find myself moored alongside you one evening, close to either a local hostelry or a well-stocked fridge......

Would it be improper of me to throw the remains of last night's curry at an eight, just as they pass me, and too late for them to turn and catch-up?

Simon

 

[No Regrets]

Crikey...

That must have been one of my first posts (I saw the reference to it having been posted by 'Shamby' which was my original screen name, and the name of my second boat, a Rio 700 which can be seen up around Days lock these days)

Sadly three or four years on the Thames forum with these miserable old gits has eroded my sense of humour and I no longer write funny stuff.

A hoary old boater from Bray
whose humorous quips had their day
could be found at the boozer
or asleep in his cruiser
intoxicated either way...

See? As funny as a Shark in a birthing pool.

You'll be with us soon


Welcome aboard by the way, fair play to you for dredging the forum for info, thats what I did all those years ago, certainly saved me a lot of time learning the hard way!

 

[sturmvogel190a]

Yes, I agree about the ones that use it for a long term mooring. The two we encountered I think had just arrived. It will be interesting to see if they are still there or have moved on, but they conformed to my image of most narrowboaters that I encounter as a friendly and relaxed bunch of people.

We often use it as a stop for supplies whilst out as you do and often in company with other Narrow boats brest up as you do often 3 a brest whilst the womenfolk go do the shopping thang to avoid congestion on the mooring .
Most narrow boaters are very aware of the negative pr given by the live aboard pikey mooring hoggers NBs and try to brest up if other NBs are obliging ,we narrow boaters are no different to you cruiser guys really all just want to use the river Steve.

 

[watson1959]

Crikey...

That must have been one of my first posts (I saw the reference to it having been posted by 'Shamby' which was my original screen name, and the name of my second boat, a Rio 700 which can be seen up around Days lock these days)

Sadly three or four years on the Thames forum with these miserable old gits has eroded my sense of humour and I no longer write funny stuff.

A hoary old boater from Bray
whose humorous quips had their day
could be found at the boozer
or asleep in his cruiser
intoxicated either way...

See? As funny as a Shark in a birthing pool.

You'll be with us soon


Welcome aboard by the way, fair play to you for dredging the forum for info, thats what I did all those years ago, certainly saved me a lot of time learning the hard way!

Poor old bugger.....my heart goes out to you. However....I feel a Limerick challenge coming on!


A middle-aged grumpy old git
Bought a boat, and his wife had a fit.
He moved out of their home,
With his Lab and its bone
For a life on the waves and some wit.

....off the the hull and spinning-thing survey.....fingers crossed.....

Nil iligitimi carberundum....

Simon

 

[boatone]

A middle-aged grumpy old git

That's an insult to real Old Gits - especially our very own Fred

Bought a boat, and his wife had a fit.

Nah, truth be told she probably bought it for him....

He moved out of their home,

No way - he couldn't live without the hot tub....

With his Lab and its bone

Hasn't got a Lab, they've got THREE of them funny-faced little hounds - and I very much doubt he'd be allowed to take them with him .....

For a life on the waves and some wit.

Don't think he likes going out in anything above a Force 2. As for the wit bit brass bands spring to mind for some obscure reason

 

[No Regrets]

Dedicated to you Old Gits...


The broker said Boats are for fun
Come see me and I'll sell you one
And it was, till the quorum
who I met on the forum
spoilt it (especially Boatone)

Obviously I joke, B1 is a splendid fellow once on Terra firma and does a mean Disco!