Well, that didn’t quite work to plan! Plus, no photo’s.. but believe me, it’s a hot one today!
We have had a few good days here – the bank holiday was entertaining to say the least, what with boats jostling for a bit of river space to go through Kingston, sail boats, paddle boats, rowers, rental boats and paddle boarders.. and yes, I also made the most of the day off and went swimming with the kids, even though I was aching later on because of it.. ended up stretching muscles I forgot I had!
There was one pair in an inflatable who seemed to be asleep and drifting – that almost got run down by the trip boat!
Set off this morning to make a run to Molesey Lock as we need to leave Barge Walk mooring for 72 hours before were allowed to come back again, and so that we can get a tank of water and a pump out, as it’s been nearly 2 weeks, and whilst the toilet is not complaining of a full tank, its going to soon!
Now that the boards are all green, it was a steady run from Kingston to Hampton Court.
Got up through the lock, and as expected there was a boat on the water point – but by the time I turned round and came back they were about ready to move off. Pulled in and got the hose connected. I’m going to have to cut a section of the hose I believe and get some hose-lock connections from Kingston (if I can) and make up a working smaller hose, that can be re-connected to the longer one if needed – as using a 20meter hose on these taps is stupid, the flow is so slow it takes over an hour to fill the tank!
Whilst the water was running, time to get some pump out cards from the lock keeper. Now – I realise that were all still enjoying “Corona” time – and that for safety, there are restrictions.. but surely there must be something else that can be done. I asked the lock keeper for 2 pump out cards.. one to use now, one for in 2 weeks time, just in-case when we need a pump-out, there is no lock keeper to buy one from.
The lock keeper stated that we can have a card, it should only be one, but in this instance, we can have two – at no charge!
I queried why there was no charge for this, and basically, due to Corona, they are not allowed to take cash, no one but lock keepers are allowed in the lock keepers office.. and the card machine is in the office and doesn’t reach to the door – and, as it is everywhere else, they are not allowed to take your card to use it for you.. – so in essence, even though they should charge for them, they have no possible way of taking the payment.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not objecting to a free pump out, but surely EA, this is not going to be cost effective for you, there has to be something you can do!
But, pump out done, water done (well, almost full) but another boat is waiting, and this tap it taking forever – so just over 3/4 of a tank will have to do for now. Back down the lock and we were hoping to stop at Hampton Court for a few days – but by the time we finished with the tap, the Hampton Court moorings were totally full – so it’s back to Kingston and moor up on the Kingston side, which I hate as the mooring is not Narrowboat friendly, certainly when we don’t have any large river fenders we can deploy and the boat keeps drifting under the concrete edging and getting jammed!
So it will be a noisy night tonight.. but were only here for 1 night, there is no “additional days” on this side, its 24 hours free.. and don’t come back for a further 48..
So for now.. the cats are on the roof, enjoying the attention from the passing crowds, and not quite sure what to make of this, roads, cars, people, noise – this is not at all what they have been used to, not even when we moored in Banbury!
But, for now, time to get on with some work, and for the kids to trip again once on the stern…
