Actionmat
Well-Known Member
Back in the real world after 2 weeks cruising from Teddington to Day's lock and back and I couldn't help but notice, that the further upstream you go, the more considerate other boaters are.
Rowers and canoeists seemed a friendlier bunch, one group of nice young lads even doing the lock for us after they'd carried their canoes through!
No late night idiots waking us up with their wash, passenger boats observing the speed limit, no speeding safety boats(even at Pangbourne)or sailing clubs blocking the width of the river and playing chicken with the MB's. I was chatting with a couple who were on their first visit, after trailering their 20ft boat from Southampton and putting it in a Windsor. They were having a great time despite the weather and remarked what a friendly place the Thames is.
But I don't think they would have said the same thing if they'd put the boat in at Windsor and gone in the other direction.
Passenger boats make a point of being the fastest vessels on the river from Windsor down and there seems far more idiots in boats of all sizes who like waves and think nothing of overtaking another vessel on a tight bend or in a lock cut.
In 2 weeks, the only inconsiderate boaters we came across were on day 1 to Windsor and the last day from Windsor to home.
I'm considering finding a mooring upstream of Cookham. I'd miss the convenience of being down the road from the boat, but it seemed a much nicer place to me. And it would be nice to be in a Connaught(etc) free environment.
Rowers and canoeists seemed a friendlier bunch, one group of nice young lads even doing the lock for us after they'd carried their canoes through!
No late night idiots waking us up with their wash, passenger boats observing the speed limit, no speeding safety boats(even at Pangbourne)or sailing clubs blocking the width of the river and playing chicken with the MB's. I was chatting with a couple who were on their first visit, after trailering their 20ft boat from Southampton and putting it in a Windsor. They were having a great time despite the weather and remarked what a friendly place the Thames is.
But I don't think they would have said the same thing if they'd put the boat in at Windsor and gone in the other direction.
Passenger boats make a point of being the fastest vessels on the river from Windsor down and there seems far more idiots in boats of all sizes who like waves and think nothing of overtaking another vessel on a tight bend or in a lock cut.
In 2 weeks, the only inconsiderate boaters we came across were on day 1 to Windsor and the last day from Windsor to home.
I'm considering finding a mooring upstream of Cookham. I'd miss the convenience of being down the road from the boat, but it seemed a much nicer place to me. And it would be nice to be in a Connaught(etc) free environment.
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