PS Waverley Cruise- London to Southend 7/10/13

[thewharfonline]

Hello All!

As many of you know I'm now living in London, working in the theatre, and so far it's been a fantastic 7 and a half months (yep, time flies!)

I also thought it was about time I started to see what all the fuss was with these British ocean-going paddlers, which all seems like a bit of a foreign concept to me.

Subsequently I have booked myself onto a PS Waverley cruise on Monday the 7th of October sailing from London to Southend (a location I'm also yet to visit, so that should be fun!) Monday's are my only days off, so it was good to see there was a cruise that day.

The cruise departs at 09:00 and returns to London at 19:45, and I'm throwing open an offer to see if anyone is also free that day and wants to go cruising and swap paddler stories from different sides of the globe. Would love to catch up with anyone that's available.

Hope to see you on board.

Sean

[Roderick Smith]

See if my PS Canberra post brings waves of homesickness to Sean, or has he been transported for life?

I haven't been to UK for years, and won't until the ripoff airport surcharge to pay for the Olympics is removed.  I will try to work my next program around at least PS Waverley, but hopefully some of the other survivors.  In my 2006 Europe, I got a good coverage of Swiss lake paddlesteamers.

In the 1960s, a pioneering satirical tv show had a wonderful sketch of Australians living in 'Kangaroo Valley', receiving a tape recording of nostalgic noises from home.
I can remember only one.
'That's the crunch when you stand on the plastic toy from the cornflakes packet which the kids left on the floor'.
That may have predated the era of riptops on beer cans: triangular openers were still the rage, and the sound of one of those may have been included.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[mjt60a]

I'll probably be there 

[Bob Golder]

Hi Sean,  From past experience, if you ask the purser he will make an announcement asking paddleducks members to meet at a place and time on board specified by you.  I suggest the bar.

[thewharfonline]

A paddle steamer with a bar... now this I can get behind.

[James.McD]

A paddle steamer with a bar... now this I can get behind.

What's wrong with the Emmylou? It has a bar!!

That was the one thing I missed out on when I was in the UK a couple of years ago, but there is always a next time!! Enjoy the trip - plenty of photos!

[thewharfonline]

Well Monday is approaching steadily, and I must say I'm so excited. Have been under the weather over the past week, but the idea of going Paddle Steaming on Monday has me feeling a bit better. I have a feeling it's going to be quite different to my usual paddler experience too!

If the cruise departs at 9am, what time will they start boarding?

[derekwarner_decoy]

Well we hope you enjoy your day Sean.................. ...................Derek

[Roderick Smith]

Sean, please ask the captain or the engineer what provision is made for towing the ship dead.
Is there a dog clutch?  Is there an unboltable bit in the drive train?

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[mjt60a]

hopefully, I'll be going too! I don't have a ticket but it's usually possible to purchase one from the pursers office - providing the ship isn't fully booked, we'll see tomorrow....

re- the towing question, there is a flange on each end of the drive shaft with 8 (12?) bolts connecting it to the paddle wheels sinilar to the arrangement on this model engine (below) removal of the bolts would disconnect the drive....
....tattershall castle had a short length of shaft, on both sides, with a flange at either end which was removed so the engine could be rotated (electrically as it was already a static exhibit) this gives a large clearance between the ends of the engine shaft and paddlewheels, waverley probably has the same under the floor... 

[Roderick Smith]

Now to spend the evening practising sentimental favourites, ready for the singalong at the bar on the way home:
Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EUytEX_XkE>
We'll meet again: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvgM_xcx2GI>
Cruising down the river: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8xVFJF7F1c>
Row row row: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FRct4wiK-4>
Steamboat Bill: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=InZVbcPrawA>
Ferryboat serenade: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK-Fiq01G20>
Your expected Australian colonial contribution: Botany Bay <www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDmW7m43rYw>
Rose Bay ferry: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm6FLf_0rI0>
Ferry cross the Mersey: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=08083BNaYcA>
Bon voyage: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=inG4Iq2aiPM> [If I had had one more year at the school where I directed musicals, 'Anything goes' would have been my next'].
Ruler of the queen's navy: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzgaPEm-HYA>
Proud Mary, rollin on a river: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-2Of9aznxg>
Old folks at home (a tearjerking version): <www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN0eFJxf_Vk>
And some scots, just right for a Waverley voyage:
Mull of Kintyre: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFRcMYjut4o>
Skye boat song (Speed bonnie boat) <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuugoISmrmY>
Ol man river: <www.youtube.com/watch?v=43HYIB-9DlE>, which was my contribution to concert night on a Yangtze River voyage.

I came across Lake Wakatipu (Queenstown, NZ) on TSS Earnslaw once, and was the only person on the boat who couldn't sing 'Po kare kare ana' on the way home.
<www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITee3lUKYmc>

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[thewharfonline]

Hopefully she's not fully booked Mick, I figure it's a Monday so the chances are probably good.

I'll be the young one, by myself, armed with a camera, and probably wearing a tan double breasted jacket, unless the weather is a little more sour, but I think it's going to be ok!

So excited. Have been counting down the hours today, and telling everyone at work. No one shared my enthusiasm.

[Roderick Smith]

I am not sure if we are on 10 h or 11 h time difference now that Australia has started daylight saving.

Sean might be on his was to the docks already.  Here's hoping for jolly boating weather:
Jolly boating weather,
And on offshore breeze
Paddles on the feather
Barman serve us please
Sing sing together
Our cameras aimed at the seas
Sing sing together
Our cameras aimed at the seas.
<www.youtube.com/watch?v=leU1kbtIZUI>

Men of Waverley (too rowdy):
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcpjGb20SIo>

Those in peril on the sea (too solemn):
<www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KCiMdR1ox0>

I do like to be beside the seaside (fun):
<www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPQ3cpn-Unc>

More sentiment:
Red sails in the sunset <www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHtBZZLqLf4>

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[djt]

hi

 enjoy your sail today, I booked to go on it from Llandudno n wales in june and september but they had to cancel due to pier work not being complete  so really envey you .maybe next year  if they still have the funding to run her. just have to look at my model for now.

david   

[thewharfonline]

What an absolutely fantastic day, and despite the worrying foggy start, beautiful weather in the end, perfect cruising weather.

Also fantastic to have a Paddle Ducks meet up this side of the pond with Mick. Great to talk about boats all across the UK and Europe as well as a little bit about Aus boats too. Downloading my photos from the day now- before I could back to London both my camera and phone had already died.

Travelling through the Tower Bridge at night though was truly something very special.