released from Hospital and on the move again

My safe and pleasant mooring whilst Geoffrey was being tended to in St Peters Hospital

My daily views

 Geoff kept hoping they would let him out daily but he was still there on Sunday night.   Meanwhile I had a great day on Sunday.  Son-in-law Dave and his mum and grandaughter came out to visit.  Tony Fletcher also called in.  We all took the ferry across to Weybridge and had an excellent lunch in the Minnow pub.   The original plan had been to go to the pub on our side, Thmames Court but we were disappointed when we reached there to find it shut due to staff shortages.   Still the ferry was a pleasant 4 minute ride which Kensa enjoyed, albeit somewhat expensive at £5 return!

Most of Monday was spent waiting to hear if Geoff could escape.  He eventually made it back to Petroc about 6pm.  He was loaded up with yet more pills and the propect of 2 outpatient appointments.  It appears that he had PAF (Pesistant Atrial Fibrillation and a small heart attack with minimal damage.    So could have been a lot worse.   Treatment was excellent, he reports, but the hospital very understaffed.

Tuesday was declared a rest day to regroup and consider next plan....no no must not plan.....

I had previously called Spelthorne Council and explained why we were overstaying on the mooring and they were great.   I could stay as long as I liked....within reason........

Today  Wednesday Geoff couldnt wait to be off!!!  We needed to top up with water and with the modification that has been done to seemingly all the water taps on the Thames, it is an exceedingly slow process.   We stopped before the first lock of the day at Chertsey but had to give up after an hour and a half.   Still not a full tank.  

Windsor here we come

Last lock of the day and getting quite busy now.

Boats everywhere when we neared Windsor.   Little boats, trip boats, just every sort.   We headed for the island where we have previously moored and initially thought we were out of luck but someone was looking after us as there was one place right on the end and its ideal.

The original idea was to have a rest day tomorrow and continue up river on Friday but we feel we are so lucky to find a place here and it is bank holiday weekend so we shall stay for the weekend.

So a much longer day than needed really but now we can relax

Stalled at Shepperton

 Made plans again…..fatal.

We thought we would go up to Windsor for the weekend……..until Geoff got up Thursday morning.   Pains in the chest again……..999 again…..we are getting our money’s worth from the NHS it’s year.

The ambulance was here in 10 minutes, it turns out their depot is just around the corner and we obviously hit it at a slack time.  We were very lucky as it was not at all like I have seen on the program Ambulance on TV where the wait is horrendous in some places.   He did spend all day in A & E before being taken to the ward and it did get busy with stretchers waiting in the corridor.

So he is presently residing in the Acute Cardiac Ward at St Peters Hospital in Chertsey.

They can’t get his heart rate down and can’t decide if he has had a heart attack or not.  He is cheerful enough to but says he is bored.  He has 5 inmates in his side ward and a fair bit of chat appears to go on.

I was allowed to visit yesterday which was a great experience.  I had to book a slot and on arrival I had to don plastic apron and plastic gloves.  Mask was already on.  No temperature taken though.

Meanwhile I am in a safe and pleasant mooring albeit not near shops.   Various friends have been great coming to visit and also take me shopping.   

We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Kingston to Shepperton

 Geoff enjoyed 5 days on hos own at Kingston whilst I made my monthly trip to London. 

We did interrupt his peace on Saturday when Emma Kensa and I went out to visit him.  We had a very good meal in the White Hart.

The weather was somewhat varied but luckily not too much rain.

Looking from Kingston bridge.   All sorts of craft.
To hire one of the electric small boats will set you back £80 an hour.

Afer my return on Tuesday morning we went a couple of mile around the corner to Hampton Court Palace.   With our impeccable timing we managed to find a mooring with no problem,  This surprised us as we had discovered there was a music festival on in the palace courtyard and we thought it might be full, especially as Geoff had earlier seen 6 big wide beams going up the river close together.    They cerainly hadnt all stopped at Hampton Court.   We did watch several others attempting to moor just in front of us later on, some successful some not.   

The only trouble witth the mooring here is that no matter how hard we try we continually bang against the wall with so many boats going past.   However, somewhat surprisingly, we were not disturbed by music from the festival.  

