Meandering gently upstream

A very short trip on Monday, just around the corner to Hampton Court moorings.   Plenty of space at our time of arrival although they were full by the evening.   Whilst they are in a very convenient place they are very uncomfortable moorings.   For a narrow boat the concrete quayside is just the wrong height. A lot of passing traffic going fast so despite the wide river here it creates a huge wash which bangs us against the side.   No amount of adjusting our warps provides any improvement.   

Barney is most unimpressed......just as he has settled himself along comes another boat jerking him awake!

Monday evening we had a very pleasant meal ashore with Gavin and Celia and Tuesday we made our first ever trip around Hampton Court Palace, thanks to Gavin.   I am not normally one for sightseeing but managed to spend most of the day there and found it fascinating.   I joined a tour of the gardens in the afternoon.  This was mainly about the history of the gardens through the reigns of the various monarchs.

Fantastic ceiling as you go up the grand staircase.

The privy Gardens

Nice cosy bed in William the thirds apartments.

Magnificient yew trees

An early start on Wednesday on a glorious sunny morning.....not many boats around at our time of the morning

Geoff working the lock as we are far too early for the lock keeper

We`ve passed a fair few floating houses but this one is rather opulent

Delightful mooring just beyond Shepperton lock for the evening followed by yet another early start.......when do I get a lie in???

The plan was to be in Staines and moor by the town Hall  so we could shop at Sainsburys and also the town.   Nothing wrong with the moorings apart from the fact that there were lots of groups of people gathering throughout the day and evening.   Unfortunately the chemist could not fill the whole of our prescriptions until the following day so we were forced into a night stop.   I was a little dubious about the situation but in fact there was no trouble much to my relief.

Another hop skip and a jump on Friday once again just round the corner to moor by a park where we have been before.   Barney in heaven here as there are lots of picnickers in the day so it is good scavenging ground!

Sadly no cafes close by serving our Saturday cooked breakfast.....so I had to do  it myself.   

After that it was a gentle trip up one lock and looking for shade...…….we were lucky just at the start of Runnymeade.    No facilities near here but a good park, lots of walking for Barney.

About turn at Kington

We eventually left Windsor last Tuesday, picked up fuel from Chris on the fuel barge Marchant and thence to Hampton Court.  The mooring charges here have not increased since last year which is a wonder.  Still £8 a night after the first 24 hours free.  Max 3 nights

We only anted the one night so that was ideal.  A very convivial evening as Gavin and Celia came aboard for the odd glass of wine or two after supper!

The castle from Eton bridge

and as we journey downstream.

 Lots of floating homes as we journey down stream which look idyllic in the sunshine and when the river is calm and low!

Petroc right on the end of the moorings at Kingston

Wednesday we moved round the corner to Kingston which is as far as we intended going.  All set for my two granny duty days and then a planned family weekend which was to start with Emma Boe and I going to see Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.....

Mooring charges here the same 24 hours free and up to 4 further nights at £8 a night.

Well....you know what they say about the best laid plans!!!

Boe started with a bug on the Friday and was in no fit state to go to the show.  Sadly we could find anyone who wanted to join us so Emma and I had an empty seat between us in a packed theatre.   Great show although we thought it a bit short as it finished begore 9.30 having started at 7.30 with an interval.

Saturday was planned for everyone to come out to Petroc for the day and supper on board as Emma and Dave only live 20 mins on the train from Kingston.   Sadly I succumbed to the bug on Saturday morning.   Emma, Kensa and I made it out to meet Geoff for breakfast (Boe still not recovered).   I had to beat a hasty retreat from the restaurant and made it back to the boat in time to collapse!

Supper on board cancelled although Emma and K stayed for the afternoon and had time with Geoff.......I was completely out of it by then.....

Sunday went ahead as planned although we had heavy rain in the morning but Boe Emma and Kensa made it out and Dave joined us for lunch.  An excellent (if somewhat expensive!) lunch in the Foresters pub in Hampton Wick.

All fully recovered now thank goodness...….so this morning we about turned and have started on the journey upstream.

Windy in Windsor

We were initially moored on the outside of Bell Island but with the forecast we decided to stay a couple of days extra and move to the inside where it was a little more sheltered.    

Thursday saw our visitors arrive, Anne & Graham.

A very relaxing day, a few beers at the pub for the menfolk, 

catching up on reminiscences of their time stationed together in Canada over 40 years ago!!!

Followed by al fresco lunch and much chatter

Quiet mooring away from the crowds

Cannot believe the price of ice cream just across the water from our mooring

Dearer than Henley!

The wind caused some damage to trees but thankfully nothing major.

In fact the promised bad weather has not been nearly as bad as forecast, at least for us.    Very windy and a few sharp showers but nothing like the storms we were expecting.


Should have been on our way today but Geoff is slightly under the weather so have delayed another day.

Goodbye Cookham, Hello Windsor

Very cosy space

Whilst I was still away granny sitting Geoff moved Petroc from our rough mooring in the field.   We were expecting visitors on Monday and the climb down into Petroc was not one to present visitors with.  He had been watching for a space on the good moorings and eventually sped a space on Saturday morning.   A very speedy departure (so I was informed) so that he reached the space before anyone else!!!   I dread to imagine his thoughts if this had happened...…….

Giles called in on Sunday and we had a good breakfast together in the Italian Café opposite the station.

Monday brought our visitors Anne & Keith and Anne`s sister Mags.  An extremely pleasant day catching up and the weather was obliging being not too hot for us all to sit out most of the day, apart from our trip to the Ferry pub for lunch.

All good things come to an end and after a week here we up sticks early on Tuesday morning bound for Windsor.    Through the first 3 locks before the lock keepers were on duty and watered etc at the last.

On arrival at Windsor our preferred moorings on the outside of the island looked full but closer inspection revealed a Petroc size space just waiting for us.  A speedy 180 weaving between passing boats put us in nicely.   Geoffrey very happy!!!

The theoretical plan is to depart here on Friday BUT we have seen a weather forecast which talks of very heavy rain and strong winds SO there may be a delay!!

Total distance:9.41 miles 

Elapsed time:3h54m20s 

Locks:4 Bridges:6
Average speed:2.41 mph (3.43 lock/mph)