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Approaching Richmond

The London Apprentice

Entrance to Grand Union Canal

And Thames Lock

Then to Guaging Lock at Brentford where we have left the tidal Thames

 

Setting off from Staines we were heading off to Teddington for me to catch up with an ex colleague and friend but as we approached Hampton Court we could see plenty of mooring space and our chums on Miss T Morning. We just had to stop as we had been unable to moor last summer. We spent the rest of the day at Hampton exploring the palace  and decided to stay overnight as Tom Jones was performing there and we were assured that moored on the river we would hear the concert. Sadly we did not but we had an evening glass of wine with Dave and Terry.

Golden Gates

Courtyard

Formal gardens

King Henry interrupted his theatricals to pose for this photo!

One of several gowns made of paper I was impressed!

Saturday at top speed 5km per hour we went down to Teddington where again there was plenty of mooring space. Jean came to visit and we reminisced about our teaching in Nottingham in 1971!  We had a super day!

Arriving at Windsor we moored up just outside the Leisure Centre and had a wander down to Eton College. We also caught up with Wessex Rose Hotel Boat.

The Eton school uniform shop

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday morning we used our last years gift aided tickets to return to Windsor Castle to watch the changing of the guard.  The band played as a few guards changed! A nice bit of pageantry for the tourists.

 

 

 

 

 

We also saw the Dolls house which we had not seen last year as the queues were so long! ( I thought of you Hilary!) (Photos not permitted, we thought those still taking will end up in the Tower!)

In the news

and

 

 

 

 

The ever popular Duck Tour

Wednesday we set off late morning for a short cruise to Runnymede.

Onthe way we saw Dragon Boats practising and our friends from last year, aboard Pvella, another Aintree boat with superb paintwork.

 

 

 

 

We moored opposite the Temple

 

JFK

The Temple

 

We walked up to the monuments and caught up with chums from Olinda.

The Jurors

   

The new monument “Writ in Water” provoked some thought!

  

Had a lively chat over a glass of wine aboard Olinda.  Thank you, hope we meet up again at some point.

Thursday morning we walked up to the Air Forces Monument – quite a hike uphill but worth it, the views are spectacular.

    

 

  

Then we set off for Staines

 

 

 

Friday morning we moored up in Maidenhead just below Brunel’s railway bridge. It has a good echo!!

We walked up to the station to collect our rail tickets and do a bit of shopping. The Heritage centre is well worth a visit if you are a Spitfire fan

A new channel has been opened up by the High Street

Beautiful landscaping one way but look the other way and it’s a mess

Saturday we visited Tony’s father in Newport.

A man reading a newspaper tells you this statue was carved some time ago! Every passenger waiting on Taplow Station, apart from me, was clutching a mobile phone!

We had an interesting and scenic journey. From Swindon we were re routed to Stroud and Gloucester along the River Severn to Chepstow rather than via Bristol and the tunnel.

Saturday night party cruise

Sunset

Sunday  proved to be cool and windy. We walked up to Boulters Lock and Ray Mill Island. We saw a blue plaque indicating  Richard Dimbleby had lived at Mill House. Yes, if you are under sixty you will be saying Who?!!!

Pub at Boulters lock

Interesting park with Cafe & Aviary soon to be linked with Taplow side by a new footbridge.

All along the Taplow side of the River is a huge amount of new development. We saw these under construction last autumn.

 

 

 

 

 

Left   Marlow at 9.32 for a short cruise to Bourne End. Tony used to come here with his young daughter some forty odd years ago to picnic so it was a trip down Memory Lane for him.

Bourne End Waterfront

We walked along the Thames Path into Bourne End  proper and found the car park next to the Library. Slightly different to Devizes charges!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We found a leaflet at the Iibrary which outlined some historic walks. From this leaflet we found that Enid Blyton lived very close to where we were moored and of course we just had to go and find the house where she had lived from 1929-1939. It was being re thatched so we spent a few minutes watching two guys thatching the gateway to see how it was done.

In the evening there were lots of rowers out practising followed by many many small sailboats

  

On a very cool and windy Thursday morning we were delighted to see our chums from Two n Six who came and moored alongside. We had a good chat over tea and cake. Thank you for the jam Lin, we are looking forward to opening it!

We were sitting reading after supper when I noticed a young man with a drone, walking past. Tony asked if we could have a photo of Matilda. Thank you Nick Harvey; the photos are truly amazing and much appreciated. He gave his email if you are interested……….

Evening Scene

 

 

We left Henley on a very fine and warm morning, passing through Hambledon Lock where the charming Simon is the lock keeper.and Hurley lock where the charming Giles is the lock keeper.  Whilst travelling I baked cappucino cupcakes which was just as well because the Hurley Lock teashop closes on Mondays so that Giles can mow the lawns!  Hurley moorings are tucked away on the island and are absolutely stunning.

We walked into the village and followed on of its’ circular walks, stopping off for a half of bitter and lunch at The Rising Sun. The  Church was once part of an ancient priory.

