We gave in!

A late start for us on Friday (6th) ... and it was cold ...

nearly 10 o'clock when we pulled away from our mooring and winded ...

through Windsor ...

and it took an age to get through Romney Lock.  

I could see that the bottom gates were open and that the lock keeper was waving boats in.  It was a while before I saw the gates close and as the water rose in the lock I could see a cruiser right at the back near the gates.  I assumed that there were boats in front of the cruiser, perhaps rowers as I couldn't see any other boat superstructure but when the gate was opened there was only the cruiser in there.  He must just have been a good way away from the lock when the lockie saw them and waited rather than turn it for us.  No problem though, that's just how it should be.

I wonder what's going on with that gigantic crane?

Old Windsor Lock next ... and it was the same lock keeper who'd just seen us through Romney!

We waited while this trip boat came out

Fantastic sunflowers ...

on the lock side ... they must have been at least 8' tall

and the one on the right above was at least 15" diameter 

Another trip boat was waiting to go down as we came out of the lock

We pass Bywater hotel boats Kerala and Karna Taka breasted up as we pass French Brothers Victorian Steam Launches Nuneham and Streatley

Where the Magna Carta was signed by King John in 1215.

We can see beyond the Lucy Fisher trip boat that the mooring space we'd hoped for was free ... brilliant!

passing the Magna Carta Memorial as we approach our mooring

Midday and we're moored on the meadow at Runnymede ...

with a view up Cooper's Hill to the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial ...

lovely countryside over the busy A308 ...

It was as we were pulling in to moor that we decided to give in ...

and get the chimney out of summer storage and back onto the roof ...

and light a fire ...  soooo cosy!