Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Well everything is all set for my voyage. Still a bit more chartwork to do, round N Foreland and into the estuary. Mind you, that's just about the most complex bit.
Can probably tell from my ramblings, I'm getting very excited, really looking forward to it. My boating mates, Tony & Anne in Aquae Sulis, and Bob in Hercules are planning to escort me on my first leg to Cowes. 
I'll aim to keep a daily record of my trip in this post, hopefully with some photos, so all can share some of the fun. 
Just hope it all comes to fruition, at the moment it looks a bit better than 50/50. I'm certainly not going risk areas I don't know if weather looks dodgy. I'm sure no one would recommend that.
I shall get train to Bournemouth on Thursday, whatever happens, can wait until Sat or Sun if needs be, and probably still participate in at least one day of festivities at South Stoke. 
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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UncleAlbert
regular
Reged: 23/01/2005
Posts: 1000
Loc: Adrift
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If the weather is anything like today you`re in for a great trip…
See you there..
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Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 4769
Loc: London
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Sounds great fun ! How far up the Thames do you intend to go ?
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Dont come running to me if you fall over and break your leg .
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Will prob go up as far as Oxford, been up to Lechlade and beyond many, many times.
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Well I'm on my way. Left Cobbs Quay, Poole at 11:45am, getting ready for the off.
Out through Poole Harbour, harbour control informed me wind blowing 25 knots, SW. OOOer. Out into Poole Bay, pretty rough but following sea so do able, and I pressed on. Got to East Cowes, filled up with fuel, found a berth, after 2 1/2 hrs. A bit slow just a steady 18 knots so as not to be too uncomfortable. Didn't take any photos going accross as I couldn't find camera, and boat bouncing around too much to look for it.
Anyway safely tied up at East Cowes
Hopefully onto Brighton tomorrow, as long wind drops a bit.
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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Chris_d
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1613
Loc: Oxfordshire
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Brilliant, are you single handed then?
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boatone
regular
Reged: 29/07/2001
Posts: 6845
Loc: Surrey uk
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Sent you a PM.
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"Don't tell me why not, tell me how..."
ThamesBlog
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Yep, everyone else working, or chickened out
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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bradtarga34
regular
Reged: 03/04/2006
Posts: 298
Loc: Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
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Hope all goes well with your trip, certainly a fairly lengthy trip for you by yerself, and thanks for the updates and keep them coming!
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if_only
regular
Reged: 29/04/2007
Posts: 97
Loc: south east
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Geoff PM sent
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Non illegitimi carborundum
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Well made it to Brighton
Smashing run accross, smooth seas a nice steady 25 knots, against strong tide (no red boards ).
Off Portsmouth.
Passedthis near Nab.
Then onto Brighton, approaching pier.
Very nice Marina, Premier always most helpful, as are MDL, of course.
Hopefully on to Ramsgate tomorrow. a long haul, so an early start, before seas build and to get tide. Will stop Dover if it all gets too much. Now off for a
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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bradtarga34
regular
Reged: 03/04/2006
Posts: 298
Loc: Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
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Weather and conditions look great, must have been a nice run for you! I am looking at doing Ramsgate-Portsmouth in July at the end of our trip to Holland to have a blast around the Solent for a few weeks before we head back up the Thames.
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Made it onto Ramsgate today, not a bad run, but blowing an F4 SE wind over tide on leaving Brighton. This put up a chop so pottered along at 17 knots to maintain comfort.
First landmark, Beachy Head, note a little choppy. Doesn't actually look much in the photo, but bounced me around a bit.
Pushed on to Dungeness, not the most inspiring of places, something to get past.
So I did get past, then things smoothed out nicely, don't know if wind dropped a bit or tide turned, or both. But was able to push engine up to 2300rpm and a nice steady 23 knots. So on to Dover.
On to Ramsgate, nice little harbour. Bit quiet after Brighton last night though. Had to wait for Trans Europa Ferries' vessel Primrose to leave before I could enter under instruction of port control. Never heard of them before. Successor to Sally Lines I guess.
So on to St Kats tomorrow, hopefully. 70 miles, another early start to ensure I can get into lock, which closes at 1520hr tomorrow.
All going very well, please may it last.
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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Double_ender
regular
Reged: 05/12/2007
Posts: 71
Loc: West coast - Scotland
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A most enjoyable photo-log to read.Reminds me of when I used to sail the south coast. thanks for your efforts, keep it up.
cheers, malcolm
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"We who adventure upon the sea, however humbly, cannot but feel that we are more fortunate than ordinary people, for we have something which we cannot tell, nor they understand" -Claud Worth
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boatone
regular
Reged: 29/07/2001
Posts: 6845
Loc: Surrey uk
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currently moored just above teddington lock. yellow boards were still out this afternoon but decreasing and should be pretty much normal by the time you get up here. you have my mobile number.
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"Don't tell me why not, tell me how..."
ThamesBlog
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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That's good news Tony, expect to be Teddington on Monday, promised to stop and see Forbsie (Gordon) at Eel Pie. I'll give you a call when on river. May stop Penton Hook, if timing appropriate, use one of my nights and get some 10% discount fuel. Paid 75ppl today.  Burnt 200l so far, bit more than normal, not sure why. Been punching tide a lot of time and running below most economical speed.
