Goodbye London, tomorrow the Thames

 

At last we have reached Brentford! The thingamagig has been fitted, hooray, and we now know how much power we do or do not have!
We left Cowley Peachey early this morning from a mooring outside Tesco and came down to a crowded Brentford Gauging Lock at about 12.00.p.m. This made a journey of about 4 and a half hrs. Have had to double bunk with an ownerless boat as there is no other mooring.
On the way down we negotiated a flight of locks called Hanwell Locks. There is  a lovely high brick wall runs along a section of this towpath and you can just make out some of the high buildings. Apparently this was an asylum and to the boatman it was known as Asylum lock. They would deliver coal here underneath an archway that is now bricked up. The building is now part of Ealing Hospital. I wonder what else was delivered here apart from coal!

The former Asylum walls

The lock at Brentford looks a bit complicated, and as I don't like electronic controls, Andy is going to come and help set the lock in the morning. I can't believe that C&RT let you control this lock yourselves and don't have a lockkeeper. There are twin locks with a centre island. On the island are two electronic control boxes controlling each lock. Before you can do this you have to negotiate the bridge and locked gate. Then decide which lock you want to use and start pressing buttons! Oh the power!  Heyho!

Brentford Gauging Lock

The Thames lock is very similar, with one exception, this one is manned. We are planning to go down to the Thames lock by 8.00a.m to go out on the rising tide. There are already two boats waiting down in the pound. We have been for a look and recee'd the exit out onto the Thames, and idled away a pleasant couple of hours sitting in the sun watching the shenanigans of other people in a myriad of types of boats. a group of youngsters came racing down in a RIB with a huge outboard merrily showboating with a huge wake being created when suddenly, right in front of us, it hit a submerged sandbank and came to an embarrassing and immediate halt, very nearly catapulting the occupants out over the bow, and appearing to do some damage to the outboard. Oh dear, the price of showing off!!! pity I didn't video it, could have got a couple of hundred quid from 'You've been framed'
Hopefully if all goes to plan we should be in Teddington on the non-tidal Thames by 11.00 a.m Just in time for a late breakfast.


New form of Narrowboat! or was this Jeremy Clarkson?

Have got the life jackets out and Andy has put the anchor ready in the front cratch. All we need now is good weather with little wind.

Moored at Yeading

After a surprisingly quiet and pleasant night spent at Kensal Green, we set off with the intention of making for Cowley Peachey, enjoying cruising in the wonderful sunny morning, with the added delight of very light wind. Along the way we passed more boats than we have ever seen before in one day on the Paddington Arm. If they think they are going to more at Little Venice or Paddington Basin they are likely to be disappointed from the congestion that we saw there a couple of days ago.

When we got to Highline Yachting boatyard at Northolt we decided to pull in and top up with diesel and empty the elsan. However when we found that they also had a laundry we thought it prudent to get the bedding etc washed. So a quick stop turned into a couple of hours enabling us to wash and polish the stbd side of the boat, and change several of our books at their library as well.

All tasks completed we set off again, and as we approached 'Willow Tree marina' saw a nice gap among the moored boats on the 'offside' by a nature reserve. Checking with the crew of one of the boats that it was not a private mooring we pulled in. As we enjoyed a well earned bottle of beer sitting outside in the hot sun we noticed some people walking across the park carrying 'Tesco' bags. A quick check on my phone revealed that there was a large shopping complex barely 1/4 mile away.

Suitably refreshed, and deciding that our primroses in the pots on the roof were now decidedly poorly, we ventured out and found a large B&Q where we were able to get some Lobelia's, then over the road to a 'Tesco Extra' for a few bits.

On retuning to the boat Jean got busy replacing our roof garden, and we retired inboard for a shower and relax after an unexpectedly busy but very satisfying day that we rounded off with a nice bottle of red wine to celebrate. As Wallace would say " A Cracking Day Grommet". Sad aren't we, we are so easily pleased in life!!!

