Monday 11 June 2018

Tea on the lawn at Runnymede

Wednesday (6th June) was another nice day without the cool wind we'd been having lately
as we left our mooring at Weybridge
and headed over to Shepperton Lock - no lockie yet, it's only 08:15
Egyptian Geese and family out and about
We were approaching Chertsey Bridge by 9 and the lock was also on self service
Someone loves their roses at Chertsey Lock

Some very beautiful boats at Laleham Boat Yard
Penton Hook Lock next, there's George just bringing Still Rockin' in

Lock moorings at the rear of the lock island and some rather garish planting lock side (imo)

Just as I was operating the top gates of the lock the lock keeper pulled up in his car and proceeded over the gates towards me.  It was Mr Grumpy Git aka Dave who usually mans Bell Weir Lock.  He kept his head well turned away from me so that he didn't have to acknowledge my existence - no change there then, but at least if he's here he's not at Bell Weir the next lock upstream.

Bell Weir Lock and there's a boat to come out so George drops me off and goes straight in.
... it's a big lock!
The National Trust own the land opposite Runnymede where there used to be a ferry crossing over the river to Ankerwycke just where the sun is shining on the bank to the left of centre above
... and where there are ruins of The Priory of Ankerwyck a house of Benedictine nuns founded during the reign of Henry II sometime after 1160.

Last time we were at Runnymede talking to the Customer Engagement Officer he mentioned that the NT are hoping to arrange for a landing stage to be built here once again and perhaps negotiate with Fisher boats who operate trip boats on this reach to add another 'stop' to their timetable to enable visitors to explore Ankerwyke.  That would be good.
11:30 and we can see our destination
 and it's available for us - brilliant!
Snug as a bug in a rug!
and with a temperature of 24°c it's definitely time for tea on the lawn.

2 comments:

Jennie said...

We have been lucky enough to get that mooring a couple of times, Carole - it really is a great one. Jennie

Carol said...

One of our very favourites Jennie, we take a seasonal ticket each year for Runnymede.