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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Doolittle
regular
Reged: 13/04/2007
Posts: 290
Loc: Chertsey, Surrey, UK
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Geoff, you are more than welcome to stop at mine and save your MDL allowance for another night, then nip round to Penton to top up. Moorings 50 yds downstream of PH. PM sent.
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Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 4769
Loc: London
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I rowed across in the tender today to get to Cuchilo ( mid river mooring in Sunbury wear stream ) So i think your safe to chug up river 
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Dont come running to me if you fall over and break your leg .
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Thanks, ain't everyone great!!!
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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byron
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6830
Loc: UK -Berks
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OMG he's getting closer
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http://www.oceaneagle.fsnet.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Closer than you think! 
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Bit late posting today, had visitors. Anyway left Ramsgate at 8:00am this morning near perfect conditions.
Bit lumpy up tp North Foreland but once round into the estuary very smooth. Used Princes channel, as advice was to avoid Overland route if any east in wind. It was almost due east. So through Princes and past towers.
The rivers narrows quite quickly so under QE2 bridge and eventually to the barrier.
Did my bit on getting clearance through the barrier with London VTS, all ok.
As everyone warned me, loads of rubbish in river so did a sedate 10 knots after QE2.
And so onto to St. Katherines. About a dozen boats waiting to go through lock, manic for a while, trying to hold station (all buoys full) and passenger boats using St. Kats Pier. Eventually got into lock.
Into relative peace of the marina and ties up about 1:00pm
So onto to Teddington and beyond tomorrow, must remember ot pay respects to Forbsie.
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 4769
Loc: London
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I'm worried ! Forbsie is now the first forum member people see on the Thames
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Dont come running to me if you fall over and break your leg .
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byron
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6830
Loc: UK -Berks
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Splendid! and thanks for all the photographs. I have enjoyed them all no end.
Curious as to how/where you managed all the Internet connections.
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http://www.oceaneagle.fsnet.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Got a laptop and mobile modem on boat. Ain't technology wonderful. See ya soon if all continues to go well. got to persuade EA to let me in yet.
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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TrueBlue
regular
Reged: 30/04/2004
Posts: 1208
Loc: Sussex
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Thanks for asking, Byron - I wondered too.
Looking at sundry threads and posts here it's rapidly becoming apparent that it is now economic to use a mobile phone G3 to get near ADSL speeds and for about the same money.
As with much in business nowadays there's "not a lot" of real information when you try to sign up. The attitude seems to be:-
It's wonderful,
Get it now,
Pay up (min: 18 months contact).
Zilch detail about what speeds to reasonably expect; vague map showing where you can't get a connection,
No T's & C's to read first,
OK it's not a lot of money to tip your toe in the water, but isn't it reasonable to know what the vendor is committing to (if anything???)
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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I've got one of them dongle thingys. Came as part of the deal when I got a new phone from '3'. Works well, get 2GB a month which is enough. A bit slower than broadband at home, but not much. Claims 'up tp' 3.5mps. Doubt it gets there. ideal for on the boat though.
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 4769
Loc: London
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Good to see you today Geoff , sorry i didnt get over in time to have a beer but i was trying to blow the new toy up with the pump on suck 
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Dont come running to me if you fall over and break your leg .
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Me again, got as far as Kingston, today. Having stopped for a couple of beers with Forbsie at EEl Pie. What a fascinating place that is, and what a 'project' gordon has.
Left St Kats about 1:30pm, on about the third lock out of the day. Must say they are most efficient at St Kats, calling you on radio when they are ready for you to leave your pontoon, having registered your preferred departure the evening before, it was very busy today, of course. locking out into river.
So up river past the place where a bunch of t*ssers fiddle their expenses and figure new ways to screw more cash out of us!!
On up river with the last chance for a wake shot, for a while.
Having said good buy to Gordon off up to Teddington
Don't know who was on duty it was not our own tame lock keeper. But a very helpful chap who saw me through ok, having relieved me of some dosh, of couurse. Just went up to Kingston and found a spot for the night. A nice low bank when I could clean all the salt water off the hull.
No real plans for tomorrow, just plod on up river.
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Good to see you from a distance and put a face to a name, well a backside anyway
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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No_Regrets
regular
Reged: 09/07/2007
Posts: 1389
Loc: Welwyn Garden City, Herts UK.
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Usual rules apply Geoff, remove Turbochargers and leave them at Teddington.
Look forward to seeing you at the Weekend BBQ, great piccies etc so far!
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The scourge of Windsor, and notorious founder member of the 'Upper Thames Birchwood Massive' now outlawed by the EA and River pressure groups, currently planning a nice comfy retirement in the aft cabin of a Broom.
Now can anybody recommend any non-marking slippers?
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Geoffs
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1754
Loc: Wantage,Oxfordshire
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Yeh took off turbo, but left supercharger on, just in case.
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Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
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No_Regrets
regular
Reged: 09/07/2007
Posts: 1389
Loc: Welwyn Garden City, Herts UK.
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