Weybridge to Teddington

Left Weybridge at around  0900hrs (got to start getting nautical again as we are back on the Thames don't y' know) got through the Thames Lock and headed east towards London. Even though we stopped for fuel on the way we made good time and arrived at Teddington lock at 1330 hrs (1.30pm for the landlubbers) As the tides were not in our favour for the tidal transit to Brentford we will moor overnight at Teddington with an 0545hrs start tomorrow for the 1-2 hr transit. Christine is not amused with the early call, it's a good job she didn't come on the Channel Island sailing trip with 0330hr shouts!!


NB Lottie emerging from the Weybridge Town Lock



David Gilmour of Pink Floyd had this houseboat restored and is now used as The Astoria Recording Studios and it is now moored just upstream fro Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace (we moored here the last time we were on the
Thames and spent the whole day looking around this wonderful palace)





For those that are old enough "Tugboat Annie " comes to mind

 

Grand Designs or what Totally Glass



Kingston Bridge



Stunning Riverside Property in Kingston




"May The Force be with you" I'Modernistic Houseboats
I'm sure Daft Ada had an influence here!!!

 



Cute but this one looks like a cricket pavilion
 (Rain Stopped Play?)

 

Guildford to Weybridge

Well after two days of heavy rain we woke up this morning to a much better outlook so had breakfast and got underway. Christine decided to do some washing while we were on the go which worked out well as it had nearly all dried by the time we got to Weybridge.  We went for a walk around the town of Weybridge and were not that impressed considering it is stockbroker belt we then had a walk over the Wey Meadow Park which when you consider how near to London it had a remarkable country feel.


Guildford Castle (I didn't know it had one)


Part of the Castle Gardens and Grounds (very well maintained)

Allo Mrs Cani ne come aboard? ( a towpath visitor quite a regular event when the hatch is
facing the bank)





Hawkes Lock cottage ( and a belligerent crew member. I think she was thinking of hanging me)

 

 

 

Coxes Lock on the River Wey (The Mill has now been totally converted to apartments)



And last but by no means least the Famous Wey Bridge

Lottie and Matt visit us on The River Wey

Well how lucky were we to choose Sunday to meet up with Lottie and Matt and not today (Monday) as the weather has really changed. We had a great day cruising down to Godalming from Guildford and this turned out to be the prettiest part of the River Wey. We had lunch on board and then did a tour of Godalming ( a lovely old Surrey town) and then back to Guildford. We said our goodbyes at around 8pm so we had both a very long and pleasant day with our lovely daughter and Matt.




Lottie and Matt arrive on Board



Christine and Matt setting The Lock

The Horse Drawn Trip Boat  IONA that is based at Godalming When she was a working cargo barge she used to carry coal
from The Midlands horse drawn all the way



Lottie on Lottie

All ashore at Godalming

Tom with his Girls

 

 




Godalming Town (Crown Court)



Godalming Town High Street

Shepperton to Guildford on The River Wey

We set off from our overnight mooring at about 9.30am after Christine had got her weekly fix(The Mail on Saturday) and of course breakfast, although we had forgotten to get the sausages and bacon out of the freezer last night so had to settle for boiled eggs. It was very cold as we were travelling down a channel of large oak trees and the sun just didn't break through to warm us up. It was also very dark and I expect this had a bearing on our views of The River Wey. We had heard so much of what a pretty river it is but we just didn't see it that way. Perhaps it is because we have been lucky enough to travel some of the really outstanding Rivers and Canals. We are meeting up with Lottie and Matt tomorrow and are really looking forward to seeing them both. We plan to cruise down to Godalming and back with an on board lunch on route.  I am sure that the river will live up to it's  reputation for the last stretch as what I have seen online looks good.


You can just see the Old Priory to the right of the picture



M'Lady the boat we shared most of the locks with down to Guildford



The last remaining Turf Lock on The River Wey



Unusual waterfall side stream at this lock 

Windsor to The River Wey.

We left Windsor quite early (for us) this morning with the intention of getting onto the River Wey before the Bank Holiday Weekend as we have arranged to meet up with Lottie and Matt on Sunday and needed to be in an accessible place. We will probably collect them in Guildford and travel down to Godalming and back having lunch on the way (no pun intended) We have already done a lot of the Thames so didn't feel that we had missed out on anything but we didn't manage to visit the River Wey or The Basingstoke canal so this will be new ground for us.

Bye Bye Windsor



We counted one of these taking off  every minute

The first lock on the River Wey back to hard graft for a while (No Lock keepers to do the work for you)

And so onto The River Wey

Marlow to Windsor well Almost.



