A couple of tense days

Day 114 and we had a peaceful night and we are floating, hurrah! Woken by people having an animated conversation as they walked past at about 0530. Went down Hanwell locks which were nicer than I had anticipated, met a couple of boats coming up, one right at the bottom which was very useful. CRT are doing dredging near the M4, the stuff they are pulling out looked like silty tar – horrible. Moored in Brentford basin which has been really done up since we last came through here, quite pleasant moorings.

Waited here about three hours before venturing through the gauging lock to the Thames Lock. J did a reconnoitre ahead by walking down to the Thames lock, found it very dismal so we decided to wait in basin as long as possible. Whilst waiting had chat to boat which had just come up from the Thames who were heading back home to the middle levels, they had been about a week ahead of us coming up from the Nene and had gone the other way around to Brentford (via the Oxford canal and down the Thames) and a couple of guys, Ian and Paul on “Charlotte May”, with their two lovely Schnauzer dogs. Ian and Paul were going the same way as us so agreed to travel down through the locks to the Thames with them, they seemed even more nervous than us. Ian and Paul had been in the same marina as us until recently. One of their dogs was a twelve week old puppy who was the cutest pup we’ve seen since the husky cross pups we saw in Sweden. If we had been with them much longer there would have been a real chance of dog-napping going on.

D helped a young female single hander down through the gauging lock just after us although she wasn’t going down onto the Thames until the next day. If I were her I would have stayed in the basin, much nicer and not tidal.

Passage onto the Thames uneventful but exciting.

A widebeam was also going down onto the Thames and went through the gauging lock ahead of us; unfortunately this meant he was ahead of us once we reached the Thames. He was weaving all over the place, and going slowly so difficult to overtake, Charlotte May was also ahead of us and not really brave enough to overtake, but gaining confidence. We got large branch caught on the bow just as we were in a position to overtake so had to back off and deal with it. Eventually we and Charlotte May managed to overtake, we both were trying to get to Teddington lock and off the Thames in the window before the tide turned. Went through Teddington with Charlotte May and a large Dutch Gin Palace, both the others needed licences so that was the last we saw of the crew on Charlotte May and the dogs were safe.

Started looking for mooring D rejected some as he thought they might be noisy but when we got to Hampton Court there was no space, tried mooring on opposite bank but too shallow so went up through next lock (Molesey) and found somewhere on the bank; a bit shallow but apparently OK – very late by now and J had a sense of humour failure. Fortunately supper of roast veg and Halloumi had been partially cooked on the way so supper was quick. Large/ fast boat went past us very late about 2145 and we were bounced about on the gravel for about two minutes afterwards.

Day 115 and J woken by D with coffee and comment about her ability to hold on – we were as huge tilt as water level had dropped overnight and we were now well aground. J had another sense of humour failure as narrow boats really don’t feel nice on a big tilt. Got off the mooring as quickly as possible in case level dropped any further. J on helm going slowly whilst D had breakfast. Very quiet on the river, just a few rowers, some of whom came close to ramming us from behind. Went through Sunbury lock on our own, smaller lock was not being used so in huge lock on our own. D had to work hard as the electronic controls on the bottom gates and sluices were not working so had to be operated manually. Afterwards we found damage on newly painted part of boat probably from very high sides of lock mooring – very sad.

Found the Dutch Gin Palace above the lock, they must have been boat that went past us late last night as they said they were cruising until nearly midnight, unlike us they wouldn’t be able to wild moor.

Moved onto Wey navigation, caught up a boat called “Norton Sun” with Mary and Martin on board. Bought seven day licence and borrowed windlass. Mary and Martin were heading to same place as us, well nearly, so travelled with them. Wey navigation is owned by National Trust who require that you use ropes and switch off engines in lock, tricky as locks have big draw on them. I think they might be interesting on your own or with very differently sized boats. The Wey has a much more canal like feel and feels really slow after being on the Thames. Stopped by pub just below Pyrford lock. Such a relief to get somewhere early in the day and find moorings where we wanted to be.

Spent the afternoon at Wisley which was only about a ten minute cycle ride away. Haven’t visited for a long time. Lovely new wire sculpture of Dandelions which gently swayed in the breeze.

Very pleasant warm afternoon. Wisley really busy, particularly with young children which seemed surprising to me as they aren’t allowed to take toys or games in; it is a horticultural garden after all.