Reading to Brentford

Reading to Brentford

Well . . . it’s getting near to our entrance back on to the River Thames. Instead of turning towards Oxford we will turn the opposite way and head towards Brentford.

Looking at our maps it looks as if it will take about a week. We again have to part with money to legally run on the Thames. The routine is to buy a licence at the first river lock you arrive at.

Wrong . . . at the first lock for some reason the lockie couldn’t get the safe open. He tried every thing including kicking it all to no avail. So with no licence visible we trundled on to the next lock. However at the next lock they didn’t have a card option, cash only.

Sorry, we don’t use cash as much these days, no card ...no pay..

Off we went to the next lock set up, it was getting late and my energy levels were dropping and we needed a mooring for the night. Whilst the River Thames is a lovely river the places to moor are very limited.

They don’t cater for passing narrow boats. They own the river the authority does but...the adjoining land is owned by farmers or private gardens. We have the added problem of getting the dogs off...at the last lock for the day the lock managers told us of a farmers field where we could possibly stay the night. We did manage to get our 62ft of vessel in but it was very tight. At 7.30am there was a knock on the roof...the rent man !!

£5.00 mooring fee for the night. Oh well that’s life.

Opposite us was an old steam ship moored. A lovely vessel. She was just getting under way. The lovely smell of the coal smoke and the hissing of the steam brought back memories of the steam trains of my youth. I love that smell.

Setting off at about 10.00am we managed to buy the required licence so we became legal.

The locks on the river are very big and they cram as many boats in as they can. They are operated and electric so very easy to use. Narrow boats, cruisers, steam ships !!

As we looked back the steamer was joining us !!

Literally when she came along side there was just 2 inches between us. The ships steward stood on his deck and kept our boat off the hull of the ship. Quite an experience.

We pulled out of the lock first but very soon waved them past as they could move a lot faster than us. In fact everybody over took us although we could go faster here than on the canal we keep her at 3000 rpm which is about 5 mph. Any higher revs she objects and the temperature gauge goes up.

The majority of the boats down here are what we affectionately call yoghurt pots, well these are more like Tupperware boxes..so big in comparison. Officially the speed limit is 8mph but some of these beauties can do well over that. There is a lot of money down this part of the country. 

One of the smaller Tupperware boxes

We didn’t realise when we set off down towards Henley that it was the weekend of the famous Henley Regatta. That was an experience. I have never seen so many older rich gentlemen with beautiful daughters or nieces on their arms. . well I think that's what they were..(wink wink). 

Half of the river was sectioned off for the racing and the other show boats. Hospitality tents on both side of the river. We had to keep to the left hand side of the divide, and moved quite slowly. There were some excellent looking wooden day boats about, they are actually built here. Coincidently there was a documentary about the man who builds them on TV on the evening we saw them.

They take 2 years to hand make and the cost...£150k. Sleek highly varnished wood. Elm and Mahogany. Electric motors.

We sadly encountered a ‘hoo ray’ Henry’ driving one. I’m sure he was under the influence of Pimms or another alcoholic beverage. Certainly on something . . he thought it was clever to play ‘chicken’ with Infinity. 18 tons of steel against a wooden box...err..no contest.

We missed him but I did give him a piece of my mind, too which he just arrogantly laughed. Idiots come in all shapes and sizes. Wearing white trousers, a blazer and a Billy Bunter type school hat actually makes you look stupid as well. You PLONKER!! . .

The banks of the river can be quite high so its been early start early finish just to ensure we can get tied up. One place we stopped at the quay side was 4 foot above the boat. Throw the dogs off first.. then Jenny and me scrambled up..was quite funny.

The next night we found a piece of a concrete jetty with just enough room to get into. A large motor cruiser was there already. A lovely gentleman helped us to get into position. Bit difficult for the doggies but manageable.

We sat watching TV about 8pm when all off a sudden it felt as if the boat was taking off !!

We looked out of the window as an ocean going yacht style boat went past. The bow wave she made was quite high to say the least. A quick check on our stakes to make sure no damage was done and we weren’t about to drift off. . . all ok

I don't know the prices of these boats but she a was a fabulous vessel. I don't think you'd get much change out of a couple of million pounds.

Talk about mixing with the rich and famous. Plenty of rich people down here, we might have had a few years of austerity but its not the rich who have been effected.

Mind you, to see some people on these tupperware boats ‘rich and famous’ some of them looked more like ‘infamous’ I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but one boat in particular that went past the driver looked very dubious. As did the two guys in the back . Looked like body guards. I didn’t look to long . . just in case they took exception.

The trip down here has been quite beautiful past Windsor castle, Kew gardens, Hampton court and other famous land marks. We sadly didn’t stop at any because we were on a time limit to be clear of the river in 7 days, the length of the licence. Also what we call ‘continuous moorers’ taking up the visitor mooring. So sad when the few abuse the system for the people who play by the rules. We did manage one night at Hampton Court on their moorings. We passed the other Infinity when we were here as we have been playing leapfrog for a few days. Martin and Sue travel faster than us. 

The last day on the river came with no problems so far. To be honest we haven't been able to relax on here. I’m listening to every note of the engine, imagining its about pack up.

Arriving at Teddington lock very early, well early for us we just caught the tide on the turn,

We were told it was ‘slack water’ meaning not a lot of tide. So off we trundled to the next lock, pulling up and awaited the lock managers to open the gate. Nothing happened.

To the left under Richmond bridge was 3 red lights. Red light means stop to me.

A van then stopped on the road along side and the guy explained we could go straight though. The lock is only used when the river under the bridge is being used as a weir.

Apparently at certain time of the day, as the tide goes in or out, there is a barrier that comes down and cuts off the flow.

Our book wasn't that clear and to be totally honest we didn’t understand it.

So we had to reverse up and some how get her into the centre of the river to pass under the centre arch. Reversing up wasn’t a problem. But. . . .

looking from the back of the boat I believed I had enough room to turn her out into the main stream. The tide wasn't a problem. So full throttle and off we go.

She turned out as requested, until at a 45 degree angle to the bridge, suddenly the tide turned (I believe) it took the boat sideways so at full throttle I aimed for the archway.

Its a horrible feeling when to know two things. .

One. . .you ain't going to get the bow around in time,

Two. .there is nothing you can do about it.

We hit the centre stand of the archway at about 5 or 6 miles per hour. I was certain for a moment we were going to overturn. The stone bridge hit us amidships or rather we hit the bridge, the bang was horrendous. Took most of the free standing ornaments flew off the side but we had just managed to get enough of her past the centre and she swung around and I got her back under control. A tug boat which was going the other way reversed up to check we were ok.

Apart from our heart rates going up to double we were.

Brentford turn came up quite quickly after that, a very sharp left turn and we were back on safer waters of the Grand Union to our relief. About 4 weeks and we should be back to our home marina. As we came up the Thames we were watching the planes coming into land at Heathrow on one of them my cousin Allan Stumph was on. On his way to Belfast from New Zealand.

When we arrived at Southall there was a hoot behind us..the other Infinity had caught us up. We were thinking of going to the pub for a meal but the girls checked it out and weren’t impressed. Only serve Indian food and didn’t look that clean. So an evening of a few glasses of wine, a chatter on the back of their boat.

Enough for now. Over to the picture department and Jenny's magic touch.