A dull start to Wednesday but we were off reasonably early (8.30) as we wanted to water above the first lock.   We wee too early for the lockeeper as they dont start until 9 but at least they are electric so not nearly as hard for Geoff as the Grand Union had been.   We had to wait for a boat ahead of us to finish watering and when we eventually hooked up discovered that it had a very slow flow and leaked like a sieve.   The lock keeper stopped to chat as he came on duty and told us that new taps had been fitted (something to do with an EU regulaion!!!!) which were causing the problem.    We eventually gave up at 10am before the tank was full.....

Houseboats galore......some very smart

Maybe too big for us.

Geoff was hoping we could moor just above Shepperton lock as there was a pub right there for his evening pint.   He was out of luck as we couldnt squeeze in, although I did try.   We were luckier just a little further on, loads of space and 24 hours free.   Sadly a longer walk back to the pub so Geoff stayed on board!  The dull day had given way to a beautiful afternoon if somewhat breezy.   The wind was blowing onto the shore and we watched a boat ahead having great trouble getting off much to the dismay, I suspect, of a couple of fishermen who were perched on the moorings at the end.

We have passed some lovely riverside houses which we do me nicely if someone could lend us a couple of million.   Some ultra modern and some just waiting for conversion!

The Thames at last

So goodbye Grand Union.   Geoff is not sorry to leave it he has not enjoyed it at all.   I am glad we have done it but his discontent was beginning to rub off a little.  Our feelings probably have been coloured slightly by health problems but speaking to other boaters we have heard the same complaints about long lines of overstaying moorers especially down the lower end.   That said we did have some nice moorings in places........so not all bad.    In my book anyway.

Since we had gone early we were one of the first two boats let through.   We were let loose at 3.15 and then the world was our oyster......

Brilliant run up to Teddington.   The sun shone but not too hotly, there was a lovely breeze and Petroc was away.   Great to be able to open up the throttle a bit.  

Different way to walk the dog!

Kellys Ice cream van on the shore was very tempting.
It was one of two we passed.

Lots of people out enjoying themselves on the water.   More people on paddle boards than we have seen in previous years.    There were quite a few in various places on the GU as well.

We had a short wait at Teddington as the lock was full but soon up and plenty of space on the moorings above.    The lock keeper kindly relieved us of £10.50 for the privilege.

We are resigned to the fact that now we are on the Thames will will pay in more places that not.

Today Thurday we waited until after coffee to move in the hope that it would be a good time to arrive at Kingston.   This proved to be the case and we are now snugly tied up in a spot that meets with Geoffs approval.   I am off to London  until Tuesday although Emma and I will probably come out on the train with grandaughter on Saturday to see Geoff.   Lovely to be so close, just 1/2 hour on the train.

Mooring here is 1 day free and then £8 a night for up to 4 more nights.

Here endeth the Grand Union Canal

Old Father Thames here we come.

 Well not until 1545 this afternoon.    Out with the tide we shall go up to Teddington.     

Monday we reached the top of Norwood locks which appears to be in the area of Southall.    We had previously  stopped at Bulls Bridge to shop at Tesco.  Mooring here was not easy as once again there seemed to be a lot of long stayeers.   

Tuesday we went down the Norwood  two and then the Hanwell 6.   The weather was reasonable and we had an easy passage down.  No sign of any volunteers that we had been told we might see.

Coming down the Hanwell flight

Good mooring place at the bottom and Geoff even managed to visit a nice pub for an evening pint.

Today we set off leisurely on a beautiful sunny day for Brentford.   We had no idea what lay ahead mooring wise whilst we waited for the tide.   Absolutely nowhere to moor in the basin.   Everywhere was either full or had a sign saying NO Mooring!

In Brentford Guaging lock

Nothing for it but to go through the Brentford Guaging lock onto the semi tidal stretch  before Thames Lock.   We had looked ahead and discovered theree was an empty waiting pontoon just below so thought we would wait there.   However as we entered the lock a friendly CRT volunteer came to help and said we could carry on to Thames lock and moor to wait.   He said there was a waiting area there although we might have to breast up if other boats were waiting.    From his description I thought it sounded good.   I think his idea on good mooring spots and mine are somewhat different.!    Long term boats again and the only place to tie up was just before the lock against a very high wall.    This was eventually achieved with a certain about of arguing between skipper and crew!   It involved Geoffrey squeezing between boat and wall and climbing a ladder.   In an emergency I could get off the boat.....just.......

