Saw this by the lock at Brentford.. had to take a photo.. 🙂 And now.. over to our guest bloggers for this edition (I’m driving.. there logging! )
( By Dawson )
I woke up and heard Keith and Anna talking and, of course by accident, i fell back to sleep, and then suddenly i got woken up by Celeste telling me to get up and help move the boat – but i fell asleep again, which i can’t believe i did.
When i woke up again I could hear Celeste and Keith talking, so i got up and went to help. I came up to the top realised i had to walk across another boat to get the dogs off so they can do there thing – the reason i had walk across another boat was because we had double breasted them the day before, (double breasted meaning boats side by side).
We got the dogs back on and then there was Dixie and Teddy left, I went to get Dixie but she decided to walk as far as away from me as possible when i was trying to pick her up, someone saw me getting her and thought i was jogging not chasing the dog – I know this because he later shouted it to me when i was getting Teddy, then when we got all the dogs on Keith was getting all stressed because we were going on the Thames that day and he thought we were going to be late for when the locks open and close because of the tides.
So i checked for all the cats and told him but he must not of heard me because a couple of minutes later i heard him counting how many cats were on board, so i opened the door to tell him i had done that but i also opened the door to get a pair of trousers, (because it was a bit cold on my legs outside) so he told me fine just close the door so none of them get out so what do i do – I lock the door the only way i can with the latch so a couple of minutes later he opens the door and him being all stressed he ripped out the bit the latch goes into so then he starts getting all angry and worried.
At the same time he’s on the other side of the door kind of growling like any person does when they are angry after that, he came out so then i could finely get my trousers and tell Anna, because she wanted to know, after that i came out and went down the side of the boat to the bow so Keith can pass the bow rope to me from the bank so we can go – but i had to stay in the bow just in case we need the anchor. The first lock we reached we were really close to but me and Celeste didn’t have to do it because it was electric and there was a lock keeper as well. When we came out the lock the boats were all mahussive ones that can go on the ocean/sea,
We reached the next lock but had to wait because the lock keeper wasn’t there yet and we had to wait anyway because there were 3 ahead of us any way there was also some one behind us who had to buy a temporary licence, he also had this cool hat from Vietnam or Mongolia.
( By Celeste )
( More to follow… )
( By Keith )
Yes.. was worried about this run (so was a bit snappy with the slightest thing going wrong!).. as I don’t know how this boat deals with the swell and wash from other boats moving at speed going past in either direction.. and when the water tank is full – which is was yesterday morning – it does ride a little low with the drain holes fairly close to the water line.. but we had Andrew aboard Mariner II taking the lead all the way through to Teddington.
It was slow going.. mainly because Andrew’s boat has a 20 year old 12hp engine, and ours is a 40hp Barrus Shire – so we were just above tick-over all the way with the tide so we didn’t overtake him. As I had no idea where to go (read the guide – but its better to just brainlessly follow someone else with less to worry about!) – was more than happy to just plod along. (We will be moving tomorrow, we may be able to get a bit of speed up, and test the 9mph speed limit.. and give the engine some work to do to help decoke the cylinders).
Thankfully the weather was good, not a lot of other boats around and it was very flat with no wind or waves.. so a very easy journey.
Managed to get through Richmond weir lock with the gates open at high tide – so that’s one plan done (didn’t have to pay to get through the lock) and pulled into Teddington Lock (sorry – phone dead.. no photos)! all with keepers and electric controls.. said our goodbyes to Mariner II as they were running all the way back to the River Wey – and said cheerio and thanks to the tidal Thames.. and onto Kingston.. pulled up outside John Lewis.. yes.. its a high wall.. but we got the most sensible spot to allow us to get off the boat!
We will be moving again tomorrow to the other side of the bridge (and the river) hopefully, there is a spot for us, as it will be better for the dogs and cats having a bit of grass next to us..