In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Keens, Graham, VF UK - Technology (RO)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes >On Saturday I assisted Julian & Caro with the task of moving Parglena >down the G.U. towards London in preparation for their holiday. Well we have moved on since then.... Arrived at Park Royal last Sunday which is where I work and went back to work for a week. Friday night came and we had the task of getting to Bow locks by 10.30 Saturday morning to catch the tide. Fairly slow trip to Islington that night As we passed Camden there was a fight on the towpath just after Caro had walked down to the second lock! Tied up at Islington at 10pm. Away bright and early ( 6am) on the Saturday sun wasnt even up. Arrived Bow at 9am and did all the chores one has to do before a tidal passage. Lock keeper arrived early and we were on our way by 10.15. High tide was midday and the plan was to be at the Thames Barrier by then in fact we were early, caled London VTS for permission to pass the barrier and we were off. It was like a millpond on the Thames and we were travelling at a steady 7mph all the way down, the only problems were that before we got to QE2 bridge we had several motorboats come past us the other way and as for the first two I couldnt turn into the wash it made Parglena roll quite a bit. Maintained a listening watch all the way down so that I knew where all the big ships were They all passed us with very little wash and no problems. Just before we arrived off the entrance to the medway I heard Kingsweir Castle annonce that it was leaving Southend having been watching the Thames barge race that was on there. So we followed her back into the Medway allowing us to cut the corner across Grain Spit far closer than I had planned to. A container ship followed us into the Medway and one of its waiting escort tugs came alongside for a good look just to see what we were. Arrived at Queenborough at 5.30 to see the harbourmaster chasing a couple of Yachts off our reserved mooring. A long day but one of the best days boating that I have ever done.
Left Queenborough at 8am this morning and went down the Swale to Faversham arriving just before High Tide and tied up to the wharf just below Town Wharf outside what looks to be a wonderful Italian resturant. At the top of the tide a Thames Barge left Chambers Wharf just down from where we are what a wondeful sight. As the Tide has left we are now sitting on the mud awaitiing its return........ Staying here for a few days, got to visit the oldest brewrey in the country, and will be off again Wednesday with the tide and on up the Medway. One thing that I will say is that doing this trip without full charts would be a quite dificult as you really need to know where you are at any time. -- Julian Tether Barge Parglena e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
