Onto the Thames

We left Paddington Basin and made our way back down the Paddington Arm stopping this time near Willowbridge Marina, we then continued onto Bulls Bridge Junction where we turned left and onto new waters. We stopped at the top of the Hanwell flight as we didn't know what the moorings were like further on and didn't want to arrive too late.

The following day we went down a couple of locks then had help from a volunteer lockie down the remainder. The moorings at Brentford were full when we arrived, but we managed to squeeze into a space alongside a work boat. 

The tide times meant we had to leave Thames Lock at around 8am, so it was an early start to get through Brentford Gauging Lock and be ready for when the lock keeper arrived. Thames Lock is manned by CRT and what a surprise, she was late! Being tidal until we reached Teddington we were a little concerned we would miss the tides - I felt sorry for the poor boat waiting to come up the lock though. Any way panic over she finally arrived and we were on our way. I did ask if there was any advice for the actual turning onto the Thames (I remember the lock keeper at Avon Lock giving us lots of information about entering the river Severn) bearing in mind we were now entering the tidal section - but no she just said 'you'll see where you need to turn when you get there'! Hmmm not the advice I was expecting.

Love the postcodes on this lock signs

Through Brentford Guaging Lock

Waiting at Thames Lock

And we're through

Right turn onto the Thames

However, everything was fine and James just made the turn very wide in case there were any shallows at the edges. We were straight though Richmond as the weir was still lifted so we didn't need to use the lock and then onto Teddington where we bought our licence for a week at £70.50 - he said we had just sneaked into the next category up. Feeling very relieved we were off the tidal section I started to really enjoy the Thames - this has been the first time we have ventured onto it in our boat.

Moorings at times were quite challenging but we stopped at Hampton Court, Staines, Windsor, Marlow and Sonning, then turned into Reading onto the Kennet and Avon Canal. We had a day of complete rain where we stayed put and we also had some very challenging times with the wind - all in all I really enjoyed it and definitely will be back.

78 Miles and 34 Locks

TOTAL 224 miles and 189 locks

The Guest Blogger is making another appearance

The Guest Blogger is making another appearance...

Jess visited us in London a few weeks back and emailed me a guest blog complete with embedded photos, unfortunately blogger didn't like it and I couldn't save the pics from the email. I've left the pic tags in so you'll have to use your imagination :-) She'll no doubt email them on at some time but she has been busy this week as she has relocated town, been busy applying for a (and subsequently getting ready to start an accepted) new job, moving into her first home with BF Lee, attending further interviews to keep her options open including a half day one today - and if that's not enough, as of today SHE IS NO LONGER 21!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS

Jess in her CSI suit down from Winchester for a long hard days painting. 

I LOVE London and pretty much everything to do with it so I was rather excited to be visiting Mum and Dad and off course LJ at yet another exciting destination. I arrived at Paddington station which is really close to Paddington Basin where Mum and Dad were waiting, very handy for any visitors. Don’t think it’s ever been that close before! However, my journey wasn’t all easy. As usual I had to get a connecting train, this time it was Reading and after being done up for the last 5 years it was very confusing and “modern” I couldn’t find the steps to change the platform. Very stupid! Be warned if ever changing on a train at Reading, allow time to find the steps! 

Once I had arrived Mum had her signature Chili ready on the stove cooking away. Its always a winner. 

My semi artistic picture of an evening Big Ben 

My first full day in London was probably the most jam packed day of the bunch, I bought my first Oyster card to use on the buses (although can be used on the underground too), at just £1.40 per single journey rather than £2.40, I thought it was quite a bargain. 

We headed down to Leicester square to see what shows were available. I would recommend everyone going through London to see 'One Man, Two Guvners' at the Royal Haymarket Theatre, with the lead being Rufus Hound. I have to say he was HILARIOUS from start to finish and all in between!!! The theatre was very beautiful although we were not able to take any photos. We had some time spare before hand not being sure whether we would be seeing a matinee or evening show. It wasn’t a very nice day weather wise so we decided we wouldn't be traditional London tourists and go and look at all the traditional sights. Having seen the British museum, Science Museum and Natural History Museum many times we decided to get the bus to St Paul's Cathedral and go to the Museum of London. Once we had gone round the entirety of the Museum we headed back towards Leicester square for my penultimate Christmas present, dinner in China Town!! Mum and Dad have been there many times before so knew where to head for, a little restaurant just off the main stretch of China Town. 

After we had filled out bellies we headed to the theatre with plenty of time to spare for the show and I just wanted to be back in the warm and out of the rain. It was constantly raining all day and my shoes never got a chance to dry out, it took 3 days to dry them in total! Something which I am not used to, normally I just put them on the radiator and they dry very quickly. I would have to agree with the Daily Mail's review of One Man, Two Guvners really is the “funniest show on the planet”. Having read nothing about it before hand, I did a quick Wikipedia search, I know its not always accurate but it’s the easiest way, it turns out the title is pretty sef explanatory, there’s one man, who ends up working for two ‘guvners’ as well, there are love stories and tales of money misfortune. As we sat in our very good viewed seats in the Royal Circle, dad tried to take some photos. They wouldn’t allow it, even though there were no signs to say not!! With half an hour until the start of the show we thought this was a little unreasonable. About 15 minutes before the start time a skiffle and beat band came onto the stage all with their matching suites looking very 1960’s, it turns out this band was to be the house band for the play. During every sceen change The Craze would come and keep us entertained with a song. Rufus Hound, playing the lead was excellent, I couldn’t think of anyone better to play this hilarious role. There was quite a lot of improvisation which he proved excellent at doing. After the show I tweeted him, I’m not much of a twitter fan, but he was just that good! 5 minutes later I got my first ever re-tweet, which was very exciting indeed!! I would recommend everyone see this play. It was definitely worth the 5 month wait for my main Christmas present (Thanks Mum & Dad). 

