We’ve arrived at last ...

 Brentford basin at night ...

... and this morning at 08:45 ...

... as we’re ready to rock n roll ...

... through Brentford Gauging Lock ...

... under Brentford Road Bridge where the air-draught decreases as the tide rises.

We arranged with Dave and his wife on nb Snail o’ Wey to be ‘buddies’ swapping phone numbers in case of emergencies on our trip today

There are lots of boats of all shapes and sizes on the pound between Brentford Lock and Thames Lock ...

... Thames Lock visitor mooring where we’ll wait until the tide is ready for us ...

... only a short distance to the lock ...

... the gates are open and we’re good to go ...

... 10:30 and we’re down and out ... this is it!

Looking back at the convoy of boats; us, two narrowboats and two cruisers

Approaching the right turn ...

...  and we are on the Thames!!!!

Looking back towards the city - no boats in either direction - at the moment!

What I think must be an impressive building but I’ve no idea what ...
[Syon Park thanks Adam]

... near Isleworth where we take a left ...

 ... to see this barge coming round the next corner on the right (the wrong side for cruising, you can see from his wake how far over he was) we couldn’t pass in front of him because he was coming too fast and there wasn’t room anyway he was so close to the trees - and then the driver yelled at us that we should pass on the right! ‘We know’ we called back ‘you should have been on your right coming round that corner'

Didn’t need to use Richmond Lock today ... 

... under Richmond Lock Bridge we went ...

 ... and soon under Twickenham Bridge and Richmond Railway Bridge beyond

George is loving every minute of this.  A chance to open the engine of Still Rockin’ to see what she’s made of

Richmond waterfront is always busy ...

 The very elegant Richmond Bridge

 Pirates on the Thames and then swapping rowing positions!

Keeping left at Eel Pie Island

Teddington Lock but not this lock ...

... this one and the lockie wants us to moor up on the right ...

... and in we go ..

... coo, there’s a plastic cruiser on the other side, I hope we can hold on to the ropes to stop Still Rockin’ from crushing it!

... up in the lock and the gates open, we let the cruisers go out first ...

 Midday and we’re moored up on the Teddington wharf - I am so relieved that we’ve got here safely (I’m not a fan of tidal waters - see here for our first cruise on the tidal Thames)

Relaxing on the bow with a well deserved cuppa the pirates passed us by still having great fun!

We’re mooring here for the night and in the morning will set off for our next destination - one of our favourites on the Thames.