Saturday 14 June 2014

Kingston Upon Thames

14th June 2014

It has been a very weird day.  A day of 2 halves really.  This morning we were all lounging around enjoying the freedom of not having anything planned.  Susan cooked loads of bacon for sarnis.  Then she decided to go for a walk into Kingston Upon Thames to check out future moorings after she had taken the rubbish to the lock bins.  She witnessed two squirrels playing on top of the bins.  Sadly, no camera to hand - again!!!  Pete groomed Mazey.  All the family suffered last night as it was hot and humid especially Mazey with her fur coat on.  Now she is naked....    I was OK as my bottom was in the water, so I remained cool (thanks for asking).  I did try my best to allow air inside but there was not a lot around to be honest.

Once Susan was back from her walk, Pete decided it was time to move.  He did not like the constant noise from the weir.  Susan said that she hadn't noticed it.  Susan said that the Thames Path walkway was very pleasant and she had enjoyed her walk despite the heavy showers.

Life jackets are put back on - Mazey and Susan anyway.  As we go past the weir, Pete had to accelerate a lot to get me through the current that was drawing me  ever closer to the weir.  I was so grateful, once we had gone past it........  Susan commented that we had also just gone past Teddington Studios which is a large building next to the weir.

Then Pete noticed the large water bus looming, quickly, at my stern.  Pete pulled over so that they could pass - then we played helter skelter over their wash.  I enjoyed it and so did Pete but Susan was not amused.  It was very choppy, like being at sea, Susan commented.

Water bus
After this episode we seemed to be the target of every boater (especially sailing dinghies).  Susan was very unsettled.  Pete cruised me through the obstacles brilliantly.  Safe and sound with no scratches or bumps.  Pete says it is so busy because it is the weekend.  He feels that it will be quieter during the week.  We all hope so!!!  Susan isn't happy - she wants to be back on a canal (Trent and Mersey or Shropshire Union - anywhere other than here).

Boat attack

Large house boats on river

Kingston Upon Thames bridge

We moor up just after Kingston Bridge alongside a park - Barge Road.  The first 24 hrs are free.  The next night is £5.  Moorings are a maximum of 48 hours.  The wash from the boats that pass us regularly create a mini tidal wave.  Susan thinks that she might have to get the sea sickness tablets out for Pete.  But he says he is OK.

Just as the family decide to go for a walk into the town, as they start to step off, they notice that I have risen and that where there was a dry wooden platform to walk on, it is now awash with water.  Getting deeper by the minute.  Pete spends a long time sorting out the fenders and releasing the ropes.  Susan ends up putting on her brown knee high leather boots that are for the winter and not a summer's day.  She climbs over into the water and jumps up the bank.  Then she goes and gets "a few bits" from Waitrose.  Meanwhile, Pete keeps an eye on me to make sure I do not keel over.

Pete and Susan are surprised about this high-tide effect as we are in a non-tidal area....... but at high tide there is obviously more water.  This will happen again between 5:30 and 7:00 am tomorrow morning.  I think we are prepared for it.

At 9:00pm we seem to be plagued by moths.  There are zillions of them on all the windows and over the well deck.  All the windows get closed.  By 11:00pm they have vanished.......

Total 2 miles




No comments:

Post a Comment