Saturday and another change of plan!

We spent Saturday morning catching up with last minute jobs whilst all the services were readily available, last load of washing, ironing (the sun replenishing the batteries via the solar panels), emptying the toilets, topping up the water tank and getting rid of the rubbish.

 … and watching the wildlife in the basin.

Our plan was to drop down the *Gauging Lock at about 3pm, moor overnight and take the early tide this morning (Sunday) to Teddington.

*"Early in the 20th century a Toll House was built as an office for the lock keeper at the lock above Brentford Bridge. This was the Gauging Lock as this is where boats were gauged or measured to assess the tolls to be paid on their cargoes. The lock keeper used a special stick known as a gauging rod to measure how high out of the water the boat was sitting. From this he could calculate the weight of cargo on board."

Cruising the River Brent under the road bridge below the gauging lock

… and of course we met another boat coming towards us on a bend!

Lots of dutch barges down here

Moored up at Thames Lock, the River Thames is a short distance beyond the bridge and locks.  The Environment Agency is replacing the gates on the right-hand lock so we’ll use the other one.  George suggested that instead of waiting perhaps we should go on the early evening tide; initially I said no, but after thinking about it (I have butterflies in my stomach each time we go on the Thames) and I realised that I wouldn’t sleep well tonight thinking of the trip so I relented.  When the lock keeper arrived we were told that we’d go through onto the river at 6-pm.  I prepared this evening’s veg and put the meat in the oven on slow for when we arrived at Teddington.

An Egyptian Goose - ugly creature indeed! We whiled away the afternoon on the stern deck in the very warm sunshine reading.

Exiting Thames Lock at 17:55

This photo flummoxed us when we saw it; neither of us could remember two men standing opposite talking to each other!!  It is of course a reflection in the deep shine of Still Rockin’ as I look back when leaving the lock.

George is now a very, very happy man!

The River Thames ahead, we will turn to the right being careful  to take the corner wide so that the tide coming from the left doesn’t push us onto the wall.

Left to the City of London and right to Teddington

Molly in her cruising position

… and a beaming George!

Syon House on the left and Isleworth on the right

Gordon House. Isleworth

Approaching Richmond half-tide Lock and footbridge

… where a trip boat comes past us

… and Port of London vessels are moored

… next come Twickenham road and rail bridges

Approaching Richmond riverside pubs

… always busy on a sunny evening … fantastic!

We soon got entangled with a Regatta going on through Twickenham, we needed eyes in the back of our heads to see all that was going on around us

… and that trip boat is getting ever nearer

We know that Teddington Lock is not too far away when we see this group of buildings

The Yarmouth Belle overtakes us in mid-channel, he wants to be at the lock before us!

Happy rowers here too

I walk through SR to the bow as we approach the lock landing I note the time

… Yarmouth Belle takes up the whole of the landing so we ‘hover’ just behind

lots going on in the still warm sunshine

now it’s our turn to wait on the landing

… and it’s nearly half past seven when we tie up in Teddington Lock

Looking back in the lock as we rise from the tidal river level

Teddington moorings look rather full but we did manage to get a space by asking a small narrowboat to move back a couple of yards.  A really good trip which kept me busy pointing out potential hazards to George - it made me forget all those butterflies. A much better trip than we had in 2015 when it was dull, cold and very, very windy!

It didn’t take long to cook our meal which was delicious washed down with a glass or two of the vino collapso!

We’ll stay here at least until Tuesday because a rather special boat is coming to meet us … watch this space!