January was not particularly exciting which is good and bad. Good that the weather hasn’t been so dreadful as to flood the Thames and bad in that it’s just been wet enough to restrict me moving around. So I was delighted to see just over a week ago that the forecast was for a long period of fairly dry weather and the Environment Agency boards were slowly changing from red (you’d have to be mad to go out) to yellow ( stream decreasing but be careful). I decided on a simple trip to Marlow and back over a week.

Do you know what you’re doing? Shall I drive?

The boards were all yellow and I felt it worth gaining the experience, I was going upstream so knew I’d have more control. Leaving my mooring at Windsor is not easy going upstream as I’m so close to the low bridge. This needs to be negotiated smack in the centre as the arches are pretty close to my roof. I do an S type departure but this time the current had me drifting so I threw away the first attempt to give myself more room. The second attempt worked a treat. The river was not at all scary but the current took me in some odd directions. I enjoyed trying to evaluate what was happening to the water and the boat. Angela Dawn handled beautifully, to cruise at 4 knots I needed 16 – 1800 RPM, compared to normally 11 – 1200 RPM. Where the river was compressed such as round islands or narrows the speed would quickly bleed off to 2 – 3 knots. Maidenhead road bridge was particularly interesting. It’s a large brick bridge with wide pillars compressing the water between them. After negotiating the rowers from the local club I lined up very carefully and advanced slowly. Once under the bridge the boat almost stopped and took a boot of power to pop out like a cork on the other side.

I spent several days at Marlow enjoying the river walks and pubs and waiting for the water stream to decrease. I would not have gone downstream on the first day, certainly it would have been dangerous to negotiate the bridges as I’d have struggled to get the speed down. When I did return to Windsor the yellow warning were being removed yet I still cruised at 5 knots with the engine mostly in tick over at 900 RPM. I stopped at Cookham Lock for the night to fill up with water and give the batteries a charge. This meant turning 180 degrees in the cut so the power cable would reach and squeezing into a snug space between some maintenance barges. In the morning I had to turn around again to enter the lock.

Back now at Windsor and planning to head to Teddington and maybe stick my toes in the tidal river for a few hours.

I’m pointing the wrong way!

Cookham Lock

Marlow weir

Fantastic it’s the 6 Nations

Is that roast chicken ready yet?

Boulters Lock, Maidenhead

Happy New Year to all our readers, the weather in 2016 has been kind and hopefully will continue into 2017. Some frosty nights but thankfully little rain which can be frustrating not only for river conditions but also a very muddy dog! I continue to move between Windsor and Marlow at times the only power boat moving on the river. Even on the very coldest of days though there’s still hardy rowers about.

Keeping warm in the Pub

Pretty riverbank locals

Christmas was lovely with my family, I moved the boat 10 feet forward of my Windsor mooring to some steps belonging to one of the river cruise companies. They’re not using them at the moment and it meant Mum and Dad could board easily. Ashley and Kirsty stayed aboard whilst Mum and Dad stayed in town. Cooking Christmas dinner on Angela Dawn was easy with my full size oven although the washing up had to be done in stages. The beer and wine cellar’s been seriously depleted and thanks to Mark for running me up to the Marlow brewery to stock up, priorities!

Christmas Day afloat

Even a boat has to have a tree

The fire’s not as good as the Pub

On the 30th I wanted to move up to Marlow for a New Year’s Eve party. Friends Mark and Christina joined me for the trip.  The fog was far from ideal, after an hours wait it lifted slightly so I decided to give it a go. Navigation and steaming lights on Angela Dawn looked like a Christmas Tree glowing in the fog. I put the radar on at 50 -75 meter range which gave me a clear picture of the river banks and slightly ahead. Keeping the speed low we gradually made our way. The radar was excellent on occasion the banks were obscured but clear as a bell on the radar. Apart from a few canoeists the only other boats we met were at Bourne End, 4 unlit black narrowboats rafted as 2 pairs crept out of the mist. When they spotted me they flashed their only front light as a warning, which I acknowledged. They painted well on radar. Crewed by a group of young people who liveaboard they’re now moored at Windsor trying to get to London unaware of the lock closure at Old Windsor. Only 2 of the 4 boats have working engines. Quite an adventure for them.

