Having stayed at Thrupp an extra day we had two very long days to bring us back full circle to Fenny Marina. After weeks of dry weather we arrived back in torrential rain.
Home on Friday!
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Thrupp
Sun still shining in Thrupp as we have made our way off the Thames and on to the Oxford Canal.
We spent a lovely evening catching up with Ruth and David and had planned to set off on Tuesday. However, a phone call from friends we had met on our European trip in 2009, changed that plan.
Sonja and John were driving over from Keynsham, Bristol, to see us. We spent a wonderful afternoon in the glorious sunshine catching up on 5 years of news. We always knew we would see each other again when we last saw each other in Calais all those years ago. Hopefully, it will not be another 5 years until we meet again. We will go to them this time on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Maybe next year!
We spent a lovely evening catching up with Ruth and David and had planned to set off on Tuesday. However, a phone call from friends we had met on our European trip in 2009, changed that plan.
Sonja and John were driving over from Keynsham, Bristol, to see us. We spent a wonderful afternoon in the glorious sunshine catching up on 5 years of news. We always knew we would see each other again when we last saw each other in Calais all those years ago. Hopefully, it will not be another 5 years until we meet again. We will go to them this time on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Maybe next year!
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Oxford
A beautiful morning's cruising was slightly delayed by two wide beams filling with water at Abingdon. First one took an hour and a half so we didn't wait for the next! We decided to be extra careful how we use the water we have left! Fear not we will keep clean!!!!
Jan and Tony are on their way to meet us this afternoon.
Jan and Tony are on their way to meet us this afternoon.
Sunny Sunday afternoon with Jan and Tony.
It is so good to get an internet connection on the boat!
Saturday, 26 July 2014
Abingdon
Another glorious, hot day on the Thames.
Another lovely BBQ on the banks of the Thames.
Another very warm evening on the Thames when outside is so much nicer than inside!
Another evening of Sid making mischief on Facebook and we are not even in a pub!
Another lovely BBQ on the banks of the Thames.
Another very warm evening on the Thames when outside is so much nicer than inside!
Another evening of Sid making mischief on Facebook and we are not even in a pub!
Just seen four hot air balloons over Abingdon.
These are two of them!
Friday, 25 July 2014
Wallingford
Since leaving Walton we really have travelled many miles in beautiful weather.
Maidenhead, Henley, Beale Park and now Wallingford.
Jenny has not been brave enough to swim like loads of youngsters but gas enjoyed a cooling dip of her toes most evenings! Lovely!
Next stop Abingdon followed by Oxford then onto Oxford Canal and Fenny by end of the month.
Maidenhead, Henley, Beale Park and now Wallingford.
Jenny has not been brave enough to swim like loads of youngsters but gas enjoyed a cooling dip of her toes most evenings! Lovely!
Cheers!
Next stop Abingdon followed by Oxford then onto Oxford Canal and Fenny by end of the month.
Monday, 21 July 2014
Walton-on-Thames
Back on board after delivering car to Fenny to await our return and thanks to Steve, yet again for lending us his car and Happy Birthday Rosie!
We have just spent a most enjoyable evening with Sarah, an old friend of Paul's from his Windsor days and then Australia and her boyfriend, Harrison. Sarah visited Paul in the Gold Coast Hospital on several occasions while we were there and it was so good to hear that she was in the UK and that she found us on the Thames. The Anglers serve excellent food and fine ale! It was good to catch up on a beautiful summer's evening.
We have just spent a most enjoyable evening with Sarah, an old friend of Paul's from his Windsor days and then Australia and her boyfriend, Harrison. Sarah visited Paul in the Gold Coast Hospital on several occasions while we were there and it was so good to hear that she was in the UK and that she found us on the Thames. The Anglers serve excellent food and fine ale! It was good to catch up on a beautiful summer's evening.
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Shepperton
We are sweltering as are many others!
Surprise Sunday.
We arrived at Runnymede Sunday afternoon in preparation for our visitors on Monday and received a phone call from Jenny's sister, Rosie asking where we were and the call resulted in us enjoying a lovely,warm evening in the Bells of Ousley. Good to see them again!
Marvellous Monday!
We had a very special day on Monday at the Runnymede Pleasure Park. The weather was glorious and we had a visit from Janice, Dave and Emily. Janice and Dave were relaxed and enjoyed themselves! (see photo below), and Emily was a delight!