 

Quite an eventful day today. We set of from Marlow at around lunchtime with the intention of getting to Windsor or beyond. This wasn't to be, as we had problems at Boulters Lock when the engine wouldn't start. I had a quick look in the engine room but couldn't trace the problem, so we had to pull the boat manually  back along the landing stage so as to be out of the way of other boaters queuing for the lock. We telephoned a couple of boatyards to see if they could assist but no one was available until later the next day. I then did another check taking my time and eventually traced the problem to a detached earth lead. I managed to strip it back and re solder the lug and re attach it and hey presto we had power once again. By this time it was too late to carry on so we asked the lock keeper if we could stay overnight. He kindly agreed to this so we eventually made Windsor the following day (Today) We have been here before but still went ashore for a look around and to stretch our legs. The Queen was not at home so it looks like we will be eating on board tonight!


Cliveden House atop the hill on the Cliveden Reach near Maidenhead. This was formerly the home of The Astor Family but is now an hotel
(This was just before we broke down)



The View today from our dining room window.
(Priceless well almost. A £6 mooring fee but well worth it)

 



And they told me they weren't at home!!!

Marlow

Woke up to a clear blue sky and  I went for the swim  that had been offered by the leisure centre as part of the deal with the mooring.  Christine decided to stay on board and get a few things done as the pool had a very chlorine filled atmosphere  and was extremely warm. After breakfast we had another look around Marlow and took a few more pictures. When we got back we saw" ELLISIANA" come in to moor ( it used to be owned by Michael and Margaret Daking friends of ours from Peterborough.) I went and introduced myself to a Ken Thomas and his wife who live in Thailand but spend the summers over here exploring the waterways. They are very pleased with the boat and find her very comfortable.
We then set off for our next destination not sure as yet where that will be.



Going in for my morning swim ( I'M A POET AND DON'T KNOW IT)



Marlow Town looking south

Then Famous Complete Angler

On Marlow Bridge

Lovely river launch

Gold Letter Box for  Naomi Riches Olympic Rower and gold medal winner
(I think Christine is reflecting in her glory)

Nice


Marlow Church from Bridge



This one is for Michael and Margaret "Ellisiana " as pristine and loved as ever



Marlow Bridge on a summers evening looking east

Beale Park to Marlow via Reading



Sorry to have missed a post out as there really wasn't much to write about or photos to show to fill a blog so I have combined two days. We set off from Beale Park, after a walk along the embankment to stretch our legs. We went up to the main entrance at Beale Park with the intention of going in. We arrived to find the car park full of four wheel drives and the park full of " Earth Mothers" and their broods so decided to give it a wide berth as we had already had that  experience in the Wallingford Waitrose!!.We got back to the boat after our walk and set off for Reading. We had a few showers on the way and so not much photography on this stretch I'm afraid. The only thing of interest was the workmen in the process of building/erecting all the requirements for The Reading Music Festival which is over the Bank Holiday Weekend. The site was huge with about six sound stages alone. We filled up with diesel and exchanged a gas cylinder then found a mooring near the Tesco Extra Store much to Christine's delight.  While she shopped to her hearts content I went off to Homebase to get the brackets for the flag jackstaff  that she broke at Newbridge ( I have missed my flags fluttering up for'ard)



In the morning we made an early-ish start and headed off to Marlow we bypassed Henley as we spent a couple of days there on our last Thames trip five years ago. This stretch of river is beautiful with some  magnificent mansions along the way. We did however see quite a few houses up for sale which is very unusual but it may be because of the flooding last  year and the fact that insurance may have become a real problem.

We arrived in Marlow and had a late lunch on board. We then set off for a look around and to pay our mooring fee for the night. We were surprised that the charge was £12 payable to the local leisure centre  which is a private concern but when we found out that it included a swim shower etrc in the morning it didn't seem too bad. So it's up with the lark ( or rather The Canada Geese around here) and
get our exercise for the day. We have to do this as all the locks are manned along the Thames
so we are getting very lazy, it will be a rude awakening once we are back on the canals.




Old Boy Playing The Fool on riverbank Walk





Old Girl trying to Play The Fool on riverbank walk

What I would call a Constable Sky

Mum on phone to our darling daughter during our walk





Our overnight mooring at Beale Park

 

 



St Marys Abbey now an Hotel



A lovely river to cruise

All Squeezed into the Lock at Henly

Arriving at Henley on Thames



The Angel PH in Henley packed out



Bottoms up!

Count the Red Kites ( I make it 15)


 

The Henley Boat Club ( I wouldn't want to pay their fees)

Well it's now time for bed so I will put Marlow on tomorrow.