River Thames

Eight days ago we locked out of Limehouse at 0600, apart from picking up debris on the prop off HMS Belfast we had a very pleasant trip up river and moored at Minima YC for the rest of the day and night. Naturally it was Wednesday, evening sailing and bar night!

 

Thursday saw us moored at Molesey opposite Hampton SC, so we spent time going to the house to do the washing, catch up on the post etc. A very strange thing happened on Thursday evening, we were asked if we came from Crick, June explained that we moored at Crick and that the car was there and we needed it. This guy was working in Molesey, staying in a B&B Monday to Friday and lived close to Crick. The outcome was that he gave me a lift to the Marina on his way home. Isn’t life amazing?

 

We spent most of the weekend at Lady Lindsey’s Lawn, Shepperton, until we had a call Sunday morning from our Ian, who was driving back from a wedding in Norfolk with Jackie and Tim and Kate in another car. They ended up having a BBQ with us back at Molesey. It was very good.

 

We have moored in Sunbury and have been to Chertsey Lock for water, mooring on Chertsey Mead for the night. Today sees us back at Molesey and visiting home. We will be at Minima YC on Saturday.

Return to the Thames

We decided to finish our time on the Lee and Stort by going in one day from Enfield to Limehouse Basin. Above Enfield is wonderful, below a drudge. So we set off very early due to the forecast temperatures and were going great until the very last lock before Limehouse. We were informed by BW that the navigation was closed due to a fire!

 

We had to retrace our steps to the Hertford Union cut, climb three locks to the junction with the Regents Canal and drop down four locks to the basin, all instead of ONE lock!

 

We stayed two nights in the basin, taking time to explore a little of Canary Wharf.

 

Now we are moored outside Minima Yacht Club, ready for tonight’s sailing and bar night. Tomorrow we go home to do the washing etc.

Rivers Lee and Stort

After attending Ray’s very successful Pub Party, by tube from Little Venice, we have joined the Rivers Lee and Stort and cruised both to Bishops Stortford and Hertford. Once the long drag from East London is over, these rivers are a gem. The traffic is negligible, the scenery outstanding and life is very pleasant.

 

Terry and Wendy Stark spent a day with us, boating from Sawbridgeworth to Roydon.

 

By chance we found a Netto store selling Marston’s Single Malt at 99p for 500ml. An absolute bargain!

 

Purely by chance we discovered our ISP at home had gone, “tits up”! Nick did a bit of research and sent the results by email, so I have signed up with TalkTalk, to be connected in September. If the service is as good as the shop I went in it will be superb.

 

Incidently we have been relying on unsecured wireless networks for internet connection and generally it does not take much walking to find one.

 

We are now making our way slowly to Limehouse, where we will lockout on to the Thames at 0545 on Wednesday, Minima Yacht Club for the evening.

 

Terry and June