Travelling Tuesday
We are heading downstream now in order to leave the boat in Shepperton Marina for a few days. We are going to Mark and Sarah's wedding and hope the weather holds out.
Behind the wheel Wednesday!
A day of logistics picking up car from Packet Boat Marina and getting it to Shepperton Marina for our journey home.
This has been done successfully with the help of Steve's car and Sid on bicycle. Thank you Steve for coming to our rescue once again. And, thanks in advance for your help again on Monday.
And so to Shepperton!
Lovely mooring on the old course of the river!
The Kings Head with the most expensive pint and a half of ale we have encountered. Then, the Three Horseshoes with all the ales 'off'. Back to boat to enjoy a lovely smoked mackeral salad followed by strawberries and cream to make up for it!
So, home on Thursday and we leave Hunters Moon tied up safely near Gloriana! We only allow HM to moor in such close proximity!
Surprise Sunday.
We arrived at Runnymede Sunday afternoon in preparation for our visitors on Monday and received a phone call from Jenny's sister, Rosie asking where we were and the call resulted in us enjoying a lovely,warm evening in the Bells of Ousley. Good to see them again!
Marvellous Monday!
We had a very special day on Monday at the Runnymede Pleasure Park. The weather was glorious and we had a visit from Janice, Dave and Emily. Janice and Dave were relaxed and enjoyed themselves! (see photo below), and Emily was a delight!
Travelling Tuesday
We are heading downstream now in order to leave the boat in Shepperton Marina for a few days. We are going to Mark and Sarah's wedding and hope the weather holds out.
Behind the wheel Wednesday!
A day of logistics picking up car from Packet Boat Marina and getting it to Shepperton Marina for our journey home.
This has been done successfully with the help of Steve's car and Sid on bicycle. Thank you Steve for coming to our rescue once again. And, thanks in advance for your help again on Monday.
And so to Shepperton!
Lovely mooring on the old course of the river!
The Kings Head with the most expensive pint and a half of ale we have encountered. Then, the Three Horseshoes with all the ales 'off'. Back to boat to enjoy a lovely smoked mackeral salad followed by strawberries and cream to make up for it!
So, home on Thursday and we leave Hunters Moon tied up safely near Gloriana! We only allow HM to moor in such close proximity!
Friday, 11 July 2014
Cookham
A cool and blustery day bought us to Cookham.
A short walk into the village took us past 4/5 pubs, several dress shops, a couple of antique shops, a hair dressers, nail bar and a garage. No grocery or useful shops. We therefore just had to sample on of the pubs!!!!
A short walk into the village took us past 4/5 pubs, several dress shops, a couple of antique shops, a hair dressers, nail bar and a garage. No grocery or useful shops. We therefore just had to sample on of the pubs!!!!
Thursday, 10 July 2014
Windsor, Dorney, Maidenhead
A gentle stroll through Windsor ended with us sheltering from torrential rain in the King and Castle public house. We just had to have a beer while we waited for the rain to pass!!
On to a lovely mooring by Eton Dorney ( now famous as the venue for the Olympic rowing). We enjoyed a long walk across very breezy Dorney Common to the Palmers Arms. We had worked up a thirst so felt we needed some refreshment! Guess what a nice glass of ale!
Today we have stopped in Maidenhead, the first time ever on our Thames trips. Unfortunately, Waitrose happened to be the nearest shop to our mooring. They don't have a cafe so just up the road was The Bear so we decided to have a Wetherspoon's ham, egg and chips and, wait for it, a cup of tea!!!!! Yes, a cup of tea with milk! No beer today! Yet!
On to a lovely mooring by Eton Dorney ( now famous as the venue for the Olympic rowing). We enjoyed a long walk across very breezy Dorney Common to the Palmers Arms. We had worked up a thirst so felt we needed some refreshment! Guess what a nice glass of ale!
Dragon boat racing on a very windy Dorney Lake
Windsor Castle from Dorney Common
Today we have stopped in Maidenhead, the first time ever on our Thames trips. Unfortunately, Waitrose happened to be the nearest shop to our mooring. They don't have a cafe so just up the road was The Bear so we decided to have a Wetherspoon's ham, egg and chips and, wait for it, a cup of tea!!!!! Yes, a cup of tea with milk! No beer today! Yet!
