Life in the weir stream ...

Friday (8th) our view from the deck of Gypsy Willow ...

which we've been kindly offered the use of by the owner while we treat ourselves to a bbq cooked on the pontoon 

Still Rockin' berthed alongside Gypsy Willow

George, happy as the pig in the proverbial!

and we sat until sunset!

Flying boats ...

The day after moving to our new mooring Hambleden Marina started to crane the cruisers which are stored on the 'hard' back into the water ... 

boaters out there will know how it feels when seeing your boat flying through the air and with heart in your mouth express such relief when it's gently laid down safely in the water.

George was busy so I'm off for a walk on my own today (Tuesday 5th May) ...

Our winter mooring above is deserted but not for long

It's another hot day and as I reach Rotten Row the scent of the cow parsley and hawthorn blossom together with faint overtones of lilac  was quite heady ... I do so love the spring!

The photo above and below were taken at the point half way up the steep hill where I catch my breath both physically and mentally as I take in the amazing views over the Thames valley.

Back at the marina there are now six cruisers where Still Rockin' and Gypsy Willow were this time yesterday!

Wednesday and the craning continues ...

and as we go for our walk we can actually see the grassy bank for the first time ever.

 We're doing our usual walk but today via the meadow where the water which has been fast flowing all winter has now practically dried up and the sheep are back to drinking from the trough. 

Female pheasant strutting across the meadow ahead of us ...

and sheep with their lambs shelter from the hot sun under the hawthorn ...

 and past the very pretty Yew Tree Cottage near the bottom of Rotten Row on our way home ...

where we've now got cruiser neighbours.

We're on the move!

We had been informed that we would need to move from the Mill Stream here at Hambleden before the craning of the summer mooring boats from the 'hard' (or at Hambleden, the grass!) into the mill and weir streams.  We had been asked to move on when Gypsy Willow (the houseboat moored in front of us) exited the mill stream.  We had discussed what we would do with Marc, one of the directors of the marina and he had agreed to let us stay within the marina complex until the Environment Agency rules re Covid-19 were relaxed and it was safe for us to come out of self isolation.

 Gypsy Willow cruised past us at 20 to 5 yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 5th May).

 We walked over to see where she would be moored for the summer ...

 and because the marina will actually be chock-a-block full after all the cruisers are craned in, we will moor along side her.

 At 5:15 we started to reverse Still Rockin' ...

away from our winter mooring pontoon

 and I wondered if we'd see this little lady at our new berth.

We will certainly miss this view

Past narrowboat Mr Toad's Escape with its delightful etchings ...

 and the winter mooring cruisers, to the main channel of the River Thames

 Looking downstream towards Medmenham, Marlow and Bourne End.

 Going forward now into Hambleden's weir stream ...

 where the crane is ready to start work first thing in the morning

Passing the empty moorings ...

we can see Gypsy Willow ... and the weir

 George took Still Rockin' well past our intended mooring as he would need the space to reverse her into place ... the weir was very close!

A never seen before (by us) view of Hambleden Mill

 Looking at Gypsy Willow from my position at the bow as George manoeuvres SR against the various weir currents to bring her alongside.

 Bow and stern all tied up

Not much of a view out the back unfortunately, but we do get the sun here for most of the day.

We were so relieved at being allowed to stay here pretty much indefinitely as we really didn't know where we could have moved to where we'd be able to receive food deliveries and post.  Our heartfelt thanks go to Marc and Peter here at Hambleden Marina for their help and understanding.

Boats on the move ....

Sometime yesterday morning (Monday 4th May) two of the moored boats opposite us left the marina ... we didn't even hear them go!

We sat out on the back deck with our cuppa as we usually do ...

If anyone with a heart has seen male ducks raping a female duck you'd really be upset ... the way they chase after her even if she's surrounded by her chicks with her quacking like mad at him trying to escape his advances ... personally it makes me so angry I feel sick.  This is what happened in the photos above and as a result she ended up flying to the opposite pontoon flapping her wings and shaking.  One of her chicks swan over to her up the bank and she soon realised that the second one wasn't there.  All ended happily though this time, she dropped back into the water and called to them both ... and they came, thank goodness.

 I think this Great Crested Grebe ...

has taken a bit more than he can chew!

 Oooo .... the marina staff are moving more boats ... will we be going soon?