All eyes keeping a lookout

I love gadgets

I’m looking forward to the spring, exploring further east towards London and the tidal Thames. Lots more to learn and experience yet.

Arriving at Henley yesterday dodging the rowers. The weather’s been absolutely stunning but chilly frost this morning, thankfully the central heating and stove are keeping me toasty warm.

November 1st sees the start of major lock works so now is my last chance to explore east of Windsor for a few months. A fairly long trek to Hampton Court, 7 hours with 8 locks. Surprisingly the locks east are much wider. I did ask one keeper why, he thought it may have been due to the density of traffic when they were built, tourist boats. Not a problem except there’s more room to drift about before I get the ropes sorted.

On leaving Windsor I get another view of the castle and have been warned not to moor or breakdown on the castle grounds or be swiftly met by the security services.

Castle private grounds

Buzz Off

A little lost!!

This route is much more built up, after passing Runnymede and the home of the Magna Carta I went under the M25 and M3.

The river becomes wider the further east I go. Through Staines, close to Thorpe Park and past Shepperton there’s a short cut which I took, I’ll explore the longer route on my way back. As I pass Sunbury the river bank is covered in Houseboats. They look charming, each one different but all are trying to make the most of their beautiful surroundings.

Minions boat??

As I passed through the last lock (Molesey) before Hampton Court I went under the A309 which made me smile as I’d crossed this bridge many times in a car going the same speed I was doing in Angela Dawn.

Molesey Lock

A309

The mooring for Hampton Court are almost deserted. Right next to the Palace with manicured pathways.

Moored at Hampton Court Palace

Very quiet

The trees are full of squirrels for Nutty to chase and beautiful green Parakeets chirping away. Miles of park and country riverside to walk along although Nuts had to be on the lead at times inside the Royal Park as it was full of deer.

Squirrel, I love squirrels

The mooring at Hampton Court is free for 24hours then £5 a night, not bad at all. I’m staying for 2 nights before slowly moving back to Windsor. Lovely pub close, The Mute Swan with Wifi, great beers and dog friendly.

I’ve done this route a few times now but there’s always something new to see. Stopped off for the night at Dorney Lake home of the Eton College Rowing Centre as I ran out of daylight. An amazing facility used for the 2012 Olympics. At 7200 feet long I couldn’t help thinking we should bring back sea planes and stop mucking about at Heathrow!!

Leaving Marlow this appeared, should give the toddlers nightmares.

Poor picture but just caught these two Kingfishers as I left Cookham lock.

Just how I feel

Dorney Lake London’s 3rd Runway?

Bring back sea planes

They’ve even put runway edge buoys out!

In the last couple of weeks I’ve moved from my mooring at Windsor to Abingdon and back again 59 miles, 19 locks each way. The weather  by and large has remained lovely with the odd shower. It took around 4 days each way cruising. I could certainly have walked it faster! The views are stunning, I’ve seen 2 Kingfishers but the little blighters moves too fast for me to get a photo. Last week I met up with engineers from the boat builder to rectify a couple of issues. Now I have a working bow camera which helps me get up close in the locks and hopefully spare those in smaller craft from being crushed by 30 tons!

I’m just loving life on Angela Dawn. It is incredibly comfortable and the pace is slow. The central heating or oil stove keep the boat toasty warm on those chilly nights and early mornings. When moored up and in the wheelhouse I get no end of questions from passers by. Once below though I’m in my personal apartment that gently rocks every now and then. Nutty loves it when we’re by a park, huge garden with endless squirrels to harass.

Abingdon was great, I met up with a group of ex RAF Fighter Controllers for our biannual liver abuse and intake of toxic curry. Mum and Dad came down  and stayed the night, it was lovely to show them the completed dream.

I’ll cruise as long  as the weather and river conditions allow probably exploring east to Teddington. Starting in November there’s a handful of lock closures through the winter to enable maintenance to be completed. Most last for 6 weeks so I’ll have to keep close attention to that.