Still the sun is shining and here we wait for the lock keeper to arrive later this afternoon.   Geoff fought his way off the boat and wandered into Brentford to get some milk.   He arrived back with a very full shopping bag!!!

Creeping closer to the Thames

Creeping very slowly towards the Thames.   We are booked to go out of Brentford next Wednesday.  We had planned to stay over a day just above Denham Deep Lock but when we eached there the mooring was not as nice as anticipated.   Frans Tea room was shown in our book and it was on the edge of Denham Country park.  However the vision in my mind was nothing like reality.   

I harboured thoughts of a gentle cup of coffee in the tearoom or even Saturday morning breakfast. 
  Alas it was not to be.

The tea room was firmly shut and it was a fair walk to the card park where we were being collected to out for a meal with Bob and Rosi.

En route we passed the proposed crossing of HS2

This I gather is the site of the proposed HS2 crossing

Both sides of the canal boarded up and nothing to see

The pub was worth the walk even if it did pour with rain on the way!   Besides with no dog on board we are not walking as much as previous years.   Good meal and good company for supper.

Saturday dawned wet and windy so resigned ourselves to snuggling down below but before 1130 the sun deigned to put in an appearance so we set off towards Uxbridge.

Moored before the built up area above Uxbridge lock and walked in to do various bits of shopping.

Today Sunday was a planned layover day and Geoff has sussed out the church and we were all set to go when the heavens opened yet again!    So Plan B in action again and I have spent most of the day doing Giles accounts!!!   Such a shame as we have not been very successful this year in finding suitable mooring near a church on a Sunday.

It has poured most of the day but we need to move tomorrow so if things dont improve we shall be getting wet!!

inside the M25

 Hard to believe that we are inside the M25 as the canal in this area is really quite rural as we travel through the Colne valley.  

Our mooring proved to be quite adequate overnight and the plan was to slide over to the Tesco shoppers moorings early morning.    However.....

Moorings looked pretty full in the evening!

I could have taken  exactly the same picture this morning!!!!  Nothing had moved.

After a reconnoitre from our side we thought we could just squeeze in which proved to be the case.

I had been fretting about thr throttle still not working properly all night so decided to call RCR again which I did very early.   This did not sit well with Geoffrey who felt we should carry on and see if it eased and a call out would delay our start again!    It proved to be a blessing however as Tom who had visited yesterday picked us up as the first job of the day and knew exactly what he had to do.    This was to thoroughly grease behind the panel.   What a difference!   I wass now a happy bunny again.

As soon as he had finished we set off as the forecast was rain and wind by the afternoon.    The aim was Denham Deep lock by Denham country park but in the event we found an open mooring a little before that and as the clouds were gathering to decided to quit whilst we were ahead.

Brightening up derelict warehouses.

Just below Copper Mill Lock is a slalom course

Mooring OK here but a bit lonely.   In addition we grounded later on putting us on a slope which is not a pleasant feeling especially when having a shower!   Geoff eased the lines and we levelled out a bit but no desire to stay over a day her.    As it happens we may have visitors tomorrow so will move up to Denham Deep lock which was yesterdays aim.

line after line after line.........of moored boats.

 Well that was a day and a half.     Off for a gentle start just after 8.30.  Geoff was just about to open the paddles to drop the boat in the first lock when I spied a boad heading our way.   So we wited for them.  We have rarely founf company to go down the locks so it was a bit of a bonus.  We only planned to do 2 locks with them however as we needed to stop for fuel just after the next one.

First lock negotiated successfully before disaster struck just as I was approaching the next lock.    This really is not our year.   I was close behind our companion boat and not going particularly fast when I lost control of power and I was in forward gear with no means of stopping!    Took her out of gear but there is a lot of momentum even from a slowly moving narrowboat....theres a lot of steel there!!    To avoid crashing into them I managed to steer away into the left hand bank which needless to say I hit with a rather large clunk.   Its not really a very pleasant feeling when you are supposedly in control of a boat with no means of stopping!

