Up river

Ian45

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It's no good, the weather is too nice and life is too short so me and the better half have finished early and will be heading Sonning way for an overnight stay and maybe a drinkypoo at one of the local ale houses.

If you see a Sealine 218 called Brigadoon while out this weekend give us a wave....we may just be sober enough to wave back.

Enjoy the weekend all and hope you don't get too sunburned.
 
We'll be down the "other" end for the next few days, PH to Windsor (ish) and back to PH. Our maiden voyage on the new boat :eek:.

Enjoy Ian, hope the hangover ain't too bad :rolleyes:.
 
I will keep an eye out at Sonning whilst dog walking.....beautiful up there this morning.

I may, however, end up pirating your boat as mine is STILL out of action :D
 
Not sure if we saw you or not? Had a few dog walkers go past this morning. If you did come past you should have made yourself known, I'm sure a cup of tea would have been on offer.

We made it as far as just up stream from Hambleden lock then moored up for lunch then stayed and now have tea. Looks like we will be cruising back in the dark :-)
 
Not sure if we saw you or not? Had a few dog walkers go past this morning. If you did come past you should have made yourself known, I'm sure a cup of tea would have been on offer.

We made it as far as just up stream from Hambleden lock then moored up for lunch then stayed and now have tea. Looks like we will be cruising back in the dark :-)

nope...not me :-)

Had a look for you at Sonning......no sign. Have a splenid evening....i'm on the boat fiddling in ignorance to find the magic ingredient which gets this bl***y thing working again so I can get out there.
 
Spent a lovely sunny day at Cookham, even the Dogs loved running free on the meadow!

Everything was perfect! :)
 
Ooer! Do I feel a 'rotten robos' thread coming on?

No, not at all. In fact the robos and their minders were reasonably well behaved.

However, I'm afraid Windsor is becoming a 'no go' area for me - a bit like certain seaside resorts where there's too much of everything including unpleasantness and bad behaviour.

An EA Inspectors Launch would have had a field day on Saturday afternoon/ early evening with the number of mobos speeding through the stretch without any regard for others. Also several examples of small speedboats, some launched from the slipway by the leisure centre. whose sole intentions seemed to be creating as much disturbance for others as possible. One particular small RIB with 2 adults and a youngster on board (no lifejacket and helming standing up) decided to end the day by racing full throttle -20HP outboard-between the rail and road bridges.

Several of the smaller slipway launched boats with no visible licence plates and also noticed at least three 30foot+ boats showing 2011 licences but no sign of 2012.

Narrow boat decided the water point was a good place to stay for the night and inconvenienced boats wanting to fill up with no intention of moving.

Add a lot of noise, a lot of litter - took a council employee a good 15 minutes just to clear rubbish from the 100 feet or so near me - and BBQ's being lit right next to notices saying "No BBQ's".

I really can't think of any other overnighting spot on the river that is as bad as Windsor.

I'm sure some here will say I'm just being a grumpy old man but this is not my idea of a pleasant weekends boating. Upriver to Goring and back for a few days later this week which, hopefully, will restore my sense of equilibrium :D

Oh yes - the increased mooring charges , now £8. Returned to the boat to find a red 'parking fine' type envelope stuck to the window requiring payment to be made. The advisory notes on one side of an A4 sheet had £4 crossed out and £8 scribbled in. On the reverse was an "official" Notification of Charge Notice still saying £4. Also noticed a big "Mooring £4 sign still on the bridge by the kids playground. Charge is for 24 hours noon to noon so take care !

windsornotice.jpg
 
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Yes, Windsor can be a bit variable and best avoided during a heatwave weekend and when the funfair is on the Brocas. The problem is, Slough comes to Windsor when the sun shines. In my experience Windsor is a great mooring spot out of season!!
 
I have to say I've avoided Windsor for some years due to the reasons mentioned above. Shame, but as already been said, it's more of an off-season mooring now.
 
The problem is, Slough comes to Windsor when the sun shines. In my experience Windsor is a great mooring spot out of season!!

Yes, but "Slough" doesn't account for all the speeding Mobos, does it?

I know we were taking a risk on such a fine weekend, but, as we are going upriver for the Jubilee weekend SWMBO decided she would like to go down so Windsor it was.

There really should be an EA presence in places like Windsor on such busy weekends. Just seeing the EA launch patrolling up and down keeps behaviour reasonably sensible.
Also, as RBWM have decided to double their money they should get their act together and make sure we paying guests enjoy our stay !
 
Got to Pangbourne and back via Cookham, Henley, Pangbourne, Henley, Cookham overnights.

River was crazy Saturday and Sunday with everyone out in anything they could get their hands on!

Wonderful time, please can the sun now stay. :D
 
Sunday afternoon I came back to Bray from PH, Windsor was hectic. Little hire boats zig zagging in front of me, an Oakley Hotel little hire boat near miss and a Le Boat skipper was being cussed by one of the tour boat skippers for not giving any room around the race course bend.
Boveney lock had a huge line of boats waiting to go up stream. It was said that it was due to such large tour vessels taking up the lock space.:(
 
The Missus and me went from Windsor to Thames Court, Shepperton this weekend, I thought about which way all the others would be heading and went the opposite way. Didn't wait once at any lock, got to Shepperton and ample space outside Thames court, I guess some of us are either wise or just born lucky Haha!!!! /FONT]
 
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