 

Free Breakfast? Well not quite……..

We progressed to Marlow on Tuesday finding a towpath mooring  spot that is free for 24 hours whereas it is now £13.00 along the park

Didn’t Red Kites used to be an endangered species? We certainly have seen a lot. Have they been taking lessons from sea gulls?

We walked into the town and came across Tom Kerridge’s latest venture with Andy Cook. It’s a butchers cum pub. Now who is it in Devizes that has supplied TK with meat for many years?

 

 

After the less than attractive entrance to the K & A and a hearty breakfast we set off just after nine – destination Henley.

The entance to Tingdene Marina is almost opposite the K & A

The scenery and the homes soon improve

We shared a couple of locks with these intrepid rowers. We emailed these images to them so that they could prove to their spouses they had actually been rowing! Indeed reached Hampton by Sunday 2pm, while we were still in Henley, lazing in the park!

   

 

The Park Rangers come by daily to empty the bins and collect mooring fees. Band concert in the bandstand.

Henley in bloom. We discovered this wall by the church, and then had a conversation with this lady who was tending her window boxes

  

 

We came across this strange apple

Met up with African Queen again          

An afternoon Jazz Cruise passed, aboard The New Orleans

  

I might need this in the future!

I picked up a really good book about WW2 D-Day to Berlin for £1

A very lazy creature

We spent a lot of time just watching the variety of boats go through the lock and herding by lock keeper, Nick:

The bridge, note weight limit and hanging baskets

The regatta course

And we just had to return to see the Wind in the Willows exhibition

And the inevitable evening sunset

 

Odd as we were facing west, whilst travelling towards London!

 

 

 

 

So leaving Culham we left a weed free mooring

At Wallingford the current was still quite fierce so we spent two days hoping for the current to decrease and because we like Wallingford! We visited the wonderful bookshop, the Church, butchers, antique centre, not forgetting Waitrose!

A colourful bus with map of its route

The Kinecroft – just one of the towns open spaces

Model boat in the antique centre

 

 

 

 

We watched a cruiser in trouble at the bridge, the strong current pulled their stern round and the person trying to push off, with short pole, nearly lost their head as the boat eventually swept through the side of the arch, with crunching sound. We were all too far away to help. A second cruiser in trouble, behind this one, was helped by boaters on the opposite bank.

 

 

 

 

Two lovely evening shots looking towards Wallingford Bridge, water calmed to give reflections:

    

And breakfast guests before departing to the lovely Goring

         

Had a lovely chat with librarian Kari and husband Gary from Calgary who are spending two weeks holiday walking sections of the Thames Path and learned I must read books by canadian author Alan Bradley. She asked me what was my favourite childrens book. Tony had no hesitation in naming Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome but I’ve been thinking about it ever since! I did enjoy Enid Blytons books…..

We were invited aboard The African Queen restaurant and hotel boat. Met the charming crew and three delightful lady passengers from Milton Keynes.  Sadly they were fully booked!

Of course we had to go and inspect their Britain in Bloom areas from last year- looking promising…..

 

 

All the floral tributes and notes have been removed from GMs home

And off to Reading passing our favourite post box below the railway line and guarded by  a heron!

Modest riverside homes near Reading

Better Boating ever helpful and well priced diesel

 

 

 

And here we are moored at Tesco Reading on the new pontoon

 

 

I learnt from The Telegraph that my favourite childrens’ story The Tiger who came to Tea by Judith Kerr was first published 50 years ago.

Abingdon Marina

     

Culham

Yesterday proved yet another suprising day. We walked into Sutton Courtney a long village with three pubs!

An interesting notice………

 

We happened upon four florists putting the final touches to an arch over the church doorway. Rather like the one at St Georges chapel – all white flowers mainly peonies. The interior flowers were in the same theme -lavish and absolutely stunning.

Remember A level english? George Orwell is buried here

We sat outside the pub and watched taxis dropping off guests. Tony negotiated with a cabbie to take us the Pendon Museum at Little Whittenham.  Over the years Tony has talked about  visiting this museum many, many times. It houses a model of the Vale of the White Horse in the 1930s dreamt up by a rather eccentric Australian, and two model railways. There were also two visiting displays and we met a lady who was part of one.

 

The best bit for me were these

  

All in all I was suprisingly impressed…………… It has a tea shop too. Well worth a visit It could be combined with a visit to the Earth Centre nearby or a climb to Wittenham Clump.

There were a number of knowledgeable guides including Brian who revealed his interest in the Wilts and Berks canal and ended up by giving us a lift back to Culham. Thank you Brian, Hope to meet up with you again.

 

 

Left Abingdon early this morning after turning with some difficulty – the river was flowing strongly. Arrived at Culham Lock where the charming lock keeper presented us with this card!

So heeding this warning we immediately moored up!  Not sure how long we shall be here but will be checking with the EA and waiting for the yellow Stream Decreasing. Fortunately, we viisted Waitrose yesterday and took advantage of their wine offer!!!