Saturday 12 July 2014

Cool Running in hot weather.

P1040677

We left our mooring outside Hampton Court on Friday morning and travelled the short distance up river to Shepperton where we moored for a couple of hours to meet up with friends Jane and Derek who came aboard for coffee.

P1040689

We had a great catch up chat with them and, as so often happens, we forgot to get a proper pic of us all. So this is the best we can do with Doug on the boat taking a photo of James seeing them back to the car.  Derek’s already in the car and  James is not really leaving with them!

P1040691

We got a great mooring on Friday night on “the wall” below Shepperton lock – this was our lovely view from the boat.

P1040692

Today we intended to get e few miles under our belt and set off earlyish in glorious sunshine and the temperature threatening to rise to a record level for this year. The river conditions were akin to a millpond.

P1040695

We had a gentle, serine and very pleasant journey today – here getting overtaken, as we go under the M3, by “Hullabaloo”, a very nice older style launch in really beautiful condition.

P1040696

Some of the houseboats these days are looking distinctly alien …….

P1040701

…. and the riverside homes are also starting to look rather ‘adventurous’.

P1040703

Although the lock keepers are reporting very low river traffic this year, we were not without company in all of the locks today.

P1040707

Maintenance on the go - and multitasking as well! Cleaning the boat AND topping up the tan.

P1040708

The beautiful Thames gets even more so as we get closer to Windsor.  Things couldn’t look more idyllic as we pass Windsor Home Park on the left bank.

P1040711

This seemed to be the only remaining casualty of last winter’s terrible floods that we saw today.

P1040712

Her Majesty certainly keeps a tight ship on the Crown Estates!

P1040718

Finding a good mooring in Windsor for tonight, we took a walk into town for supplies.  The temperature certainly did top a high today and we quickly got back to “Chance” for some shade and a cool drink ……..

P1040719

……. but some still braved the heat to keep up the standards in Windsor ……..

P1040720

…… and others weren’t too bothered about standards as they took advantage of Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee Fountain to cool off.  We’re sure she wouldn’t mind!

P1040721

Back on board “Chance” this afternoon we had a very welcome visit from friend Alastair who lives in Windsor (when he’s not flying around the world!).  First met on board “Queen Mary II” in January this year he’s become a firm friend and it was great to see him again.

No comments:

Post a Comment