On Saturday evening a cruise boat and its crew were donated to enable the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust’s families, friends and supporters to spend an evening sailing down the river Thames. The boat travelled from Richmond to Hampton Court Palace and back again and as the Trust’s website designer I was invited to join the cruise.
Arthur the boat’s pilot let me steer for a while and whilst I enjoyed the experience, the boat was so responsive that it rather took the fun out of it: I’m used to driving a boat that needs almost constant adjustment of the wheel.
I saw quite a few narrowboats, including some that I’d passed recently on the canals. I’ve been feeling too nervous to venture out onto the Thames in my flat-bottomed narrowboat so I took the opportunity to check out the territory. It’s not possible to moor just anywhere for the night as you can do on the canals, and it can be some distance between suitable stops. Arthur pointed out places like above Teddington Lock and at Hampton Court where I could safely moor a boat and advised me to check the tides before venturing onto the river. Bristol Fashion needs a chain and rope attached to the anchor before going on the river but apart from that she’s ready to go. As soon as her owner gets braver.
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