Mum and Dad visit

What a handsome bunch!

Danesfield Hotel on the hill, RAF rowing club below

So relaxing

A large fish tank or conservatory?

Abingdon is a lovely place to moor

Every craft seems to enjoy the Thames

Nutty finds attention too much

Nice place to stop for lunch

I cant believe it’s the end of September, fabulous evening.

Ice Cream Tug closed for the winter, shame I fancied a 99

I hope Postman Pat has a Rib

People make some amazing homes on the river

River almost all to myself

Leaving Goring lock

Today we move back upstream to Marlow, 3 hours and 5 locks. Pumped out the black water tank at the first lock, Boveney. It was far from full but just wanted to see how it worked. The EA charge £10 it can be double at a marina. In theory I could go for at least a month between pump outs, I don’t think so! Sorry if you’re eating. The rivers quite quiet for boat traffic many of the pleasure boats winterised. The weather turned and for much of the trip it rained but still plenty to see and cosy warm in the wheelhouse.

Artwork under the A355 at Windsor

Bray Lock

Bray Film studio home to Hammer House of Horror films

Cliveden House

I do love an Ovaltine

Although I intend to move around as much as possible I decided to take up a base mooring for when river conditions or lock closures restrict movement. The cost of marinas is eye wateringly expensive and I don’t intend to be there much. I found a mooring in the centre of Windsor for half the price. There’s no onsite facilities as in marinas like electric hook up, water, waste ect but as I’ll move frequently I can pop into marinas and the locks have differing facilities. The mooring is great for visiting the town but I do get a lot of Japanese tourists doing selfies in from of AD. Very amusing watching them. Immediately behind there’s flats being built which is noisy during the day however the view across the river to Eton is very pleasant.

20 yards from the Boatman pub

The Boatman pub 20 yards away serves a lovely pint of London Pride and the staff spoil Nutty.

For those interested in facts, Angela Dawn is 49′ long 13’9″ wide and weighs 26 tons empty. She holds 1200lts of fuel used for propulsion, hot water and central heating. There’s a separate tank to the diesel stove heater. 1500 ltr fresh water tank and 1000 lts Black (Loo) Water tank. Grey water (Shower,washing up) is pumped overboard. I have no idea how long these will last before they need attention but the gauges indicate I’m good for a while yet. The fuel I’ll keep topped up to avoid condensation. 

The engine room is big enough to sit in, around 3′ tall and sits under the rear deck accessed under one of the wheelhouse bench seats. Left to right storage, Red box is the heating, water boiler and calorifier. white box is the generator, essential when Kirsty uses the hair drier. Green Beta Marine 105bhp engine. Under the stairs at the back is the engine cooling tank, in front the hydraulics for the steering, bow and stern thrusters. The battery bank is in the grey box behind and right. The turquoise/white boxes are the electric management system.

The wheelhouse controls are top left, bilge pump, AC electric switches, Simrad plotter. On the plotter I can put Radar, chart, basic navigation including radar position indicator (very useful) heading, speed over the ground and depth below the hull (again very useful) As you may see the radar and chart are not aligned yet, need to speak to Simrad about that. The options on this plotter are endless and will keep me busy for hours.

Below the grey switches are the VHF radio, I’ve had AIS receiver fitted so I can see who’s mowing me down when I go to sea!! Car radio next to that.

Bottom row is the holding tank pump, engine gauges then the thruster controls.

On the roof there’s the Simrad 4G radar, an amazing piece of kit. Totally over the top for the thames but will come into its own on the estuary or sea.  I tracked a swan going right past me today, great toy.

On the mast I have 2 WiFi booster, VHF and GPS aerials. Also on the mast anchor light on the top. navigation, steaming light and horn below.The satellite dish lays flat on the roof, you press a button up it comes and automatically finds the Astra 2  satellite, hey presto TV, magic.

Well done if you’ve got this far and are still awake. I’ve a massive box of instructions to work though yet. Cheers Dean x