Christmas pressie voucher

On Saturday we headed to the famous Portobello Road Market, when we arrived I was slightly disappointed at the lack of buzz and people, however, once we had walked one length and went back up the other side there was so much to see, there were people everywhere! Hidden arcades with more than 20 units in each rammed with antiques and treasures were good if you’re not looking for anything in particular but I imagine if you were you would spend so much time searching. Loads of money in those places! There was so much to look at! 

Sunday was going to be a couple of firsts aboard a moving LJ. Although Maida is a small tunnel, it was the first I’ve ever been through and I’d like to say I will not be doing that again in a hurry. Although the end was always in sight, I didn’t like it one little bit and was freaked out by the metal chains up and down the length of the tunnel!!! 

Little Venice, hope its not like the real one, was a little disappointing. 

My second first (if that even makes sense) were LOCKS!!! Camden locks at that, on a beautiful bank holiday weekend. It was packed and I think even if there had been 2 people watching I would have been scared but dad thought there was about 500 watching on all the bridges and down each side of the canal. Luckily we were able to partner up with a plastic boat so me and mum could take one side, thank goodness! Don’t think I could have done one side alone! I tried to look like I knew what I was doing and went along with it. I think I managed quite well. After all the activities of the day and finally finding a mooring, we headed out to the nearest high street and found a fab Indian restaurant.  

First and busiest lock at Camden 

We didn’t have any time to have a look at Camden market on Sunday so we went to have a look around on Bank Holiday Monday. Again so much to look at. The food stalls were very tempting, too tempting so we stopped for a break, mum had a massive bowl of Chinese food, dad one of the biggest burritos I’ve ever seen and I had a banana and Nutella crepe! It’s all very good quality and fairly good value for money. We had a seat each spectating where just one day previously we had been gawped at ourselves. 

 Later that evening we headed out to Trafalgar Square to see London Symphony Orchestra perform. It was very pleasant, although it did go on for quite a while and I started to get cold and tired of standing, very good for a free performance in the centre of London! Afterwards we headed for a stroll up the Mall and had a look up close to Buckingham palace. Don’t think I’ve ever been there with so few tourists we even managed to get onto the big roundabout in the middle. 

Mum and Dad outside the Queens House 

The nice weather didn’t carry on until Tuesday so we had a lazy day aboard which was well needed before heading back to Winchester and back to work. That’s the only problem with London… so much to see and do makes you so tired!

The leaving of London...

Yes we have finally left central London. Apologies if you saw LJ moored up in Paddington Basin for far longer than the seven day maximum allowable. We did have permission from C&RT though which was really helpful, difficult for them to argue against (if they chose to) there are still four boats in the basin that were there when we first visited on May 22nd! That all seems like a very long time ago now.

We have been away from the boat for just over a fortnight. It involved issues with a property that we own and rent out on the south coast. Although this blog is our diary for our cruising trip I can't publish too much about 'the issue' as we will be taking the tenants guarantor to court within the next few weeks. 

As an aide memoire to the experience so far - what is that god awful smell; I hope that came from an animal; how the hell do you get a stain up there; what is that in the sink trap; you are kidding - cleaned?; yes you are guarantor for the WHOLE of the tenants responsibilities; what lovely neighbours; sixteen hour days; expert witness for broken window; wasn't there a unit there?

You get the picture, but if not - 

Cleaned?

Must have missed that bit. 

 

Deb is in there somewhere, it was the only part of the house we could clean adequately, oh and its 5.15am

On the plus side we still love the little 1880's terrace, hidden away down a little lane that very few locals know is even there, but no more that 100 yards from shops, pubs, restaurants, doctors and buses! We bought it as a little 'down size' home for ourselves in the future and just rent it out until we are ready. 

We dragged our cases and tool boxes kicking and screaming across a sweltering London and back to LJ, fridge still happily working from solar and batteries at 90% despite the temperature still being at 30°C at eight in the evening. Starter battery still had enough juice to start on the button (its not connected to solar) and everything where we left it. 

We decided to leave London Sunday morning as if we find somewhere to stay another night it will turn into another week, London has that kind of lure, and its not going anywhere, we will come back. Actually probably next week but only for a day trip by train. Ill do a photo blog of my favourite London bits soon. 

We left a little later than intended and by the time we were in little Venice there were two boats on the facilities point, one on the water point just inside little Venice, between the cafe and bridge (I didn't know there was one there!) Oh there was also a trip boat moored alongside the cafe and a boat broken down in the bridge hole. We decided to wait it out the other side and tied up alongside a CaRT work boat just in front of another busy trip boat. Whilst waiting and getting hot and bothered I noticed an unlocked steel fronted block built cupboard, what do you know, there is a water point in there. I checked with a local boater who said that the facilities were for permitted moorers so we permitted ourselves to use it :-)  After a further stop off at Sainsbury's for a cupboard reload, a sweaty hour trying to free the prop from about half an acre of heavy duty damp proof membrane (probably off the back of a 'hippy hutch'as it had the tell tale signs of lots of gaff a tape) and an exciting few hours watching Marry win Wimbledon we pottered through the evening and at 9.30 moored out in the sticks for a day or so at King George's field, Southall. We're now catching up on relaxing, reading blogs and a few boatie jobs. Very glad to be home!