Yachting and Boating World Forums - The Thames Forum http://www.ybw.com/forums/ A place to discuss boating issues specific to the Thames and other inland waterways en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:23:01 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.ybw.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Yachting and Boating World Forums - The Thames Forum http://www.ybw.com/forums/ Spare a thought for your neigbours... http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220327&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:51 GMT ...on the other side of the Irish sea. All inland waterways (including the mighty Shannon) approaching record high levels. piccies... ...on the other side of the Irish sea. All inland waterways (including the mighty Shannon) approaching record high levels.

piccies ]]> The Thames Forum Dyflin http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220327 Heads Up! http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220285&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:35:19 GMT Fuel prices about to go up at Shepperton Marina. If your thinking about filling up for winter do it this weekend. Fuel prices about to go up at Shepperton Marina. If your thinking about filling up for winter do it this weekend. ]]> The Thames Forum suzanne http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220285 Conventional Pikey? http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220126&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:23:51 GMT Now this is a proper Houseboat complete with a sun deck. Now this is a proper Houseboat complete with a sun deck.
Attached Images
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]]> The Thames Forum byron http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220126 Lockup for rent? http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220071&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:10:31 GMT Ok, not really boaty, but with all the local knowledge on this forum... I'm looking for a lockup garage to rent in the Windsor area for storage of a classic car. I don't need power, but dry would be nice. Any takers? Cheers, ross. ]]> The Thames Forum rosssavage http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220071 Where has all the water gone? http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220062&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:49:41 GMT River between molesey lock and Sunbury has just dropped like 2 feet! Can almost walk out to the island here at Hampton. Blimey must say ive not... River between molesey lock and Sunbury has just dropped like 2 feet!
Can almost walk out to the island here at Hampton.
Blimey must say ive not seen it this low in many years.
No doubt there will be a lot of sinkers when it comes back up again.
Just hope i am not one of them.
Joe ]]> The Thames Forum Joe http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220062 Locks..... a bit of history. http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220025&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:14:16 GMT For many years the Medway was tidal right the way up to Maidstone town centre, quite a bit further up than Allington. Image:... For many years the Medway was tidal right the way up to Maidstone town centre, quite a bit further up than Allington.

Even this was not the first lock,as prior there had been a Flash Lock on the site.
This view is more or less where the old lock stood and the land adjacent is known as Lockmeadow for obvious reasons

Allington came later in order to improve the navigation for commercial craft,they powers that be had to fight tooth and nail to over come objections by assorted interested neer do wells looking for some easy money including fish weir owners,mill owners and riperian owners on the make :).
This picture is of the original Lock at Allington


and today ]]> The Thames Forum oldgit http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220025 <![CDATA[Windsor & Eton Bridge]]> http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219860&goto=newpost Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:40:14 GMT Intend to have one more long weekend on the river before the boat gets lifted on the 23rd, but now wonder with all this rain if I am going to have a... Intend to have one more long weekend on the river before the boat gets lifted on the 23rd, but now wonder with all this rain if I am going to have a problem getting under Windsor Bridge. If I get through should I be worried about the level going up on Sunday....

Does the Jubilee River ensure that the water levels at Windsor remains the same regardless of the weather? ]]> The Thames Forum Salty Sealine http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219860 I tried it….and I liked it. http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219811&goto=newpost Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:27:20 GMT NB’s of course.
Took a few days off whilst the kids were on half term and hired a narrow boat on the Basingstoke Canal. It was our first time on such a boat and after dropping “middle child” off to stay with one of her friends (well two kids always argue less than three), we arrived at Galleon Marine in Odiham.
After a quick familiarisation tour of the boat we were off. I’m embarrassed to say, I was quite nervous, after all the biggest I’d ever helmed before was 33ft in the wide expanses of the Thames and now I was at the stern of a 47ft boat on a waterway barely wider than a footpath. But, I needn’t have worried.
We headed west to spend our first night on a newly built mooring at the limit of navigation near the now derelict Greywell tunnel which houses one of the largest colonies of hibernating bats.
An evening walk along the towpath, into Greywell, found the Fox and Goose, whose local inhabitants were as welcoming and entertaining as the local beers and freshly cooked food.

OUR FIRST EVENING.


Next morning, after a walk round the ruins of Odiham Castle or King Johns Castle (from where he rode to Runnymede to sign the Magna Carta) which was built by William the Conqueror, we were to re-trace our steps back down the canal and past our starting point.

THIS IS THE CASTLE.


This first involved turning the boat around in a widened area of the canal known as a winding hole. Once my 10 point turn was executed we headed east towards Fleet. The weather was warm and sunny (just as well with no internal helm) and the scenery was ever changing.
I’d never really thought about canal levels before but as this stretch has no locks in it, the canal remains the same height regardless of the surrounding countryside and therefore gives way to some lovely scenery through stunning, wooded, autumnal coloured and sometimes, quite deep valleys as well as over open countryside with distant views.





Fleet from the canal was lovely, as we passed small canal-side properties with boats at the bottom of the gardens. As quickly as Fleet appeared, it disappeared and we were back in open country.

CANALSIDE AT FLEET.


The canal passed through the rifle ranges of Aldershot and gave us a good view of Farnborough Airfield.
Now we’d been told you can stop and tie up anywhere along the canal providing you’re on the towpath side so that’s what we did that evening. We came across a beautiful spot in the middle of nowhere and spent the night there. Mooring was fun as the canal is shallow and the sides are quite silted up. We couldn’t get any closer to the bank than 18” so with the hull on the bottom, we used the gang plank to get ashore which seems quite normal on this canal. No TV reception and all asleep by 9.00. Great.

