When will it be back to normal?

[PEJ]

Sorry if this is an impossible question to answer but from your experience of earlier floods - how long will it be before they let hire boats back out on the river. Assuming no more rain that is.

More specifically will I get out on a day hire boat from Hobbs at Henley on Saturday Aug 4th do you think?

 

[Chris_d]

I wasn't around for the 1947 and 1894 floods, byron should be able to help though /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Gavi]

The Bell Weir lock keeper reckoned traffic would be getting back to normal, rain allowing, by next Friday though the stream will still be strong and high.

Don't know what the hire companies will be doing though - torn between safety and wanting the business? Might be worth asking them!?

 

[TrueBlue]

Let\'s be realistic -

EA say that it will be at least two weeks before some amount of normality returns.
I suspect it will be a lot longer - EA have to do an assessment of any damage to infrastructure as a result of the speed of the flows. The river is likely to be "manky" for some time as a result of drowned vegetation, or more nasty items carried into the stream.

As you hireboat is - I expect - one of the smaller day boats, Hobbs are likely to consider the stream to be too strong for such a small boat. For example Marsh lock has a very nasty eddy (whirlpool) at the Henley end, and that would cause problems for all craft and more so for small underpowered day-boats.

Best to give Hobbs a bell for a prediction. I'd be inclined to say forget it...


Edit:

Just received this from EA:-

NAVIGATION AUTHORITY

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO MASTERS OF VESSELS

Updated 26 July 2007

VERY STRONG STREAM WARNING

• Although floodwaters are receding in some areas, water levels in the River Thames are still dangerously high and will remain so for some time. The river remains ‘out of banks’ in many areas.

• Although some of the Flood Warnings may be downgraded over the next few days, boaters should not confuse these with our Strong Stream Warnings.

• There is still a VERY STRONG STREAM WARNING in force over the full length of the non-tidal River Thames.

• Please note the strength of the stream will remain very strong even though water levels may be reducing.

• Our strong advice to boaters is not to navigate. Stay safe and leave boats moored up where they are – the river is dangerous to navigate and many locks are still impassable

 

[byron]

Henley will get back to normal far quicker than some areas. Hobb's will let out boats as soon as they can but may forbid you to go through Hambledon or Marsha Locks. As to when that will be, how long is a piece of string? I will say this, it is amazing how quickly the water can be run off.

 

[andyoxon]

Well, using my Mark I eyeball telemetry system, (as there is naff all else in this information technology age), the river level at Henley appears to have dropped by a small amount. The path from Hobbs to the bridge isn't QUITE as badly awash as this time yesterday!

A