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Category Archives: On the Thames
Bristol fashion behind Bristol
Thanks to Simon Robinson (on a boat called Bristol) for sending me this photo of Bristol Fashion. At the time I was driving round looking for somewhere to moor in crowded Windsor. I’d just got stuck in the shallows on … Continue reading
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The cost of mooring
On the canals, if you choose to continuously cruise, you can stay almost anywhere for free for up to two weeks at a time. On the Thames it’s very different. There are occasional free public mooring places but they are … Continue reading
Womad Festival by boat
Attending a music festival by boat transforms the experience. No queuing for toilets or showers, sitting in a tent in the rain or cooking on wonky calor stoves. This year I took my home afloat to Womad (world music and … Continue reading
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Swimming the length of the Thames
Coming up to Caversham Lock I drove past a man who’s swimming the whole length of the Thames, from source to sea. Lewis Pugh started on 17th July near Cirencester and his destination was Southend Pier. He had already been … Continue reading
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Windsor
This Sunday some friends joined me in Windsor to go boating, eight of us in all. Bristol Fashion, being in a Dutch Barge style, has a wooden cabin at the back to keep the driver dry and warm, but today … Continue reading
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Row, row, row… oh, let’s not bother
On the way to Windsor a couple of people in rowing boats waved at me and asked for a lift. They were supposed to have taken the boats back by noon and the only way they’d get there on time … Continue reading
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Locks on the Thames
The locks on the Thames are somewhat different to those I’ve used on the canals. In my regular haunts, between Camden, Cowley and Hanwell, there are over 20 miles of canal with no locks and it’s easy to cover a … Continue reading
What does B.O.A.T. stand for?
Had some repairs done on Bristol Fashion. The shower waste pump had packed in and electrical problems (including a faulty switch) meant I also had no running water or gas hob ignition. Tim Barfield Marina fixed it and the pumps … Continue reading
Tagg’s Island
Bristol Fashion is temporarily moored up at Tim Banford’s Marina until some pressing problems (electrics, water pumps, batteries, leaks) are fixed. I’m living opposite Tagg’s Island, ten minutes from Hampton Court in the middle of the Thames, which has a fascinating community of houseboats. Continue reading
First time on the Thames
This morning I woke at half past five in Brentford and attached rope and chain to the anchor. I’d booked a passage through Thames Lock at six am and together with narrowboat Isis entered the lock. From now on all … Continue reading
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