Maidenhead Bridge
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
Missing photos
Sid enjoying his trip up the Thames, passing under Tower Bridge.
Clattern Bridge in Kingston, one of the oldest bridges in Surrey!
Clare, Sid and Rob enjoying the sunshine outside the Cruising Association, Limehouse Basin.
Clare, Sid's youngest daughter and her husband visited us the evening before our Thames Tideway cruise.
The changing shape of the London skyline!
Cranes! ( excuse the dirty mop)
Sid and St Mary's Church, Battersea
Where his sister, Karen was married.
What's happened since Thursday?!!
Having satisfied our need of retail therapy in Kingston we moved on to Hampton Court and spent a rather fraught afternoon because of the regatta taking place, the width of the river was reduced to half and the trip boats creating a lot of wash because they were having to pass close to the mooring. It did calm down late on in the afternoon and despite the fact that Jenny had not felt great all day had a pleasant evening.
Regatta course being put out early on Sunday morning so we decided to leave before the trip boats started again!
On to Walton where we had arranged to meet Rosie and Steve again. It was a lovely surprise to hear that Jenny's sister-in-law, Carol, and her family were having a late lunch at a pub close by and we were asked to join them at the Thames Court. Ten of us enjoyed an excellent lunch and they all came back to Hunters Moon to have a viewing.
Next, we moved a little further up stream to Laleham in order to get together with Jenny's brother, Graeme and his wife Annette. We had a trip into Staines in the afternoon on our bikes and played tourists trying to find sites if interest - difficult in Staines-on-Thames!
Travelling by bike again we met Graeme and Annette in the evening. It was lovely to catch up with their busy lives and after a very pleasant evening rode back to the boat along the towpath in the dark - very dark! Thank goodness for the hastily purchased head light, yes, we mean head light for Jenny to wear because her front bike light was not working!
We have now arrived Windsor but sadly Liz is not in. However we did pass Gloriana travelling back from Henley today in the pouring rain!
Regatta course being put out early on Sunday morning so we decided to leave before the trip boats started again!
On to Walton where we had arranged to meet Rosie and Steve again. It was a lovely surprise to hear that Jenny's sister-in-law, Carol, and her family were having a late lunch at a pub close by and we were asked to join them at the Thames Court. Ten of us enjoyed an excellent lunch and they all came back to Hunters Moon to have a viewing.
Next, we moved a little further up stream to Laleham in order to get together with Jenny's brother, Graeme and his wife Annette. We had a trip into Staines in the afternoon on our bikes and played tourists trying to find sites if interest - difficult in Staines-on-Thames!
Staines Town Hall and War Memorial
Travelling by bike again we met Graeme and Annette in the evening. It was lovely to catch up with their busy lives and after a very pleasant evening rode back to the boat along the towpath in the dark - very dark! Thank goodness for the hastily purchased head light, yes, we mean head light for Jenny to wear because her front bike light was not working!
We have now arrived Windsor but sadly Liz is not in. However we did pass Gloriana travelling back from Henley today in the pouring rain!
Gloriana, the Queen's Barge passing by Hunters Moon
Thursday, 3 July 2014
Thames Tideway
Well, we made it to Teddington from Limehouse.
Sid loved the trip, quite a challenge.Jenny sadly, did not enjoy the first hour but improved after that!
The water was very lumpy - wind over tide and with it being an afternoon departure the trip boats were very busy and there was also a lot of commercial traffic. However, once past Battersea Bridge things calmed down and the water flattened out and we both enjoyed the rest of the run. We got through the lock and moored up by just after 6.00 and made our way to the Anchor for a much needed beer.
We both slept very, very well after an anxious night before and are now enjoying a little retail therapy in Kingston.
Sid loved the trip, quite a challenge.Jenny sadly, did not enjoy the first hour but improved after that!
The water was very lumpy - wind over tide and with it being an afternoon departure the trip boats were very busy and there was also a lot of commercial traffic. However, once past Battersea Bridge things calmed down and the water flattened out and we both enjoyed the rest of the run. We got through the lock and moored up by just after 6.00 and made our way to the Anchor for a much needed beer.
We both slept very, very well after an anxious night before and are now enjoying a little retail therapy in Kingston.
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