Long time no see ..

8:30 Sunday morning, once untied I pushed Still Rockin's bow away from our mooring at Runneymede and climbed onboard ...

... it was a classic wind (as in turning a boat) using the wind (as in blow) and she went round like a dream!

Egham Parish Church directly in front of us before we turn the corner in the river

Beautiful blossom on the trees as we approach Grumpy Git's lock, i.e. Bell Weir, hoping that because it's on 10 to 9 he won't be on duty yet.  The blue sign was up meaning self service so we moored and I got off to set the lock just as an EA man got out of his car. He said good morning so that really did confirm it was not GG and asked if I was ok working the lock and that he would let us down once we were in.  He also told me that John was on the next lock down and I asked if it's John who usually worked this one, no, he said that's Dave, and I said oh, that's good!

Entering Staines and the Angel Hotel which is currently undergoing renovations.

Chris on fuel boat Merchant - if you're on the Thames and need diesel or coal he's your man - 07921 694287

Penton Hook Lock next with no sign of Dave! and then continuing on in the very gusty wind to Chertsey Lock.

George had to pull over to pick me up after exiting the lock and that troublesome wind was broadside to Still Rockin' as he tried to swing out into the river to pass under Chertsey Bridge by the central arch.  No way was he going to make it, the current from the weir directly in line with that archway together with the wind was making it impossible.  So he headed for the archway to the left of centre put his foot on the gas and went for it ... I looked the other way until we were safely through!

Plenty of mooring spaces outside the Thames Court Hotel

The Huff Haus is still not quite finished

Through Shepperton Lock and Eyot House on D'Oyly Carte Island has sold for a cool £4m and there's a smart dutch barge moored outside. 

On the Weybridge side of the island is this, I thought that maybe it had been possessed by the Environment Agency but we later found out that it is occupied.  It was a bit of a shambles.

Lots of rowers out this Sunday morning both in front and behind us.

We have reached our destination!

11:45 and we're moored at Walton on Thames behind Nicky and Keith who we've not seen but kept in touch with since 2013.

View from the rear deck the Angler pub.

We'd had a great cruise and the day finished with a delicious roast dinner onboard Badger Sett and a few glasses of the good stuff too!
It's so good to catch up with them.