After turning at Ash lock the next morning, then extracting Jake our clumsy Collie from the canal we headed back towards Fleet. The kids had now become dab hands at jumping off the boat prior to, and having the swing bridges open for us as we approached.

SWING BRIDGE


It was so easy to step on and off the stern as we went through bridges that Minnie, my wife and Jake (now dry) would walk the tow path, often leaving only me on the boat.
I have to say, I was really enjoying this. I had forgotten how close you can be to nature and standing on this stern a few inches above the water level, took me back to the days of our first boat, a little Freeman 22. Reflecting on this, I now feel that as our own boats got bigger, we got further away from nature and I had now returned to boating in water rather than on it. Does that make sense?

SOLITUDE


The other thing I really liked about this boat was having proper radiators to hang towels over to keep them warm. How decadent is that?
After mooring at Crookham and walking into the village centre for supplies we carried onto Winchfield, where we were told about the Barley Mow, a short walk from the picnic area mooring. A fantastic Gastro Pub that offered exceptional quality food at such reasonable prices. The décor was fabulous and roaring open fires reminded us that winter approaches.
All full up on local produce, drink as well as food, we retired to the boat for the night.
Next morning we were up at 6.30 and set off before 7.00. This was our final morning as we were due to return the boat, but the Basingstoke Canal had saved its best till last.
The canal was an absolute picture as the sun broke through the trees and filled the valley with a golden hue that you only ever get during the autumn. The water was literally carpeted in leaves of every shade of green, brown and gold and produced an unforgettable sight. Unforgettable smells rose from the cabin doors and wafted onto the stern as breakfast was being cooked.

OUR FINAL MORNING


After returning the boat, we drove along a road that follows the canal for a few hundred yards, but the canal and all that goes with it couldn’t be seen from the road and I guess that’s what makes it special. It’s a lovely, well hidden, Hampshire secret.

As for my first foray in a narrow boat, I have to so say I loved it. It felt right for the canal but then that’s the environment for which it was designed. I loved helming so close to the water and being able to see so much and feel a part of the surroundings.
Wife up front with a book and me at the stern with a pint worked quite well.
And as for a weed hatch above the prop, why don’t we all have those?

Finally you always seem to appreciate the............wake shot.

]]> The Thames Forum Phill http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219811 A Bit Wet http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219772&goto=newpost Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:06:12 GMT Quite a wild weekend in the south and the whole river from Lechlade to Bray is now on yellows(increasing) as is Molesey. It was flooded roads that... Quite a wild weekend in the south and the whole river from Lechlade to Bray is now on yellows(increasing) as is Molesey.

It was flooded roads that caused me some problems yesterday near Leatherhead with drivers causing severe wash !!! ]]> The Thames Forum boatone http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219772 Lock usage.Interesting numbers. http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219539&goto=newpost Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:30:43 GMT Just out of interest after a recent discussion with a very respected Thames boater:),contacted the gentlemen who operate the lock at Allington via... Just out of interest after a recent discussion with a very respected Thames boater:),contacted the gentlemen who operate the lock at Allington via the email address on their website and received a very prompt and detailed response to a question regarding just how much traffic goes through the main lock during the year.
It turns out that the lock had 1400 movements last year. ]]> The Thames Forum oldgit http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219539 Thames to be closed at Windsor? http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219354&goto=newpost Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:24:42 GMT This article in today's Evening Standard is rather concerning...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...-at-windsor.do ]]> The Thames Forum LimL http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219354 Did you notice ...... http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219252&goto=newpost Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:12:12 GMT ... that for the whole of this season just ending we did not need to make use of the River Conditions thread? No doubt there will be some stream... ... that for the whole of this season just ending we did not need to make use of the River Conditions thread?

No doubt there will be some stream issues during the winter, but what a difference to 2007 and 2008. ]]> The Thames Forum boatone http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219252 Idea for the EA http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219202&goto=newpost Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:45:47 GMT It is rumoured that th EA are looking into forcing Rowing Clubs to fit rear view mirrors as used on the Clovelly Sculler. See here... It is rumoured that th EA are looking into forcing Rowing Clubs to fit rear view mirrors as used on the Clovelly Sculler.
See here http://rowingforpleasure.blogspot.co...lly-scull.html for detailed information on the facilities afforded by this novel device. ]]> The Thames Forum Brayman http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219202 Favorite person http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219192&goto=newpost Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:21:14 GMT DO THE SIMPLE MATH BELOW, THEN SCROLL DOWN TO FIND YOUR FAVOURITE.

It's CRAZY how accurate this is!

No peeking!




1) Pick your favourite number between 1-9

2) Multiply by 3 then

3) Add 3

4) Then again Multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get the
calculator if you want......)

5) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number....

6) Add the digits together

Now Scroll down











...................

With that number, see who your FAVOURITE PERSON is from the list below:



1. Einstein



2. Oprah Winfrey



3. Snoopy



4. Bill Clinton



5. Bill Gates



6. Gandhi



7. Barack Obama



8. The Queen



9. Byron Alexander



10. JFK ]]> The Thames Forum byron http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219192 Three men in a boat. Jerome K Jerome http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219188&goto=newpost Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:19:55 GMT Quote from the introduction in the Penguin Classics edition.

By 1895 some 400 steam launches were operating on the river...."they were resented by oarsmen and fishermen for the noise they made,for the clouds of black smoke belching from their funnels and for the wash they set up,and their owners were widely regarded as pompous,self important,over weight and over fond of the bottle"

Good job things have changed out of all recognition then :) ]]> The Thames Forum oldgit http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219188