A week on the Thames

Bill Howlett recalls a blissful holiday filled with gymnastics, locks and a very curious cow

- Bill Howlett

In 1972 my sister, Sue, three of her girlfriends and Richard, a mutual friend, went on a holiday on the River Thames, all of us aged between 19 and 22. What could possibly go wrong? We picked up the cruiser just below Windsor Old Lock and after brief training set off west with the aim of reaching Lechlade, the farthest navigable part of the river, and returning one week later, which the marina owner said wasn’t usually achievable. Now there was a challenge!

Just before the entrance to Windsor Old Lock there was a weir stream joining the river and creating interesting currents that seemed to move the boats around in unpredictable directions. Just below the weir stream is a narrow bridge with only room for a single boat to pass through at any one time.

We were trying to hold position near the weir stream, having successfully navigated the bridge, when we heard a commotion behind us. A small cruiser had managed to get itself at right angles to the river underneath the bridge. The helm was shouting at his crew to grab the boat hook and run forward to push the bow away from the side of the bridge. At the same time, he put the engine into reverse. He then shouted at her to run to the back of the boat and push off against the bridge wall, at which time he put the boat into forward gear. This happened twice more before she flung the boat hook down and, screaming some rude words, disappeared into the cabin. He then did the sensible thing and cut the engine to allow their boat to drift out of the bridge on the current. We were then able to enter the lock with the small cruiser coming in behind us.