A bridge too near

A boat trip to Windsor

A Bridge too near

On the River Thames embankment close to Windsor Bridge there is a jetty, for the patrons of the Christopher Wren Hotel. I was on the tow path,doing a drawing, when a huge ocean going motor launch came through the centre arch.

The tide was running fast and it came full throttle with a magnificent roar of engines and performed a graceful turn, to stop at the landing stage.

It was an impressive entrance for the Cap’n; he had white flannels, a blue blazer with gleaming brass buttons and a gold braided peaked cap. He cut the dashing figure of an English gentleman as he offered his hand to his companion and helped her onto the quay. She was a most glamorous female, most likely a fashion model from the way she stepped off the boat. She took the arm of her handsome escort and he helped her up the steps to the hotel.

They obviously had a good lunch, and they emerged some time later with the same elegance as before. They got aboard and cast off. They were about a boats length away from, and facing the bridge, with a strong current running behind them. Windsor Bridge is very low and the centre arch is the only one that river traffic can use. He would have to reverse at full thrust and get positioned exactly right, or he would sideswipe the bridge. Such a large craft would need very careful handling, as the river was running high. The bridge was crowded with watchers who knew this was a tricky piece of navigation, and were waiting to see if our particular sailor was up to the job.

When he started up his engines, instead of reversing into mid stream, he opted for full ahead and was commanding his boat from behind a smoky green screen, that was at least ten foot wide and came up to his chest height. He was heading for the right hand arch, which is much lower than the centre one. From where I was standing I could see that the arch was actually lower than his head. People started shouting at him but he was playing the role of gallant sea captain and quite oblivious to his surroundings, whether the lunch had anything to do with it I don’t know. Everyone watched with deadly fascination as he got closer and closer to the bridge.

At last he became aware of the situation and threw his engines into reverse. The river boiled as the props fought for a grip on that fast running current. All that happened was, instead of moving forward quickly, he began moving forward slowly, delaying the inevitable by putting the whole thing into slow motion. Talk about pride heading for a fall, even so I empathised with him because if I had been rich enough to try and impress a dolly bird in that way, it was just the sort of mess I would have gotten into.

The engines of that ocean going launch were no match for Old Father Thames in the mood he was in that day. Inch by inch the tide pushed that boat into the undersized arch until our Cap’n was close enough to reach over the screen and put his hands out and make a gallant but vain attempt to push the bridge to one side. Next came the most expensive crunching, splintering sound ever heard, as the beautiful screen folded in a way for which it was never designed. As it jammed fast and could penetrate no further, the force of the river began to swing the boat towards the buttress of the bridge. Dolly was sitting prettily on the aft deck of the boat watching the bridge get ever closer. He looked at her, “Get your feet out.” He yelled at her. She pointed a dainty toe over the side of the boat. Still the bridge came closer. “Get your legs right out you silly b***h.” His night was ruined now anyway. She removed her high heels and put her feet firmly on the wall. She obviously came from a tougher breed than our Cap’n, for I do believe it was enough to prevent. total disaster. The insurance may have accepted a smashed screen; but a ruined hull? What an end to his big day, I still cringe when I think about it.

A blackened old salvage tug arrived and towed what was left of the glamorous launch and crestfallen Cap’n, back into mid river and away from the scene of his humiliation. The crowd of onlookers raised a derisory cheer.

Reviews

[K.]

This was great! Your descriptions made me feel like I was sitting right there next to you, watching this scene play out. Your attention to detail made this piece incredibly interesting and nice to read, I was caught up in the story! Love your word choice as well. Great write!

[Beccy]

Enjoyed this. Pride always come before a fall.


Beccy.