Thames planning help please.

[mlines]

I had heard (but not seen or verified for myself) that the London canal system is becoming clogged with "liveaboards" in the style of new age travellors in old barges covered in tarpaulins and junk, hence my comment that Little Venice could be like Little Jaywick. I would check it out if I was you as the comments I had heard implied it was not a pleasant experience.

As Betty says, London is a through trip, not a stopping one. Nice to see the sights from the river as you pass through but no-where to really stop. I would have scheduled it for a single day event.

Once on the non-tidal thames then be aware that distances are very deceptive. Windsor, whilst you could get there in a day from Teddington (where the Thames becomes non-tidal) it is really two days of slightly less frenetic travel ,you have Hampton Court on the way, Thorpe Park (bus ride), Runneymede. James has done some delivery and collection trips over similar distances in a day but that was with two drivers and continous motoring. Once in Windsor you can get to Legoland by bus.

I would have been inclined to look at using the car and trailer to drop in and out of the Thames to get the best. Perhaps Gallions Point for a couple of days with a boat trip through the centre and staying at Gallions perhaps for a DLR train trip into London itself for some sight seeing. Note that you have to like aeroplanes at Gallions Point.

Then perhaps come up to Windsor (MDL has a good slipway) and do a couple of days there.

August 19th-21st, Henley-on-Thames, is the 80's Rewind Festival if you fancy a music festival on the river (we will be there!) However mooring becomes more of a challenge.

Martin

[Ianfs]

Interesting that on the news tonight the number of London liveaboards is increasing but not only that, ignoring the law that they had to be moveable a certain number of days in the year. The people who lived aboard were saying that it was difficult to keep moving and that the Government had no clear instruction on how many days they had to be moving.

Until of course the other side of the story comes out by which the law has always been in place and is very clear, but has actually not been policed until recently and now only because of the shere number of people taking advantage of the cheapness of livaboard life as well as causing overcrowding.

[betty boop]

Interesting that on the news tonight the number of London liveaboards is increasing but not only that, ignoring the law that they had to be moveable a certain number of days in the year. The people who lived aboard were saying that it was difficult to keep moving and that the Government had no clear instruction on how many days they had to be moving.

Until of course the other side of the story comes out by which the law has always been in place and is very clear, but has actually not been policed until recently and now only because of the shere number of people taking advantage of the cheapness of livaboard life as well as causing overcrowding.

On the River Cam there is open talk of boaters boycotting the city as the run in from the Ouze is full of live aboards with boats literally sinking. it really is off putting and a horrible sight. Im sure most of them are nice people but the s't they throw in the river is a nightmare and drunken fights appear to be common inc a murder last year apparently. Last year we did 1 night in June & never again - we were up all night with the occupants wanting to kill each other, a fellow boat/regular told us he always left his German Sheppard on board for protection. Most of the visitors mooring is taken up by the junk boats and there is no recourse to remove them apparently.

When you consider the housing costs for Cambridge the river is VERY cheap (albeit with a 15 year waiting list) with minimal council tax, (from what Ive heard) people who have a mooring quite easily rent out the boats to students/migrants, some 2 berth canal boats with 6+ people sleeping in shifts. The outcome is boats literally 6inches from the water line listing heavily,rotting or worse and no one does anything, can do anything, as they have a legal right to be there. Shame really as its a lovely city but looks sh't on the river until you get to the private Uni /punty bit.

[Gazjen]

Oh dear, This really saddens me. I have fond memories of the thames from when I was a child on the narrow boat. One of which was being turfed out of bed by a passing tanker on the thames

Maybe we ought to stick to Torquay then and give London a miss

[betty boop]

Oh dear, This really saddens me. I have fond memories of the thames from when I was a child on the narrow boat. One of which was being turfed out of bed by a passing tanker on the thames

Maybe we ought to stick to Torquay then and give London a miss

Im sure its not that bad and besides a trip is what you make it not whats around you. although it does help

[Gazjen]

Note to self, stop writing posts at 2 in the morning as they make very little sense.

Anyway, toying with the idea of tagging on to the Henley Festival or rewind weekend. I'd still like to tour London by water a little, under tower bridge, Houses of Parliament etc plus wouldn't mind taking the girls to Lego land. Like the idea of dropping in and out at Gallions then Windsor

Thanks guys

[betty boop]

how about hiring? Chas Newam at Putney rent out bayliner 180 for the day or qt least they did a few years ago. NOT cheap though last time I looked it was x per hour min of 3 hours and I seem to recall that was £350 or there about.

They will launch and recover too from a land rover if you use your own boat which is a good option for visiting towers worried about the tidal flow etc. You can be in Westminster in 30 mins less if you gently break the speed limit. Sunday from Putney Hard on the right tide is a good option for self launch, with 4 Large slipways and most of the tide access. Ive only done Sundays and parking is free and plenty early on before the pubs n shops open.