Our Adventures — From the Beginning

The Log Book of Deux Poissons

Every adventure has a beginning. Ours involved a heritage Feadship, rather ambitious plans and a remarkable ability to underestimate how long anything involving a boat might take.

Here you'll find our adventures in chronological order, from early weekends away to longer voyages and life aboard on the Thames.

Choose a journey below and follow along, one story at a time.

And if you'd rather know what we're up to now, you can always return to the latest entries in our Log Book.

2018 — The Early Adventures

The early days of life aboard Deux Poissons. A little exploring, a little escaping, and the beginnings of our adventures together.

10 July 2018 — When Your Coffee Lights Up Your Life

21 December 2018 — A Much Needed Break!

2021–2022 — New Year in Cowes, Isle of Wight

After all the work, plans and inevitable boat-related interruptions, it was time to get away for a few days. Four diary entries take us through our New Year escape to Cowes, from setting off to heading home.

28 November 2021 — Adapting and Changing Plans

28 December 2021 — Time to Get Away for a Few Days

29 December 2021 — Day 1 — Off to Cowes, Isle of Wight to See Out 2021

30 December 2021 — Day 2 — Cowes, Isle of Wight

31 December 2021 — Day 3 — New Year's Eve

1 January 2022 — Day 4 — Hometime

2024 — Portsmouth to the Thames: Our Great Escape

After years of restoring Deux Poissons, we finally set off from Portsmouth to begin a new chapter of life on the Thames. There were unfamiliar harbours, long cruising days, London to navigate and plenty of adventures along the way.

The journey, day by day:

23 August — We Did It… We Are on Our Way!

24 August — Portsmouth to Brighton

25 August — Exploring Brighton

26 August — A Day in Brighton Marina

27 August — Brighton to Eastbourne

28 August — Eastbourne to Ramsgate

29 August — Ramsgate to Queenborough

30 August — Queenborough to Teddington — Through London

31 August — Teddington Lock to Thames Motor Yacht Club

1 September — Thames Motor Yacht Club to Sunbury-on-Thames

2 September — Sunbury-on-Thames to Baths Island

3 September — Baths Island to Windsor

4 September — Windsor Marina — Day 2

5 September — Windsor Marina — Day 3

6 September — Windsor to Cookham

7 September — Cookham to Sonning

8 September — Sonning to Reading Marina

9 September — Reading Marina

10 September — Time Spent in Reading

10 September — Time Spent in Reading

27 September — Gearbox Update and Police Visits

3 October — The Gearbox Returns, the Oil Leak Persists and the Rain Continues

2025 — France Plans, Thames Adventures and Plot Twists

A new boating season, fresh plans to head for France, and renewed enthusiasm for getting Deux Poissons travelling again. There were lovely days on the Thames, friends aboard, and preparations for the adventures ahead. Unfortunately, Deux Poissons had a few ideas of her own…

13 April — We Are Back…

18 April — A Little Run Up the River

19 April — Friends Joined Us for a River Run

28 April — En Route to Oxford

5 May — Visa Applications — The Beginning of Our Travels

10 May — Déjà Vu: Reading to Caversham and Back to Reading

28 June — Decision Made: Out with the Old, In with the New

2025 — A New Engine, Summer Adventures and London Calling

With the new engine finally installed, it was time to get back to what we'd bought Deux Poissons for in the first place: travelling! We enjoyed some beautiful summer days exploring the Thames, discovering historic towns, cycling, celebrating birthdays and occasionally finding ourselves in a pub or four. And then came a particularly special adventure — taking Deux Poissons into the heart of London for the St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival.

31 July — A Little Romantic Weekend Away (aka Engine Test Run)

1 August — A Birthday and a Few Days in Abingdon-on-Thames

30 August — Off to London Town and St Katharine Docks

31 August — Through Teddington and Onto London

25 September — A Reflection on Our Summer Travelling the Thames

2 October — Just One More Small Job…

2026 — Back on the Water and New Discoveries

Another winter behind us, and Deux Poissons was ready for more adventures. There were beautiful stretches of the Thames to explore, unexpected discoveries, and fascinating connections to her history.

7 April — She Survived the Winter!

2 May — Through the Goring Gap

3 May — Otters, Owls and Old Post Offices

22 May — A Journey We Never Expected

27 May — A Wheel Worth Waiting For

2 June — The Union-Castle Connection

2026 — Summer Adventures, Little Projects and Life Aboard

Summer brought vintage boats, new waterways, spontaneous outings and all the little projects that come with living aboard a 1959 motor boat. Sometimes we planned an adventure. Sometimes we only meant to go out for one night. And sometimes the boat simply had other ideas!

18 July — A Weekend with the Thames Vintage Boat Club

24 July — Making Every Inch Count — A Tiny Galley Storage Upgrade

26 July — Beyond the Familiar Entrance: Finally Turning into the Kennet and Avon

18 August — We Only Meant to Go for One Night

29 August — Three Days, Two Pubs and No Decanter Stopper

5 September — An Old Girl Goes to London

18 September — Autumn on Board