Autumn has arrived ...

                    and on Wednesday last week (7th) so did the ...

Environment Agency (EA) at the marina to check boat licences

but I didn't see any of the EA officers checking under the covers of all the storage boats out on the grass ... perhaps they don't need to be licensed whilst out of the water??

Must get to know this lovely little chap sitting on the roof of his owners boat watching the world go by ... he's a newcomer to the moorings looks rather mischievous!

The Magpie hasn't managed to get his beak into that coconut yet!

and another winter mooring boat is brought round to the mill stream

Thursday morning looked promising

and after that last cold snap that we've had the trees have eventually changed into their autumn wardrobes ... I think a bit later than usual?

Stunning light and reflections

Friday (9th) and we've hired a car for a week ... places to go etc...

and those autumn colours are seen in all their glory.

Ready for winter

On Tuesday (6th) I filled and hung the feeders for the birds

in the old apple tree above George's head.

Because we're moored in a slightly different place the tree's a bit further away and can't be so easily seen from the boat, but I'm sure the birds will enjoy the offerings over winter even if I don't manage to catch them all with my camera!

I was sitting on the deck with my camera attempting to get a picture of the Red Kites circling overhead but instead got a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the pretty blue livery of China Southern instead.  

This is the same type of aircraft that we will fly home from Perth to Heathrow in March 2019 ... it's getting closer now!

First visit ... looks like a coal tit ... to the coconut shell filled with all sorts of bird treats

Rain is in the forecast today and we're waiting for another delivery

2:15 and here he comes ...

a half load of lovely dry fire wood logs

Half an hour later and they're all (sort of) stacked on the bow deck ready for use.  There's not so much room there as there was last year with George needing to access his 'spin' bike each morning.

An hour or so later the rain is imminent ... we just hope that it raises the river levels somewhat.

Boats and deliveries

oh, the excitement!

Three more boats arrived yesterday for winter mooring and

today (5th) they were moved into their positions by marina staff

Not sure if there is anyone staying on them 

Mr Tesco came at 3pm with a large order for us so now the fridge and cupboards are full once more and we also took delivery of a panel heater (low wattage) to leave on while inside Still Rockin' in February when we're away.  It seems to work very well and hopefully with keep the boat dry and safe.

Low water ... near and far

Sunday (4th) we took our old circular stroll towards the Flower Pot Hotel and as we reached the lock and waited whilst Simon the lock keeper finished letting a small cruiser in and closed the gate we asked him how low the river level was, he said that the flow was normal which we knew, but that today it was especially low.  When we asked him why he told us that the marina is expecting boats in this weekend and the entrance is badly silted so he was allowing water through to give a little more depth.

Whilst we were talking another couple arrived at the lock also out for a walk and heading the same way as us.  As you do, we got chatting as we walked and spoke about the river being low and they told us that a few weeks ago their cruise on the Danube was cancelled with less than 48-hours notice because of ... you've guessed ... low water!  So it's not just the UK that is experiencing a shortage of rain for their rivers.

There is always lots of red kites flying here and they roost in the trees by the hotel (the hotel keeps chickens etc) I can see 12 just here and there are at least 8 trees along here ... that's a lot of kites!

Looking over the river and beyond the dry weir 

and the lovely building that is Hambleden Mill

There are always lots of walkers out and about on a Sunday and today although it was very dull was no exception.

At about 5pm the water level dropped quite drastically ... it would have been about the time the lock keeper was going off duty and closed up the sluice again ... and Still Rockin' tipped quite alarmingly!  George let out the bow rope and managed to push us out a little until we gradually became level again.