Since when has Lidl opened on a Sunday at 11am? We timed our arrival perfectly for a shop at 10 having left Harefield by 8.30. So having eventually found a mooring by bridge 186 (And that was no mean feat. Wall to wall boats right through Uxbridge and the only spaces available was too shallow and impossible for us to get into) we walked the half mile to Lidl. First thing I noticed was the lack of cars in the car park. Time was now 10.15 am. The exit doors were open but not the entry door and that's when we read the notice saying they opened at 11 am and closed at 5 pm. What!!!! Blast... now for a long wait ahead of us. 45 minutes later and with numerous cars and shoppers all turning up expecting them to have opened and all miffed that they weren't, (a few decided not to wait) and we were finally able to shop.
Just before Cowley lock, we watched as a boat went in and then with dismay noticed the crew starting to shut the gates. A few loud blasts on the horn and they obligingly opened up for us. We left them by the Slough Arm going into Packet Boat Marina as we continue onwards to Bulls bridge.
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| Floating Pennywort is also on this stretch. |
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| Slough Arm |
It looks like this part of the GU has had a makeover. Much neater in appearance and hardly any rubbish. Lots of duckweed though and plenty of that blanket weed to wrap itself around the prop. We managed to avoid this as much as possible and a reverse every now and then cleared what weed we had collected.
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| That boat moored had a very bad list. |
Got to Tesco at Bulls bridge junction and... couldn't see anywhere to moor. We got lucky, though, as we spied a boat leaving and right by the water point as well. And before anyone complains, this is also a 24-hour mooring. Great, so we can stay until tomorrow as that is the day we leave from Brentford and travel up the tidal Thames to Teddington. 3 pm is when the tide is right so we rather fancy being one of the front-runners.
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| Coming toward the Tesco Moorings and that boat just leaving. |
And seen on route,
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| Burnt out and sunk cruiser |
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| Seen at South Harefield |
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| And a protester. Good on them! |
Wildlife today,
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3 comments:
I did not realise you were heading for the Tidal Thames - do enjoy. We had a fantastic trip, but all the other boats did make it a little stressful. You need eyes in the back and sides of your heads. Looking forward to the blog post. Jennie x
Me again! Please ignore the previous comment - it has been a long hard day (cleaning and packing up the boat and then unpacking at this end) and I was talking through the back of my hat! The penny has dropped that you are going from Brentford to Teddington, not Lyme House! Enjoy just the same. Jennie
Thanks, Jennie we will and yes we all have those senior moments! Xxx
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