Virtual Trip down the Thames

[boatone]

Been spending a bit if time looking at Google Earth's view of the Thames, particularly with regard to pinpointing some shallow bits I managed to find recently.

Gradually found myself noticing all sorts of things I hadnt paid attention to previously - including feeling sorry for Byron cos he had no visitors at the time that section was photographed!

However, look a little more closely, scan along the river and notice how many narrow boats there are on passage compared to cruisers, look for the evidence of shoals and how far they extend into the river etc.

Also interesting to see how many mooring areas are lightly occupied compared to when I get there !

Maybe we could carry out a Forum Survey of the Thames as a winter exercise?

This shot of Molesey Lock clearly show 3 NB's locking upstream, for instance.

 

[TrueBlue]

Don't think a winter exercise would be very profitable - traffic disappears rapidly after Septemer...

Not wishing to raise the NB vs all other boats argument, but to my mind they are the only craft well suited to long distance cruising, especially when it's cold.

Cruisers - of whatever denomination tend to be day or weekend boats.

Lockies repeatedly tell me that it's the narrowboats that keep the river going (in terms of traffic on off-days and off-season).

However, I'm not pouring scorn on your idea, but I have a feeling that the results may fuel the EA issue?

 

[Hirdsp]

what a good idea-river route planning via google! Like it!