Thames to Poole

[Chris_d]

Re: Day 3 Teddington

Now at Teddington, catching the early morning tide then got to hang around for the lock at St Kats.

Can't believe the weather, here we are at Teddington:

When we arrived the weir was level, almost in reverse flow I've never seen it that way before hence we moored the boat the wrong way round. Spoke to Brian at the lock who was the fountain of all knowledge, he had to keep driving the gates shut because the tide was trying to open them, fascinating /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BG1]

Re: Day 3 Teddington

I'm envious of you! I've been doing this summer cruise (or further west) for years, but now find it difficult to find crew. As you say this is the last opportunity for long distance cruising before we hang up the keys. I might still do a one way trip to Poole for new cruising grounds. There's a berth waiting......

Have a great trip - I've got the Ramsgate webcam loaded so might see you!

 

[Coastgal]

You jammy sod...you've got some great weather ahead of you now. Slap on a bit more of that sunscreen! We took our boat round to Portsmouth a few weeks ago, through lots of wind & rain...oh I do love banging into those waves for 5 hours (not).

And if you stop at Sovereign Harbour, make sure you fuel up...just 73p a litre on 4th July (don't think it's gone up much since then.)

We'll be popping over to Poole for a long weekend soon, so try and keep the sun shining and the winds down to F3 please /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Have a good trip!

 

[teddington_lock]

Tee Hee !! I see you arrived after Peter mowed the grass on the layby !

Did you pay your mooring fees ? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'll be gone at 6.00am , but you'll have jolly Danny to shepherd you through . Have a good trip !

H

P.S. can i nick that picture to go in the Visitors Gallery on the website ? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Chris_d]

Your welcome to the piccie, yes who was that jolly guy at 7am? think he had had a hard night /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Chris_d]

Re: St Kats

Now sitting in the cockpit with me laptop on a fantastic evening in St Kats.

We got up early for 7am to lock through teddington, unfortunately the lock at St Kats closed at 6:50 so we had to kill sometime until the next one at 15:20. So on the advise of Brian at TL we stopped at Chiswick Pier

Went for walk aorund Chiswick for breakfast and a bit of shopping then headed downstream to central London at 13:00, arrived at Tower bridge bang on time to just turn into the lock. 2 Frogs, 1 Dutch and a German sharing it with us /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Safely moored in the main dock

Went out for a tour of the hostilieries of the South bank, sipping a pint in a riverside pub Tower Bridge opened twice. what an evening /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[byron]

Re: Thames to Poole -latest via text

Chris has texted Brayman asking him to update the Forum. Brayman has phoned me as he is BBQ'ing at the entrance to the River Thame and not near a PC.

So here is the latest.

Chris is safely ensconced in Bolougne.

 

[joejo]

Re: St Kats

Great London photo's. St kats and Limehouse are lovely places to stay and see London from a different angle.
Good luck with the rest of your trip

 

[Geoffs]

Re: St Kats

Any idea when you expect to be in Poole, Chris. I'm in Weymouth at present, aim to be back in Poole area Saturday. Swanage fireworks on Saturday evening, always worth a visit, very spectacular in bay, a short hop round the corner from Poole. Hope to meet up with you.

 

[Chris_d]

Re: Boulogne to Brighton

Now in Brighton after arough crossing from Boulogne, forecast said force 2 reality was force 5 and blowing from the SW made things a bit uncomforable.

We had had a fantastic crossing to Bolougne, we left St kats at 7am and reached Ramsgate at 12am, we didn't open up until Seareach and had a easy ride with the Tide, only needed 120litres of fuel since refueling at Shepperton Unfortunately it was 294l at Brighton /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif what a difference a bit of rough water makes.

Left Ramsgate and 2 hours later we were in Boulogne, not the most exciting place in the world, but it has its charms. Spent the day there yesterday exploring the beach and old Citadel.

I'll try and post some piccies later tonight.

