Author Archives: Ed Mortimer

About Ed Mortimer

I'm a retired school teacher, now living on my Dutch cruiser in France. I'm touring as much of the canals and river systems as I can. This blog describes what I do and where I've been. I did spend 5 years on first a narrowboat, and then this boat, in Britain.

Oct 5

  Richmond. This was the intermediate step between Hampton Court Palace, and the tidal Thames. All good. Had some shopping, and then a chance to ring the 12 in All Saints, Richmond. Nice bells, they had a full band, so … Continue reading

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Oct 1

PPFOTM. This is the Mortimer thing. More to post, but later… I’m off to Hampton Court Palace today, I hope.

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Sept 30

The Thames (continued) Well, after Windsor, what can I say? I moored at Staines (not remarkable, as I see it, in any way). Comfortable mooring and 1.5km walk to train station to catch trains to visit good friend I met … Continue reading

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Sept 25

The Thames (still continued) Well, Henley was a bigger disappointment than I expected. Besides having to pay for the mooring, no one showed for the promised ringing practice! Oh well, on to Marlow. Nice gentleman is a scruffy boat indicated … Continue reading

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Sept 20

The Thames (continued) What a week. Not too much boating travel, but a very large amount of boat stuff! Contradiction? Nope: I moved my boat about 6km total, but saw so much in terms of boat knowledge growth (and refurbishment!). … Continue reading

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Sept 13

The Thames. I’ve followed the river as it twists and turns, revealing different character and places around each bend. Above Oxford, low bank and very rural. The villages are set back- likely to avoid flooding, but the end result is … Continue reading

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Sept 9

The Head of Navigation on the Thames. Sounds iconic and important, right? Well, the reality is a little different today. The end of navigation is at the ‘start’ junction with the Thames and Severn Canal, which is moribund, though there … Continue reading

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Sept 6

An interesting break and then back at boating. I spent the last week helping my friend Nick, and shopping for a boat, round two. It was an interesting time, and I am glad to have had the break while Pat … Continue reading

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Sept 1

PPFOTM. It’s a Mortimer thing- the rest won’t understand… I’ve arrived in Devizes with my friend Nick and his boat ‘Pendragon’. We had a great trip across the Kennet and Avon, exploring the town of Newbury, the pumping house at … Continue reading

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August 24

The next chapter in boating. After getting the Boat Safety Inspection completed at Autherley Junction, we moved the boat up the Wolverhampton 21 locks, and found a mooring along the canal beside what we thought was a good pub. Turns … Continue reading

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