Yesterday

 I deadheaded the flowers and tidied-up the plant boxes

 We ate chocolates

 George washed the boat

 ... and it's all looking good

There's even been boats moving up and down the river

... and the weather was good too.

Pole position

An early start yesterday at Weybridge, we awoke at 5:30 

... to a mist covered River Thames, a temperature of just below freezing and frost on the roofs of the buildings opposite

By the time we'd upped, dressed, breakfasted and ready to cast-off it was a balmy (not) 2.7°

Once again wearing our winter thermals and outdoor wear George reversed Still Rockin' from the mooring

... and swung the bow round to face the lock where he dropped me off on the landing as of course the lockies don't arrive until 9

Safely into Shepperton Lock and rising

Looking from the lock towards the weir ...

Although we'd seen building going on behind the Huf-house (when looked at from Thames Court) we'd not seen it without the scaffolding.  It sits right on the edge of the weir and must have great views but not sure if I could live with the noise of that rushing water

... and the garden of the Huf-haus looks almost finished

Having large pot plants in front of the huge glass windows and mature trees on the edge of the river will certainly help with the goldfish effect from the ...

... usually very busy pub garden opposite which is currently closed for internal renovations, plenty of moorings though if they were needed!

We've not seen the 1940's Dunkirk boat before without it's cover on, it still seems to need rather a lot of work on the hull though.

Passing the empty visitor moorings and Chertsey Meads

... and approaching Chertsey Bridge beyond which is the next lock. Here a small cruiser pulled up on the lock landing and climbed up to the lock side and started to open the sluices and gates.  George pulled over onto the landing opposite and I got off with the intention of suggesting that I take over the lock because we'd be last out of the lock but before I could speak he suggested that we went in first and I checked that he was ok for me to reboard SR.  No problem, we went in, he followed, got back on the lockside to the control panel and up we went...

... when the top gates were open this huge cruiser was wanting to come in, great I thought, that will save the cruiser owner having to close the gates after bringing his boat out...

... but no, he stayed there and the last we saw the big boat was going in - now what was that all about?

Another mile and a half and we're approaching lock three of the day - Penton Hook.  There had been quite a bit of boat movement.

Another huge building site as we approach Staines - I wonder what will go up now.

Through Staines ...

... under the railway bridge into Bell Weir Lock - is Mr Grumpy on duty?  I was ready to step off the boat if he was because knowing him I was anxious that we were properly roped up before he opens the sluices but the chap I could see opening the gates was not him so I stayed onboard and all was well.  As we reached the top of the lock we noticed that he was indeed on duty but fortunately for us he was in his office and letting the volunteer do the work for him!  You may have noticed that we do not like this man.

By 11:30 we were in pole position at one of our favourite moorings - Runneymede where we've paid for a season ticket (12 months).

Although the sun had been shining all morning the air was very cold especially when we were cruising into what little wind there was so we were glad to moor up and get warm again.

Once the covers were all closed on the back deck and with lovely views all around us we sat and drank our ritual hot chocolate orange to warm us up and we relaxed again.

Seen in the trees opposite, he sat there for hours!

(photo by George).

Inside the fire had been lit and when the sun disappeared and the rain came down we retired inside and kipped for an hour or so ...  just lovely!

Cruising upstream and sad news

Time to move on from Kingston, we've shopped 'til we dropped, relaxed some too, done everything we needed to as well as caught a cold ...

... so 9:30 yesterday morning we were on our way

The council have been busy creating this very pleasant seating area over the river and I'm sure that it'll be well used by locals and visitors alike during the summer

We were soon approaching Hampton Court Palace but we're not staying this trip

... but we do need to stop and speak to Jak on Jakandan (Chris (fuel boat Merchant) had told us that Andy (Jaq's husband) had died very suddenly of a heart attack a couple of weeks ago) to give her our condolences and see if there was anything we could do for her.  Their son Daniel is with her to help her through this terrible time of grief.  We left her with our telephone number should she need any help and she said that she would get in touch when she'd been able to organise a get together to celebrate Andy's life.  So very sad. 

Hampton Court Bridge and Molesey Lock just beyond that central pillar

Lock Keepers on duty and we go straight in.

Not noticed this Lock Cafe sign before and wonder if it's a new business 

We made full use of the services above the lock

... and asked the lock keeper about the boat which has been moored here for a while now as I thought that it had been impounded by the EA.  He told us that it had but the owner had taken legal advice to fight his case - that the boat could not be removed from the river just because he owed the EA money so here it stays.  There are now three of these boats in the area, no licenses and not paying mooring fees either.

Filming going on just outside the boat club above the lock

... and the curtains in Dave Gilmore's studio are open and it appears to be getting spruced up with lots of lights  ... I wonder if the two (filming and this) are connected.

Hampton Ferry in action

Passing Plat's Eyot

... and soon approaching Sunbury Lock

Above the lock we could see a boat we recognised - Ray is out on his travels again - a quick shout of hello and cheerio across the water!

We were hoping for a space on the Weybridge visitor moorings and we found one that fitted us perfectly

Shepperton Lock House seems to be having a major renovation

It was really cold and we were wearing our winter coats, hats and gloves for this cruise and a few minutes after we'd secured the mooring ropes the hail started and continued off and on for the rest of the afternoon.