the Thames mini 'Gull Rally

Horsley-Anarak · Post by **Horsley-Anarak** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:14 pm

"Are you local?"

I do promise that I and none of my family will dress up.

H-A

Post by **Charles uk** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:47 pm

There will be a minimum standard of dress required.

All middle aged men will be required to wear trousers & some form of covering over their upper torso's, footwear is optional as we might expect Cornish visitors.

RBT stillettos are not considered suitable for boating.

Children, wives & bits of fluff may dress as they see fit.

rosbullterier · Post by **rosbullterier** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:20 pm

I only wear wetsuit with party hat at all times.

When might the 'which day' decision be made? I would need to ensure an outboard which works.

I am gathering together a gaggle of avid stationary engine sitters (pipes, thick glasses, rambling yarns, knitted jerseys, oily trousers) to share the petrol.

And their Floosies. An adequate description of their proposed attire is under discussion. Lets hope it will be warm.

timberman2004 · Post by **timberman2004** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:44 pm

OK....OK apologies for delay

25th (sat) it is, at the Ferry Lane site
I've warned all and sundry to keep clear of the area

sniffing in Seagull fumes can have an effect similat to drinking Cornish water ...and Ye Gods RBT does both

Sorry but I just have a mental picture of Jethro x'd with Dame Edna Everage plonking down the lane in little gold lame number, chucking glads with one hand and a 'gull over the other shoulder

and as stationary engines have been raised << coughs discreetly>> um...1923 Amanco hit & miss 1+3/4 HP water cooled Chore Boy completely original....sort of acting as nest mother to the now 15 Gulls

Oh crap ...it's got worse than I thought

timberman2004 · Post by **timberman2004** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:53 pm

Hi All

been asked by Charles L regarding timings ..

Gosh you are all so keen !!!

well, we thought at about the 10:00 am mark to kick off with a bit of pottering about ...

up to the pub for a bit of lunch ..liquid or otherwise ...

then down to British Seagull after that to get Jackie to buy us all ice-creams

I tell ya ...this is living !!!!!

Post by **Charles uk** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:30 am

It would be nice to know who is planning on coming on Saturday with a motor that they would like to use, but without a hull to put it on (long or short shaft).

So we can see how many extra hulls might be needed.

timberman2004 · Post by **timberman2004** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:06 pm

can't help with an extra hull ...unless someone has a little 40 they want to try out on my inflatable

yes it's the model with real hair, and a facial expression of permanent suprise

that said ...moving swiftly on , happy enough to share my boat for a bit if someone want to give their engine a spin ...14ft Kittiwake 700 lbs just so you know

Post by **Charles uk** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:30 pm

Well you missed a brilliant day on the Thames, if you weren't there.

Wait for 40 tpi's pics.

Horsley-Anarak · Post by **Horsley-Anarak** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:26 pm

There we were being towed up the Limpopo, having had a very nice lunch.
On route for tiffin, when we were overtaken by a speedboat with a seagull on the back

Still need 40tpi's pics

A good day.

H-A

Post by **RickUK** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:26 am

Lovely July day on the river (and pub!) Had a Seagull with me - overlooked the small matter of a boat! - worked my passage (!) on the gaff cutter. Rick.

timberman2004 · Post by **timberman2004** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:36 pm

Ahhhh ...'twas a gorgeous sunlit day ....

And for all those wondering ....yes we all broke down in one way or another..... the vicarious Bo*&^llocks of seagulls suddenly deciding they didn't want to play

H-A, with his beautifully polished and impeccably presented ...um ... non runners..<<snigger>>
Mrs H-A and the little H-A's particularly long suffering with Dad's attractive and shiny,....but non-operational toys... (but the boat DID float )

But H-A, armed with no more than a std pull cord, and a right arm that Schwarznegger would be proud of, pulled himself relentlessly 5 nautical miles upstream, barely raising a sweat

Charles L ...when he finally got THE THING going,... with the wierdest sky-blue Heath Robinson lash-up of bits ...1/2 jet engine, 1/2 traction engine, bolted to the stern of a decked over plywood slipper

Quite amusing as he sped past us all ... like a crazed dwarf in a match-box tray. Roll-up fag adhered to bottom lip burning up at a rate of a metre per second

40 TPI doing grand service as mother hen to the breakdowns, tugging us ...me particularly ...out of weeds, the current, and other associated river hazards

I was particularly grateful to have Rick aboard ....y'can never have too much ballast...

..but a great help on the helm when 'dipping' the mast to get under bridges

My old vessel, the TeaBag, very handy design really ..when it's all gone ping-tong, to be able to securely spear the bowsprit into the rushes, so one can calmly panic over the next step to recover your street cred, cursing the lump of alloy dangling frustratingly silent off the stern

rosbullterier · Post by **rosbullterier** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:58 pm

Gosh - sounded wonderful. I'll ensure I get out of the baking and digging for the next time . . .

40TPI · Post by **40TPI** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:15 pm

Some pics of the day on the river...............sorry most contain pictures of rope....

Click to enlarge.......

On the way to lunch.... first of many pics of a tow rope.........!

Don't mention the rope ........just focus on the great MK2 homebuilt hull..

Word of a vintage Seagull rally obviously spread ahead of the event ! Joined by some vintage steam!

The Seagull flotilla makes good progress toward the pub.....blue sky and sunshine..............the tow rope isn't quite visible in this shot......

Location, location, location..... (framed by a tow rope.....) General consensus being that this would be a most desirable place to house your Seagulls....

"............The experienced Seaguller attempts a full ignition re-time on the move with confidence ....."

"Of course there's masses of headroom ..........." (No tow rope in this shot)

Utter relaxation....... nothing to surpass cruising an English river in summer sunshine....feet up and anticipating lunch and some real beer..........

Refreshed after a good lunch we are certainly seen and heard leaving the pub.........

Byee....! (Apparently not on full song... twice as much hull in water than there should be.....)

Teabag says goodbye to the yoghurt pots and gin palaces still moored at the pub......

The words to this went something along the lines of how long is piece of string used as a tow rope.......

Lots of tow ropes in this one...... Recreating the classic British Seagull advertisement... not quite enough boats and bodies but Timberman's Silver Century showed no signs of flagging..........

Thanks to Timberman for the hard work in scouting a great venue and also to Charles for use of a hull. Have to do it again!

Peter

timberman2004 · Post by **timberman2004** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:01 pm

Chaps ....

It was an absolute pleasure ...and really no work at all to identify a bit of a slipway conveniently a mile or 2 from home ...absolutely anytime

P'raps a riverside BBQ next time ??

40TPI has been most gracious in not including shots of the erstwhile heroic TeaBag being tugged out from under branches and out of reed beds when powered by some of the less than reliable members of the 'nest'

Post by **John@sos** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:57 pm

Or is a bunch of flocking Seagulls?

Either way SOS and the local brewery sales manager Jim are attempting to organise a gathering or flocking of Gulls for next spring on the river Crouch at North Fambridge Essex. Venue sorted but date to be arranged,.

From all the pics looks like you had great fun. hope for similar weather on the salty sea at North Fambridge....

Intend a trip up to the head of navigation at Battlesbridge, for a swift half in the 'Barge', before a run back to meet again in the 'Ferryboat' pub at north Fambridge. Food will be available there too.

Plenty of launching, parking and trailer space.

Lots more later.

john

Saving Old Seagulls

the Thames mini 'Gull Rally

Dress Code

Seagull Flock-in on the Crouch