At this rate it will take us months to get onto the Lee.

Yep! We have traveled the grand total of 1.5 mile and 2 locks. We could have stayed at Brentford by the park but it was a wee bit noisy last night and we did have something land on our roof thrown from the overhead car park. I shot out to see what it was and saw two giggling Chinese gentleman, who should have known better and both in their late forties, looking over the wall!! One shouted solly solly sorry and then run off like a couple of naughty school kids! The planes also started at a silly time this morning. We were directly over the arrival path into Heathrow and then when the janitors started shouting as they started to clean the offices of the GlaxoSmith Klien building opposite, we said enough was enough! After a walk into town to Morrisons we pulled pins and are now moored by The Fox pub at the bottom of the Hanwell Flight. Here we stay in the hope of meeting up with Richard and Sue of Indigo Dream and Jill and Graham on Matilda Rose.

Plane reflections on the glass of GlaxoSmithKline building.

Clitheroe's Lock

And finally:-

And so to Brentford

Awake early this morning worring about the tidal crossing and hoping the engine would behave itself. The sun was out when I looked out of the window and we thought we were in for a good day. Not to be though cause within 15 minutes of having our breakfast the heavens opened. With the sun still shinning and the raindrops dancing on the river it made for an interesting photo.

Early morning sun

And 15 minutes later.

By 8.15 we were underway. We had about 9 miles to do and 2 locks and still had to get our transit licence from Sudbury lock. The cost for a 24 hour pass, so long as you travel from the river Wey to Teddington, was £10. Arriving in time to use the facilities before the lock keeper arrived we entered the lock after the self service sign came down and while Ian was sorting out the licence the volunteer lock keeper took the stern rope and operated the paddles for the boat to descend. It took about one and half hours to get to Teddington and after booking in with the lock keeper, told to wait until beckoned. By 11. 45 we were in the lock. The boat behaved impeccably more then I can say about the boater in front. Only 4 boats had entered the right hand side of Teddington lock lock, a widebeam hotel boat went in first then another lone boater on his narrow boat, us and one more behind. Within minutes we were down and ready for the off. The bottom gates opened, widebeam left first followed by the narrow boat in front. We started to creep forward when suddenly the chap on the narrowboat disappeared from view. The engine was still in drive but no sign of the helmsman. Next thing we know the boat is heading for the lock wall and crashes into it with a almighty bang. That brought the chap back on deck!! Where he had been or what he was doing is anyones guess but fancy leaving the boat in drive and then leaving it with no one on the tiller. Ian said he also did the same thing on the river when he went to fetch his life jacket! Pillock comes to mind!

The journey from Teddington to Brentford took about 40 minutes and once through Thames Lock and then Brentford gauging locks, we found a place to moor by Boston Manor Park. Here are the final  few pictures of our fantastic Thames experience.

On the approach to Sudbury lock. Diesel spill which the EA were trying to clear by spraying detergent.

Sudbury lock

 Love or hate them.

Mistletoe

Sorry end to working boat Pegasus

Trip boat already out by Kingston road bridge

Teddington lock approach in the distance ( right hand side )

We used the right hand lock

Entering the lock

Looking back

Boats arriving ready to enter the non tidal Thames.

Richmond bridge

Richmond railway bridge with Twickenham Bridge and then Richmond foot bridge.

Richmond foot bridge by Richmond lock

Rather them then me.

This was the disappearing guy!

Moored by the park

And finally:-

Tufted ducks

Cormorant

Small Skipper

Female demoiselle

One very happy lady :-)

I feel quite sad that this is the last day on the river. Apart from that one incident with the engine over heating, the trip has been fabulous. The dawn greeted us this morning on the meadow with a hint of red, which may mean more bad weather on the way, but for today it has been wall to wall sunshine. To hot in fact!!!

Leaving the meadow mooring a bit later then normal, we made tracks to get back to Thames lock. A stop at Priory ruins was a must even though we couldn't see anyway of getting near to it. As the lock was with us I sidled in and waited with the boat while Ian went off to take a couple of photos. No other boat turned up so I didn't have to panic wondering when Ian would arrive back.

Underway again I spied in the distance a dredger at work. It appeared to be nearly across the whole  river and with boats moored on the bank side, I began to wonder if we could get past. So with the engine on tick over and being watched from the dredger by one of the workman we both held our breath and slowly edged past.There was no way I was going to squeeze through without the odd bump and luckily no one was on the narrowboat I happened to nudge but we made it through with sighs of relieve from the workman and from us! I can imagine the horror on hire boaters faces when they come up against this obstacle.

 

As our oil change is long overdue Ian wanted to stop at Byfleet to visit the chandlers. It also gave me a good opportunity to visit the tackle shop for more bait. Just before we pulled in, and on a long stretch of meadow, I finally got to see a fox! I was steering at the time and for once Ian was with me and could take over while I grabbed the camera. These shots aren't that brilliant but hey, I got to photograph a fox! I am one very happy lady!

Being chased by a crow.

As it turned out the chandlers had run out of oil  much to Ian's annoyance but I did mange to get my bait. So back at Thames lock we had a 15 minute wait for the lock keeper to come back from lunch. Then as another boat was waiting to come up he turned the lock round as it would be easier for us to get onto the landing below with it empty. All to soon we were released from the Wey back onto the Thames. I agree with everyone who blogged about how wonderful the Wey is. My all time favourite river so far.

Thames lock approach

Geoff the lock keeper opening the paddles on the flood lock

One very large gate.

 Once back on the Thames we moored on the EA 24 hour free moorings. But big problem was how did we get Jade off. The bank was very high! So we pulled pins and headed down river toward Sudbury lock. 1/2 mile down stream we spied the perfect mooring with just the right bank height for Jade. Shame there wasn't any shade but we managed to pull in without going aground and Ian is now in the process of making the boat ready for tomorrows adventure..

Mooring for tonight.

Tomorrow we reach Teddington and the tidal journey to Brentford. I am still a bit apprehensive because of the trouble with the engine a week ago, but the boat has been behaving itself and I have read up about throwing the anchor out ( never having to do it before ) so fingers crossed the crossing goes well.

And finally:-

Trying to stay cool

Good meal...good price..

The meal at the New Inn was everything it was cracked up to be. Good food and good service. Price was very reasonable for 3 main meals and 3 deserts.The total only coming to roughly £48 for the three of us. It wasn't until Ian checked the bill this morning that we realised that all the drinks had been missed off. Thats 2 pints of Bitter, ( Ian ) 2 pints coke, ( Chris cause he was driving ) and 2 large glasses of red wine for guess who! We did feel a bit guilty this morning but then again it wasn't our fault they forgot to add it to the bill. Anyway after washing the roof and side of the boat and taking Jade for her walk, we traveled a few 100yds to the water point. The other side of the boat was washed and within 30 minutes we were once more on our way. As we dont need to be off the River Wey until tomorrow and because I loved the meadow so much below Paper Court Lock, that is where we made for. Ian will check batteries and maybe do a bit of painting. I'm off exploring again and taking my macro lens on the camera to see what else there is to photograph. It's a bit windier today so trying to keep my subjects still might be challenging but I'm going to give it a go.

Meadow moorings

Tiny Perch. Still gave me a bit of a fight though!

And finally:-

Some sort of moth perhaps?

Grass hopper