Martins Lake session...

[Capn Jack]

Are you sure you have enough work to do young man??

I'd hate to think how that car will ever get all that salt out.

[jokaboat]

Not so dramatic but we had a similar problem launching over Sandown beach some years back.

Oh the joys of soft sand and an incoming tide, coupled with a Land Rover 101 that lost 4WD

[Capn Jack]

coupled with a Land Rover 101 that lost 4WD

Ooops!

I've not done a beach launch for absolutely years and years and then we were attached to a shore winch, you know those rusty old heaps you see lying at the top of the shingle beaches and wonder if they work or have ever worked for that matter.

[mlines]

Just a reminder that this is two weeks away.

Everything is booked.

If any still wants to come along either to socialise, spectate or bring a boat you are welcome (if bringing a boat then let me know so we can plan, we currently have 3)

Watch out for an update next week with directions to the site. Its in the Thames Valley and is easily reached by most forms of transport.

[betty boop]

Im prepared - sort of- I've booked a day off work at least

[Capn Jack]

Nearly done, haven't had a lot of time lately but cracking on. U bolts ordered, wheels off, tyres to be ordered this morning, fitted in the next few days. New brake cable wire and clevis's to order, new washers for rollers, but cannot find the right size........ID 26mm OD 55mm. Then I need some new mooring warps, fenders, 1 or 2 new cleats, new camping canvas, repair the fitted cover (down to those mice), .............and so it goes on!!

Off Tuesday, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, but visiting mother Tuesday, leaving Wed & Thurs to finish. So I'm going to do the minimum to get her there safely.

[Brit Rider]

Just a quick one... Did you guys manage to get anything sorted with Matt Crowhurst? I chatted to him about it, and i see he signed up to the forum a couple of hours later, but I've not seen any posts from him regarding this one...

Mike

[mlines]

Well as promised, with a week to go, here are the details.

If anyone still wants to come and hasn't waved their hand then let us know!

TIMES

The lake is booked from 10am to 3pm (5 hours). We will be turning up just before 10 to start using the slipway. Only one boat is allowed to use the lake at a time but the others can be moored up on the pontoons or anchored

LOCATION

The location is Taplow Lake, the home of Taplow Board and Ski, the map is HERE

My contact number will be "PM me", Mike fromTBNS will be there so the phone numbers on the TBNS site will be available as well.

DIRECTIONS

Although the site address is Amerden Lane I WOULD NOT SUGGEST YOU USE THIS IN A SATNAV, this is because this lane is now split with the middle section being pedestrian only and the SatNav takes you to the wrong end and turning a boat trailer around will be exciting.

Instead, if you are using a SatNav either put in Barge Farm or the Junction of Berry Hill and the A4.

From M4 Junction 7 leave the motorway and follow the slip road off. At the end is a roundabout with the A4, turn left to Maidenhead and Taplow. Cross over the "Sainsburys" Roundabout and continue along and go under the mainline railway bridge (DO NOT BE TEMPTED BY "AMERDEN LANE" sign by Railway bridge!) Carry on a short distance past a Shell Petrol station and Syntner BMW to a set of lights. Turn left at the lights into the narrow lane, ignore the "BRIDLEWAY" signs. Continue under the Railway bridge and still ignore the BRIDLEWAY signs. You will see the lake on the left but continue down the narrow lane until the site gates appear on the left.

From Maidenhead, go through the town on the A4 and cross the Thames. Carry on to the lights with Syntners BMW in front of you, you have to turn right at these lights into a narrow lane and this is not an easy turn and is unpopular with other cars as it is something they rarely see at these lights. In the narrow lane, ignore the "BRIDLEWAY" signs. Continue under the Railway bridge and still ignore the BRIDLEWAY signs. You will see the lake on the left but continue down the narrow lane until the site gates appear on the left.

By Train: For anyone coming for a ride and social meet it is very easy to get to by train. Taplow station is a short walk away and trains to Taplow can be caught by changing from the Mainline trains at Reading, Maidenhead, Slough and Paddington.

FOOD

There is a small kitchen on-site so Tea and Coffee are available, along with a limited number of snacks. The Shell station just out on the A4 has a COSTA coffee and if you came in form M4 Junction 7 you passed a Sainsburys.

RULES

Boat Restrictions
ONE boat on the lake at any one time
All boats up to 21 foot permitted, all engines (Inboard, Outboard, Petrol, Diesel, LPG) permitted
All boats should meet reasonable noise limits (no through hull exhausts)
All boats must PROVE suitable 3rd party insurance.
Boat testing permitted, subject to having insurance.
When ski-ing/towing suitable Skiing insurance must be held and PROVED.

Activity Restrictions
All towing activities permitted (Skiing,Wakeboarding,Ringos)
Multiple towing (two ringos etc.) is NOT PERMITTED
Multiseat towing (ie. a 3 person ringo) IS PERMITTED up to the certified specification of the device.

Please make sure you bring your insurance with you!

WHATS THERE?

We did a recce the other weekend.

As you can see there is a clubhouse with decking, you can sit in the clubhouse or out on the decking.

There are pontoons to moor up on

The slipway is steep and narrows at the bottom. It is quite likely that wider trailers will drop a wheel of the side but the bottom appears to be gravel and I do not anticipate an issue. There will be at least 2 4x4's and the site also has a Jeep.

and the lake itself!

And here is a bit of video.

[Capn Jack]

Martin

For security reasons I've taken out your phone number and asked people to PM you. Posts are plastered all over Goggle and we are still getting 20-40 spammers per day, which you guys don't see because they are getting deleted.

[mlines]

No problem, but that is my "public" phone number for my Internet business so its quite widely published anyway and I wasn't too worried about it.
Martin

[Matt13]

I'm so looking forward to this!!

[salamis]

I'm still hoping to come along to watch the goings on and to meet you all and put faces to names.
Only problem is my leave is booked on an automated system that is refusing all leave leading up to the olimpics whether or not we are directly involved, but all things equal I should get there OK.

[Capn Jack]

Martin,
If you want to put it back you're very welcome, alternatively I'll pop it back for you.

I was down that way today visiting mother, so I called into the lake on the way back. Goodness, you are sooo right about finding it and Sat Nav........FOLLOW MARTINS INSTRUCTIONS EVERYONE.... and you'll find it.

What I would say though is when you turn into the lane by Sytners traffic lights and go under the bridge, you go straight on, as Martin has said go along the Bridle path, don't turn left into the bit with the roadsign which indicates Amerden Lane, it's for the houses and tiny.

Here are some pictures I took today.....just to whet your appetite

This is the narrow lane taken from the gates

Entrance to give you an idea for boat turning....

Quite a big clubhouse, I couldn't get the front, someone was doing some decking

Slipway, narrow but couldn't see the end which is good, no drop off.

Plenty of room to manoeuvre, the slip is round the trailer to the right

Plenty of parking too....

[jokaboat]

Well my plan is still on track to be there. Hopefully we'll finally meet Robbie. I'm just an obserber, not keen on getting wet

[Capn Jack]

Lost a day on Friday, long story, fact of life in getting older, mother not well, having to go over on Tuesday so a little behind in work on trailer. Might have to either not come because of family issues, or forgo some of the refirb I was doing.

Boat will need a little TLC but if necessary I'll just bring her over in an "almost done" state.