September 2024 - Three more grey days

Hampton Court Palace (River Thames) – Sunday 8th September

At long last some sunshine.  The last few days have been so grey, yet warm.

We were heading for Kingston for our last night of heading downstream.  It has been 15 days since we left Lechlade.  It has been nice with the current with us but now it will be against us and with all the rain we have had recently, it will be a bit more difficult than usual.

Just two locks - Sunbury and Molesey, both manned.  The river was busy with lots of rowers and dinghy sailors who don’t seem to look where they are going! 

We got down to Kingston but the moorings were full.  Half of it was taken with long term moorers and it looked like the other half with people like ourselves.  We turned round and hoped that the moorings at Hampton Court were still empty.  When we went down there were only two boats there.  They have increased the size of the mooring at Hampton Court Palace so it is now double what it was.  There was plenty of room for the two boats so we moored up.

Tracey and I took the dogs for a walk and Rio went berserk - mad zoomies!

In the evening, Richard and I were joined by two of his step-daughters who both live in Thames Ditton.  It was lovely to see them even if it was only for a short time. 

11 miles
2 locks


Thames Court - Shepperton (River Thames) – Monday 9th September

I was sent this photo by Julie Fosbury from Ubique.  She took it from the River as they passed us on Sunday.

Yet another grey morning and as we approached Molesey lock the wind was howling straight into our faces.  Rio had his jumper on and snuggled into his donut! 

As you leave Walton-on-Thames you have a choice of going round the old river course or down Desborough Cut.  This was created to improve flow and ease navigation on the river, and was completed in 1935.  We have been, how can I put it, horrified by the amount of liveaboard boats down there now.  They are all really tatty and are a disgrace to the River.  This one has been there so long it has become part of the bank!

While we were in Shepperton lock we decided to stop at Thames Court if there was a space and there was.  During the afternoon the sun came out and it was very pleasant sitting on our decks with the pram cover sides in as there was still a nasty wind.

We went into Thames Court for dinner.  It was an OK meal though my rib eye steak was full of gristle.  I complained and got a free pudding!

These are two photos that I took this evening.  The first is the sunset and the second is the house opposite us which was all lit up. 

Below Shepperton lock is D’Oyly Carte Island.  I have known Shepperton since 1978 and it has never been lived on in that time.  Originally Richard D'Oyly Carte bought the island in 1890, and built the giant property which has 13 bedrooms, a grand ballroom, 5 bathrooms, 40 boat moorings and, on the mainland, parking for 45 cars.  Andy Hill bought the island in 2021 for just over £3m.  The house is now being restored and there is a cafe which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.  Sadly we just haven’t had time to visit it but the island is certainly looking much better now.  There is a story that Richard D’Oyly Carte had a crocodile on the island, but it escaped!  So if you think you have seen a crocodile on the Thames, then you may well have really seen one!

6 miles
3 locks


Windsor (River Thames) – Tuesday 10th September

We started the day with a Tesco delivery.  It made much more sense than tying up in Staines, trudging over the bridge, walking round Sainsburys and then walking back to the boat again!

It was cold and windy and I was glad that I wasn’t steering, though I took over while Richard had his lunch and it was hard work. 

Our destination was Windsor as there is very little mooring between Staines and Windsor.  There is some along Runnymede but it is right up against the road.

All of today's locks were manned which I was surprised about.  At Old Windsor lock we had to wait for quite a while.  Rio took the opportunity to do some ferreting!

As we approached Romney lock it started to rain, though not too hard thank goodness.  We had to share the lock with a huge trip boat which we didn’t think was going to get in. 

We hoped to get moored on the Eton side of the River and managed it though Steve had to breast up as they draw more than we do and he couldn’t get in.

We sat and chatted until the rain came down in stair rods which was for too much for us!

Under Staines Bridge we found this blue plaque.  The Dirty Water Campaign highlights the need for government and industry to act urgently to stop poisoning, and then start cleaning up coastal waters and waterways across the UK and was put there by Extinction Rebellion.  Over 80 blue plaques in the style of English Heritage’s London blue plaques appeared on UK beaches and rivers. The plaques hoped to highlight the decision made by UK politicians to block a law that would see better protection for rivers from raw sewage dumping. The plaques have been installed around the UK by various environmental groups including Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Surfers Against Sewage. The plaque in Staines was removed by the authorities but has obviously been put back since! 

14 miles
5 locks