Was 'our' space free?

An early start for us yesterday (Tuesday 28th May) ...

we were away from our mooring just after 7pm in the hope that when we reach our destination one of our favourite mooring spaces will be available for us.

Cruising upstream through Chertsey Mead ...

looking back we can see the Thames Venturer from Teddington ...

George decides that he'd rather they went first through Chertsey Lock so that they're not on our tail anymore

I set the lock ready for them ...

and saw them on their way whilst setting the lock once again for Still Rockin'.

Such a shame that Pegasus is in such a sorry state.  Originally built for the Grand Union Carrying Company by Harland and Wolfe in 1935 it was passed to British Waterways Board in 1963 and into private ownership in 1987 when it was restored to its 1950's condition and kept in good condition throughout the 1990's.  I wonder what its future is.

Through Penton Hook lock and into Staines ...

where we give Chris a toot and a wave ... it's a good job we didn't need diesel or coal today because we wouldn't have been able to get alongside nb Merchant!

Staines Railway Bridge

Thames Venturer has a youth club group onboard today for a leadership course.  They will be deciding what to eat at lunch time and then decide what they need to make that lunch, create a shopping list, shop for the items ... which is what they were doing here in Staines ... then they will prepare and eat their endeavours.  The boat passed us not long after we got moored up and returned downstream to Kingston late afternoon ... I'm sure they had a great day.

The Egyptian Goose Family out and about.

Last lock of the day (all three have been on self-service) at Bell Weir ... no Mr Grumpy to deal with thank goodness!

When we arrived at Bell Weir the lady from the red narrowboat was operating the lock so I took over and waited for another nb to arrive before seeing them through the lock which has now been updated to automatic use for boaters.

George is waiting patiently and two cruisers are also in the queue for the narrowboats to descend and exit the lock

Fifteen minutes later we're passing the park ...

the Queen Elizabeth II statue and can see the Airforces Memorial above the trees

Passing Ankerwycke a National Trust property not open to the public ...

so will our favourite spot round this bend at Runnymede be empty?

Yes!

Great views all round apart from that darkening sky ...

New season ticket purchased we're now good for the next 12 month's mooring here.