Retail therapy ... a walk in the park!

10 to 8 on Wednesday (11th Oct) and I'm walking to Shepperton Lock passing the still sleeping occupants of wb Newlands

The tail gate sluices were open so they needed to be closed before water could be let in to fill the lock for Still Rockin'

Sunbury Lock next on self service as you can see

We could see this police helicopter hovering over the houses as we approached the lock and it was still hovering in the same place as we left 15 minutes later

Sunbury is unusual in that it has two locks, one is mechanised and the other is still hand-wound which takes forever!

There's a very pretty garden here too with lots of colour too

Cruising through Hampton Wick and Port Hampton on Platt's Eyot

Waiting for the ferry man

Passing Astoria, Dave Gilmour's studio boat and noticed what looks like a cave in the garden but found out today that it's a access small tunnel with a barred gate.

Molesey Lock next with a lock keeper on duty

... and Molesey Bridge through which we get our first sight of Hampton Court Palace

We love this place, but not stopping here this time

I think this was once once of those submarine type pods and was probably someone's pride and joy

A pretty Dutch barge at Thames Ditton Marina

Also at the same marina - is this a Thames Barge?

We're soon at our weekend mooring

... at Kingston - time for retail therapy!

Autumn is definitely upon us as we take a walk in Home Park ...

The Lime Avenue

Hampton Court Palace from the end of the Long Water

We watched two crows hanging just like this in a young oak tree but we couldn't see what they were after

Does this need a bacon and eggs or 36DD?

This life is good!

To the pub ...

Tesco delivery safely delivered and stored away Monday afternoon, it was an early start for us on Tuesday (Oct 10)

8 o'clock as we pull away and I notice the home of the cruiser moored in front of us ...

... Roermond, which is in Holland where we lived for about 18 months in I think 1985

A wooden boat that hopefully is now someone's project for renovation

No need to tolerate Mr Grumpy Git this morning at Bell Weir Lock (just noticed the date of the post in the link above, 13th Oct same as today as I write this blog)

Not noticed this before ... does he have a sailing ship in his garden?

The Magna Carta Hotel Boat is moored below the lock.  If you want a weekend away it will cost you £3,050 per person for a cabin for two people!

Approaching Staines.  When we came through here earlier this year this bank was overgrown but you could just see the mooring signs over the top; today it's all clear and ready for boats to moor for 24 hours.  We'll see how deep the water is on our way back upstream.

Chris wasn't around as we passed fuel boat Merchant, we'll catch him in a week or so to top up on diesel and coal before going into our winter mooring at the beginning of November

Just on 9 o'clock at Penton Hook Lock where the keeper has arrived on duty and opens the gates for us, he's not yet had time to change the self service notice yet!

The bottom gates at Penton Hook open and I see the sun is trying to break though the clouds

A houseboat which would not look out-of-place on land.  It must have been built in situ as it will not fit under any of the bridges

Under the M3 bridge with Chertsey Lock in the distance

... on self service today

... and where we pulled over to fill the water tank which is very slow ... time for a cuppa!

Le Bateau Maman built in 2010 with two bedrooms is for sale at £450,000 (edited, was one 0 too many!)

Loads of mooring available at Dockets Lane but not for us

... that's where we want to be ... I know that pretty blue boat ...

just above Shepperton Lock opposite the weir

𝀺... and the newly renovated Thames Court Hotel where with got together with Carole and Paul (wb Newlands) for a meal later in the evening and had a great time.  The chat and laughter never ended 'til we left the pub about 11pm and returned to SR for a night cap. 

Another grand day on the River Thames.