What the!!!!!! Who's that surfing behind FS.

Arrived back from the Palace gardens yesterday, to find bloggers Sue and Ken moored between us and a plastic cruiser. Noticed Cleddau moored at Dorney and Ken busy making Cleddau shine like a new penny but we sailed past without realising, although I did have an inkling we met them possibly on the K&A.  Kingston their destination, as was ours, with Jennie and Chris Tentatrice already moored. Seems we are all leaving from Teddington and heading for Brentford on Sunday, a bloggers convoy.

Beautiful end to a lovely day.

Cleddau had already left this morning, to catch up with Tentatrice and it wasn't long before we did the same pulling pins and following suit. The day was hotting up nicely even at 9am and plenty of people enjoying the river. One such person headed toward us on his paddle board and the next thing we knew he had tucked himself in behind FS enjoying the free ride.

And another enjoying the river, this Heron perched on a convenient sunken boat waiting for breakfast.

Coming into Kingston on Thames

 Because of the promise of a very good day the washing machine was filled and switched on and I had high hopes of it being finished by the time we reached Kingston. Unfortunately, the way I packed the drum, a flannel had wedged itself between the drum and door and we had quite a flood on the galley floor. Mopping up session followed, so our shopping spree was somewhat delayed.

 Notice Ian mopping the bow of FS and trying to eradicate the evidence? He came towards the mooring a bit sharpish and gave the concrete edge one hell of a clatter.  It's a wonder my plates are still on the wall and not smashed to smithereens!!!!

So we moored all together at Kingston Tentatrice, Cleddau and FS. They left before us on their way to Teddington, their shopping all done, leaving us still clearing up after the mini flood. After a quick trip to Lidl we left by 12.30ish and tucked ourselves in behind Tentatrice ready for the earlyish start in the morning, 8am to catch the incoming tide. Slack water follows soon after, so hopefully the left turn into Brentford lock after 90 minutes cruise will be a doodle.

Coming in to moor in front of Ceddau with Tentatrice at Kingston

This part of the Thames was full of sunken boats. It's a wonder the EA haven't removed them.

Teddington lock moorings in the distance and the ever present noise of the planes taking off.

We moved to fill the gap between Tentatrice and the cruiser

One of the big locks onto the tidal Thames.

Looking at both locks

Weir

 

The tidal Thames

And on route