General Chat

(see below)

Having just read Three Men in a Boat, about three men and a dog who explore the Thames by boat, I wondered how many of us on here go messing about on the river. I am quite near the River Medway, in Kent, and there is a paddle steamer that does trips from Rochester and a couple of boats that travel along the Medway from Maidstone. Friends have taken boating holidays, and I have always been envious of the people that I see going through the nearby lock on pleasure boats, it looks such an idyllic life What do you think? Have you any experiences, good, bad, or even funny.

Good job I haven't gone messing about on our river. We got a new state of the ark ferry boat over to Knott End. Keeps breaking down now needs 20K spending on it. Germaine x

Dee, Was this not made into a tv program with Gryff Rhys Jones and two other 'celebs' last year? Raven

As soon as I saw the title of the thread, it took me right back Dee. OH decided we would have a week on Norfolk Broads, like he and his mates had done a couple of years before. Too many stories.......we decided to moor up early to get into a pub on the bank. We went in and acknowledged the locals, but they were silent, not friendly at all. We stayed there however, and soon the pub was filled with other holidaymakers. We went out to go to bed, but hadn't realised that other boats could tie up alongside, in front and aft, blocking you in....... We had to spend the night with people giggling and sprawling across our boat in order to get to theirs...........did a lot of silly things that holiday...... Another one......OH went to sleep and left me with the tiller......ahead I saw all these sails........later found out it was a regatta..........I literally barged my way through, with little boats capsizing left and right, and a lot of angry people.......well, I didn't know what to do, did I......... OH was very angry at me for not stopping before......

That's not good Germaine It most certainly was Raven, and was brilliant I have been on a course about the Thames and the book was part of the suggested reading, it's quite good Dee ;-)

Morning, Dee ... :-) I had a holiday years ago on the Norfolk Broads and really enjoyed it. Very relaxing. Also, I just love the Thames, in London, walking by it, and on a boat, and the history of it. Joy

I'm planning on going white water rafting in Whistler in the fall. I'll let you know what happens. I'm going to conquer my fear of water. But first I have to fly (next week) so will be conquering, or trying to overcome that one first. Deb (already did the heights one zip trekking)

We go messing about on the River regularly, we live right next door to the River Lee! AL

Sally, that sounds more like the holiday from hell than an idyllic meander along the river ;-)) Joy, I already knew a reasonable amount about the Thames in Kent and London so the course was interesting as I found out more about the bits the other side of London to me. Back in the 1800's the ancestors of my Dad's adopted family were lighterman and waterman, so I wanted to find out more about what their lives would have been like ;-)))

AL, I used to live near the River Lee. Rye House and The Fish 'N Eels pub ring any bells with you?? ;-)))

Oooo Dee, it's the ONE thing I have always wanted to do if I ever got to England - go on the narrow boats along the canals and waterways. Hubby's hobby is restoring wooden clinker boats - putt putts! He is doing a 16 footer at the moment. Next year on his long service leave we plan to boat down the Murray River. Since starting FH, I have found out that my ancestors built boats - Pellatt and Brindley and that a Brindley built a lot of the canals. Sent chills down my spine when I discovered that! Vonny

Dee it would have been a lovely holiday on the Norfolk Broads if we had followed the rules, but we were only about 21 and full of mischief.........I'll only say that it's a wonder Potters Heigham Bridge is still standing !!.....

Hi Dee Yes go to them both - especially like the Fish and Eels in Summer (although it does get crowded). Live the next stop along on the train (St Margarets). AL

AL I used to go to a dance at a pub not far from that station when I was a teenager, and then when I was slightly older to a pub at the corner of Caple?? Lane in Stanstead Abbots Think if I remember rightly Steve Marriot (Small Faces) lived round there at some point Dee ;-)) Vonny, can I come with you on that trip??? John, people are too scared to let their children play out like that these days aren't they? Keep the stories coming folks, I will be back later ;-)))

Dee - my Trelawney Fletcher was a lighterman's apprentice. I wrote about him in my have you trod in their footsteps thread. I visited the Waterman's Hall not long ago. Oops, must go or I'll be late for work.... :-)

I have to admit I like to walk (used to cycle) and sit by rivers and lakes, love to look at water but a holiday in a boat is not my scene. The nearest I have got is a trip on the canal at kidlington near Oxford on a friends narrow boat, where they did all the work and we sat and drank the wine on a lovely sunny day a couple of years ago. Or the steamer across Windemere. I enjoy walking along the tow path of the Gloucester Sharpness canal and looking at all the narrow boats as they chug along. And yesterday I enjoyed sitting by the River Severn for a couple of hours (while in a pub garden having lunch). (Mind you the river Severn is not a river to be messed about 'in') I have been round the Broads but mostly all I can remember is the smell of the fuel in the boats, so strong it made me feel quite ill. and now Dee I have that song buzzing around in my head and can't get rid of it Lol!!! Ann Glos

I love spending time by the river, it is so relaxing, and your idea of laying back and enjoying some wine while someone else does all the hard work, sounds brilliant Ann ;-))

Dee Was it the Red Lion on the corner of the High St & Capel Lane? It's still there and still has discos! AL

Hi AL, that's the one, I drove int it once, literally, took the turning into the car park at the wrong angle and hit the edge of the pub. Didn't do the car much good but hardly dented the pub at all. I think the one near the station was next to a coach hire company, but I am going back a good few years. ;-)))