 

[Chris_d]

Re: Boulogne to Brighton (piccies)

Some more piccies, set off from St Kats at 7am.

Going through the barrier.

Rode the tide down to sea reach then opened her up to a steady 22kt cruise, terrible conditions in the estuary.

Arrived Ramsgate at 12pm and refueled ready for the crossing.

Perfect weather on the way across.

Arrived Boulogne after an easy 2hour blast.

The marina at low tide, you need crampons to climb the pontoon steps.

The old town is worth a look, had a very nice meal in "Chez Jules".

Arrived at Brighton today after an horrible crossing, force 5 on the nose for the last 20 miles, down to 7knts for 1 1/2hours then could only make 12kts or so when it calmed down a bit, every thing in a big mess down below and I lost the ensign and pole overboard somewhere /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Anyway now safe and sound in Brighton ready to do battle with the Solent raggies tomorrow.

 

[Chris_d]

Re: St Kats

Geoff will be in Poole Sunday afternoon in the Haven.

 

[Chris_d]

Re: Cowes

How moored in Shepards at Cowes, great run from Brighton

Cowes:

Very entertaining just sitting here watching the docking operations, apparently your supposed to call up for a berth, but we just went in and found a spot. Then a some chinless wonder with gold bits on his shoulders marched up " I say old boy would you move that back with the other motorboats, you don't want to be with the sailboats do you" we offered him a beer or a pims but he politely declined /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thats nearly it, Poole tomorrow /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif been a fantastic week.

 

[Geoffs]

Re: St Kats

Chris, I'll be back in Cobbs Sunday afternoon, perhaps pop round in car to see you. Got to go home Sunday eve, probably back down on Wdnesday. In Swanage tonight (Saturday) for fireworks .

Hey and I'm with sailyboats. Had 4 rafted alongside me in Weymouth last night. We seemed to have hijacked the Thames forum a bit. Still give those unfamiliar with the briney, a taste /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif or /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Chris_d]

Re: Arrived at Poole

Well we had a great night in Cowes, lots of preparation for Cowes week and real buzz about the place. What spoils it all a bit is the Raggie stinkpot stuff, can't believe the attitude, none of the sailboats would raft againest the motorboats and would rather be four deep on the other side

Lots of amusement in the morning when the boats jammed in at the front wanted to leave and those at the backwere having a lay in /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So a quick blast to Lymington for fuel

Then out past the needles, the weather was fantastic

Into Poole harbour

Now safely berthed in the Poole Quay Haven

Been an absolutely fantastic week, been so lucky with the weather, except for Friday /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Now here until the end of August when we will return to the Thames.

 

[Geoffs]

Re: Arrived at Poole

Sorry I didn't get down to the Quay to see you, all a bit hectic one way and another. Don't what time you came into to Poole, I came through the Haven (entrance) about 1:00pm, called on VHF but nothing heard.

The world and his dog were out on the water today, I think, so manic at Cobbs.

This Raggie/Stinkpot thing seems to be exaggerated at Cowes, I usually go to East Cowes, not so snooty there. No problems at Weymouth, had some very friendly raggies rafted to me, a stinkpot.

If you're around until end August, sure we'll bump into each other, crunch. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Chris_d]

Re: Arrived at Poole

Hi Geoff, i'll be about every weekend, we came in about 12:15, saw the red arrows over at Swanage, they then came over to Poole and Bournemouth for a flypast.

Certainly Cowes and the Solent are unique and I can see how all the sail verses power stuff comes about, it was like a lake out there today and even we found the wash from passing powerboats a pain the backside.

Still all good fun /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bradtarga34]

Re: Arrived at Poole

Great pohoto's and glad that the weather was kind to you. Very envious of your coastal hopping after we had to cancel out trip to Holland this year. Managed to go for a blat down through the barrier and overnighted St Kat's Saturday, so at least the ol' girl is all de-coked and purring away nicely again.