Our travelling companions very gallantly offered to breast up with us and get us down the lock as there was a boatyard just past the bottom end.    However this would have been a big bill and since we have membership of River Canal Rescue we elected to call them out instead.    There was a bit of a wait as our assigned engineer had a couple of jobs before he reached us.   However he came about mid day.   A very nice young man called Tom who knew exactly where we were as he had been called out to help rescue the boat that had sunk in Cassio Bridge lock a few days ago.    We had initially thought that a cable had snapped but this was not the case, it was some little gadget on the end of the cable that had snapped off.

Eventually all was fixed and we were able to set off again, somewhat later than planned.   We managed 4 more locks before eventually tying up opposite Tesco in Rickmansworth.   We have passed long lines of continuously moored boats along the way, this has been a familiar sight along this canal.  Admittedly some of them are :: Waterside Moorings   We had not heard of them before so I had to google to find out about them.    However although there were some signs saying Waterside moorings...ie official,  by no means all were.

Tescos is on the other side of the canal and there are moorings for shoppers with a big notice tht says no overnight mooring.   We have noted what boats are here now and will see how many have moved by the morning.   Ideally we would like to slide across for an early shop but not sure there is space at the moment.

Anyway we are moored, not in the most salubrious spot but there is not a lot of choice. We tied up at 4PM which is late late late for us.

Weather has been great today but forefast for the next few days is not brilliant.   However we have days in hand still for the rest of the journey to Brentford.  Mind you that is if nothing else hinders our progress.    I am just thankful that it happened on the canal and not when we were on the tidal Thames.  One must count ones blessings    I am not completely convinced that all is well with the throttle but Geoff tells me it will settle down so we shall see tomorrow.

Slowly getting closer to London

Geoff decided not to go for his pint last evening. despite a rather nice patio overlooking the canal and the swing bridge.   It was possible something to do with the weather!

We were getting to the stage where we could do with a diesel top up and we knew that NB Alchemy had managed it near the Winkwell locks so thought we would try there.

Must do a lot of trade

However there was no sign of life!   So back to the drawing board on that one.

We actually found company for 2 locks today but left them at Apsley as we wanted to stop at the sani station.   As it happened there was a mooring space just before the facilities so decided to call it quits for the day.   We dont normally travel on a Sunday so enough was enough.   Geoff had a little wander after mooring and found a suitable looking pub so we decided we could have our Sunday lunch after all.

Monday morning we moved up to the water point and then down one lock to moor by Sainsburys for a stock of of a few items that were getting low.   

No ambition to go too far as we had had a stoppage notice for one of the locks ahead where a boat had sunk in the lock.    Needless to say navigation closed!  We had thought we might get fuel at Apsley Marina but they dont do fuel.   Not being very successful.  Have tried to loacte one of Jules Fuel barges but no luck so far.

Meanwhile the rain stayed away so we counted ourselves lucky.   

I would love to see what this was like down below!

Since it was 13 years since we had been down this way we dont remember very much so for moorings we are dependent on our guides.    There were moorings shown at Kings Langley just below lock 69A.   However a reconnoitre whilst waiting for the lock was not auspicious so decided to stay above where we were at least in the open.

Today (Tuesday) a gentle start after 8am.   

Checked this out on the web site and it was for sale for offers over £600,000
It had a sold sign

Under the M25 we go

Luckily we had heard last evening that the sunken boat had been cleared from the lock at Cassiobury so no hold up.

We decided to moor just above Iron Bridge Lock.    My turn for a recce today.   Just opposite is Cassiobury Park, a large park area which would be wonderful for 3 year old granddaughter but sadly we are still a little too far away.    There is also a floating cafe by the bridge which provided us with good toasted sandwiches for lunch.   

So settled in for the rest of the day.   A boatyard ahead tomorrow (PS Marine)where I have ascertained that we can at last fill up with fuel.

What should have followed was a peaceful afternoon.......however I have spent far too long holding on for HMRC trying to sort out Giles accounts!!!!!!!   Good job it is club bridge night......a bit of light relief.