rosta
Active Member
We overnighted at The Swan in Staines on Saturday, after a really good run from Teddington. All the locks seemed to be empty or just opening their gates, except for Penton Hook where the lockie was going off duty. First time I'd operated a lock on the Thames, there's nowt to it except they are very slow. Is there a Pro/Am switch that the lockie throws to stop the sluices opening fully?
It was to be Mrs Rosta's first night away on the boat, so it had to be a great 'customer experience'. Up until now the boat has been used exclusively for day trips or lads weekends. The weather performed and it turned into a beautiful evening, cava on the boat then dinner on the terrace of The Swan.
One small issue when a New-Age-Traveler boat arrived and forced itself into the gap between us and the next boat down. Their anchor/bowsprit rammed our inflatable, so they took the anchor off to get in, then their davits hit the boat behind as they straightened up. The gap was about 1.5m smaller than their boat. Odd behaviour, since there was lots of space on the public moorings opposite.
Sunday was bright and sunny, after an obligatory Full English at the Swan (again) we set off. It was a complete contrast to the journey up; very very busy. We had to wait for ages at Shepperton which was on Self-Serve. I counted 15 boats waiting to come up. Both(!) lockies reappeared at 14:00, but by then we were on our way.
Queue again at Sunbury, this time the lock had got jammed. It was full of hire boats with crews dressed as pirates, don't know if that was the reason. As I was chatting to the skipper of the boat in front he looked over my shoulder and gasped. This is what came up behind us........................
Photo0018.jpg
We felt very vulnerable, Ocean probably wouldn't even feel 7m of fibreglass boat. She was so large the crew on the bow used a WT to communicate with the bridge. The skipper's handling skills were really impressive. Ocean was up from the Albert Dock, the crew told how they had turned it round at Ham House with just 4 inches to spare. There were lots of jokes about needing Vaseline to get through the lock.
Finally back in Teddington early evening. Mrs Rosta's already talking about the next trip. - Mission Accomplished!
It was to be Mrs Rosta's first night away on the boat, so it had to be a great 'customer experience'. Up until now the boat has been used exclusively for day trips or lads weekends. The weather performed and it turned into a beautiful evening, cava on the boat then dinner on the terrace of The Swan.
One small issue when a New-Age-Traveler boat arrived and forced itself into the gap between us and the next boat down. Their anchor/bowsprit rammed our inflatable, so they took the anchor off to get in, then their davits hit the boat behind as they straightened up. The gap was about 1.5m smaller than their boat. Odd behaviour, since there was lots of space on the public moorings opposite.
Sunday was bright and sunny, after an obligatory Full English at the Swan (again) we set off. It was a complete contrast to the journey up; very very busy. We had to wait for ages at Shepperton which was on Self-Serve. I counted 15 boats waiting to come up. Both(!) lockies reappeared at 14:00, but by then we were on our way.
Queue again at Sunbury, this time the lock had got jammed. It was full of hire boats with crews dressed as pirates, don't know if that was the reason. As I was chatting to the skipper of the boat in front he looked over my shoulder and gasped. This is what came up behind us........................
Photo0018.jpg
We felt very vulnerable, Ocean probably wouldn't even feel 7m of fibreglass boat. She was so large the crew on the bow used a WT to communicate with the bridge. The skipper's handling skills were really impressive. Ocean was up from the Albert Dock, the crew told how they had turned it round at Ham House with just 4 inches to spare. There were lots of jokes about needing Vaseline to get through the lock.
Finally back in Teddington early evening. Mrs Rosta's already talking about the next trip. - Mission Accomplished!
Yes, unfair I know, but its not a concept that springs to mind!
