River Thames This Weekend

[LURCHER]

Missed you guys as we went down on Friday . launched at Putney hard very steep but no problem with our Isuzu ,I expect it would be a strugle with a 2wd car . Just downstream of Wandworth bridge we spotted an 8'x4' sheet of ply just below the surface , a few moments later we met one of the RNLI boats and stopped for a chat mentioned the plywood and they commented that they too had seen it but had not done anything about it ! Uneventfull trip down to Greenwich fun to watch the gps Long. unwind as you approach the meridian . Stopped off at St Katherines dock for a beer and lunch . Couple of guys in a very old tug type boat told us it was Ok to leave alongside a Thames sailing barge so we had a relaxed lunch in some wine cellar full of city boys in suits ! back up to Putney at speed still waiting to hit the ply and then a lovely crawl back down the M3 home with all the other lemmings .

[timw]

Not much can be done about the debris, but it seems to be getting better, and there is different amounts at different states of tide

[CJL]

The amount of debris on the Thames is reducing cause Thames 21 (a charity) and the Port of London Authority have put trash screens in place. They empty them fairly regularly but it is not really the solution. People need to stop throwing stuff in the river.

We hit a one tonne builders bag at 40mph and were very lucky we had a big knife on-board (though I got told by a copper the other day it was illegal for me to store it in my car, in a dry box with the lid on!) No damage except to our pride!

The big stuff is few and far between nowadays but there is some on occassions. We have found a fridge on a previous trip but the Met Police we happy to take it off our hands. I suspect the RNLI would have liked to take the aforementioned debris but there are limited places to get rid of rubbish.

Chris

[timw]

CJL,

River Police had a "little chat" with me after the photo sessions by Parliament.

Got a bit too close he said.

Did they catch up with you?

Got any Pics?

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by timw

River Police had a "little chat" with me after the photo sessions by Parliament...Got a bit too close he said...

You're joking! That's outrageous!

[timw]

Originally Posted by Richard B

You're joking! That's outrageous!

Yes...the pesky River Rossers!

...In front of several thousand tourists on the bridge and by the Eye.

Sirens and Blue lights...very embarrassing!

[Richard B]

Did they give you a documented reference to qualify why you were "a bit too close"? And did he qualify why you came under his jurisdiction for using blue lights and interrrupting your journey?

I wonder how many terrorists in a Ribeye that legend in his own lunchtime has seen?!? (you weren't wearing hag-head gear and waving water pistols were you?)

[CJL]

Pulled by the cops! Tut tut!

We weren`t pulled. That said they know me and my boat.

The exclusions zone is supposed to be 50m so unless you went inside that (which you didn't) they should'nt have stopped you. You have to play ball with them. The tiny little ducks and the toursit launches r always closer and they never get pulled. I suspect a load of foriegn tourists are a greater risk than two ribs which they both know. That said I`m not a counter terrorist expert!

Chris

[timw]

I was quite humble but I don't why!

They told me that they did indeed know my boat as had seen me out on it a number of times over the summer but hadn't got around to pulling me over to check me out.

Then they asked for my name, date of birth, place of birth address, where the boats moored and radioed to some HQ somewhere to find out if I had form...which I didnt.

Then I was told always to mind my wash (despite the faster it goes the less wash there is) as it could rock the tourist boats!

I think they were a little bored!

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by timw

I was told always to mind my wash (despite the faster it goes the less wash there is) as it could rock the tourist boats!

Have you seen how much wash some of the commercial traffic make? Lunchtime boozers on the Tattershall Castle think we've had a couple too many as they go past!

[timw]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Have you seen how much wash some of the commercial traffic make? Lunchtime boozers on the Tattershall Castle think we've had a couple too many as they go past!

Sounds like you're a local boozer.

Why do we never see your magnificent vessel in the Capital?

[Richard B]

Well, "The Castle" sort of became a second office over the summer!

Blue Ice doesn't get towed around because we don't really have a suitable vehicle fot the job

[CJL]

Here are some extra pics of our day on the Thames.

Sorry about the quality but it keeps telling me the photos are too large.

If you want good quality ones PM me.

Chris

[LURCHER]

This is a pic of our Ribcraft alongside the pontoon at St Kats we stayed here for a couple of hours with no charge which must be a record in Central London . The RIB looks tiny against Tower Bridge !

[peteb]

Looks good fun, but longer than I thought to get there from Chatham!

[CJL]

Latest threat to National Security

[timw]

That's it !!!!...that's why I got stopped by the Rossers!!!