It was very windy overnight and still windy this morning. In fact, we considered what options we had if we decided to go nowhere today. There was a squally shower while we had breakfast, and then it calmed right down so we decided we’d go for it. It has been very gusty at times during the day, but fortunately hasn’t caused any problems. We swung away from our mooring and headed downstream to Boveney Lock, which was very close. A boat was just leaving and said they’d left the gates open for us; in fact our arrival was a happy coincidence, because they clearly had no intention of closing the gates. It did speed up our passage though.
There were loads of spaces on the various moorings in Windsor, and boats were also setting off in front and behind us.
At Romney Lock, some Canadians on a Le Boat hire boat had stopped well back on the lock landing, so the lockie asked them to move forward to make room for us and another boat. Forward they went, but then completely failed to get into the side again. There was all sort of back and forth, throwing of ropes, and almost turning right round — so much in fact that the lockie asked was ready before they made it to the landing again and they could go in. It was still some time before it was clear which side of the lock they were going, so we could go the other side. It’s a big lock, and even with four boats in it there would have been room for four. The lovely boat behind us soon went past once we were out of the lock.
The next section goes alongside Windsor Great Park, with strict No Mooring signs. The trees are laden with mistletoe.
When we got to Old Windsor Lock, the two boats which had powered ahead were still waiting so we could join them. This lock also has plenty of room.
The weir rebuild at Bell Weir Lock is still very much continuing, but at the compound at the Runnymede the crane was lifting out one of the tug boats.
As we needed to get some miles done today, we’d thought about stopping at the Egham moorings to give Macc a break and to have lunch. But it was still too early, so we looked at the maps and decided to carry on. We’d just missed a locking at Bell Weir Lock so had a little wait. This also happened to coincide with a spell of strong winds. Below the lock we were under the M25; when we escaped its clutches back in July, we’d really hoped we wouldn’t have to see it again this year.
We carried on through Staines, where there’s a nice bridge, and stopped just before Penton Hook Lock. We hadn’t particularly noticed these moorings before, but they’re on the Waterway Routes map, and there are bollards to moor to.
Macc had a walk, we had lunch, Macc had lunch and then another walk, and we set off again in time for the 1.30pm locking. The locks from here down to Teddington are all on drought restrictions. The Canadians had arrived also, having stopped in Staines, and were taking their boat into Penton Hook Marina, where Le Boat have another base. Adrian had had some nice chats with them as we shared the locks. With them disappearing off down to the marina, it meant we were on our own for Chertsey Lock, where there’s was no delay. Chertsey Bridge is just below the lock, and again it happened to be really windy here.
Our target was Shepperton, so we noted the spaces on the early moorings but carried on to see whether there was space on the ones just above the lock, outside the Thames Court pub. They turned out to be full, so we turned and went round Pharaoh’s Island and returned to the previous moorings, where there was masses of room. The little house at the top of the island looks as though it’s being demolished, so it’ll be interesting to see in future years what’s there.
We were saying, it sounds like a nice idea to live on an island, but we reckon it could get boring very quickly when the river is in flood and you can’t get off, or every time you need anything big. And we wondered how many times the skip on a pontoon will need to be taken across the river with the debris from the demolition, and how they’ll get all the materials for the new place over there.
The latest podcast episode is out today. It’s about the River Wey, and you can listen to it here. By chance, we’re actually pretty close to the entrance to the Wey again, because it’s just down Shepperton Lock.
16 miles, 6 locks, free mooring. (80 miles, 30 locks, £15)