Today we woke late, evidence of how peaceful it is here at this mooring, and decided that we will stay here until we get the call from Steve at 'Highline' that they have got the parts and are ready for us.

Jean has spent all day deep cleaning the inside of the boat, all cupboards emptied out, contents cleaned and sorted, Oven thoroughly cleaned, and odd bits of hand washing done. I have serviced the engine, Oil and Filter change and general clean and check ready for our still anticipated cruise on the Thames. Very hot and humid today so will not be doing much else, and expect some thundery showers later by the feel of it. 

Kensal Green

Had a quiet weekend catching up on chores. Walked up the road to Warwick Avenue to make use of the launderette, just managed to get the washing done before the rain came.
Sunday was also  a quiet day. We did walk along to Paddington Basin to see if there were any mooring spaces as our time was nearly up at Little Venice. Having spotted one space we made a plan to get up at 7.00a.m., fill up with water and cruise down to see if the space was still there on Monday morning.
Having risen early we moved Josephine to the water point, and I went and recee'd the basin whilst Andy filled Josephine with water. (This procedure would take over 3/4 of an hour!)
Alas having walked along with the commuters on their way to Paddington Station, I was disappointed to find all moorings taken.
However by the time the tank was full, we decided to take a slow cruise down there to see if anyone was up and thinking of moving on, but no luck. Paddington Basin was not for us this year!
We then decided to cruise along about a mile and a half to Sainsbury's and top up the store cupboards. We also availed ourselves of their restaurant and had breakfast, it being 9.00 a,m.by now. Breakfast was cheap but not to be recommended! Was not the best we have had.
All fuelled up we headed along a few yards to Kensal Green where we spotted a mooring. We are in great surroundings, having Wormwood Scrubs Prison on our left and Kensal Green Cemetery on  our right! The neighbouring boats are quite dergy and look, as our New Zealand friends would say, like Lingalongers!
We have done some boat washing as she is filthy from being in Little Venice for nearly 2 weeks, with all the dust and sticky stuff from the trees, that living in the City occurs.
Hope to move on tomorrow, heading nearer to Cowley Peachy for the electrical thingamajig to be fitted at the end of the week. Getting a bit fed up with waiting around! Still intend to go down the Thames, hopefully next week, watch this space!

Science Museum

Today we walked from Little Venice (yes reader we are still here!) through Hyde Park, via Princess Diana's Memorial Fountain that looks like a circular foot spa, and on to the Science Museum at South Kensington. One of the things that caught our eye was this gas turbine car, rather stylist don't you think?

It's not only Andy that is full of gas!

There did not appear to be any of the old machinery working. This was the only model we could find working, sad really as years ago a lot of the original exhibits would have been working.

Model of Beam Engine

As per usual we walked our socks off and Andy has some sore blisters! TLC needed on the way home! 

On our own at Little Venice

 

Here we are moored at Little Venice, creating a blockade of Aston Marina boats!

Thank you Elly for helping us to go 'live' yesterday. Elly and Mick (nb  Parisien Star) and Carol and Barry (nb Wintons Folly) set off this morning to venture onward through the Regents Canal to the London Boat Museum where they are mooring overnight. It is a bit lonely now!!

Took the opportunity this afternoon to top up our water tank, Our 'Kiwi' friends Elizabeth and John (nb Helen Louise ) have kindly lent us their large water carrier in order that we need not move the boat up to the water tap. Having made several trips back and forth we finally topped up. Thanks  Elizabeth and John.

No other plans for today, may go to Greenwich tomorrow. Curry for tea, yummy!

Little Venice

Hi, have arrived at Little Venice. Actually have been here for a few days. Walked our socks off!!

We actually arrived on Tues 12th June and having been warned by Carol that Paddington basin was going to be shut for dragonboat racing on the day we planned to arrive, so instead we triple moored with narrowboats Parisienne Star (Elly and Mick) and Winton's Folly (Carol and Barry) in Little Venice.

Have been to see the workings of Tower bridge which was new to us, beautifully kept engines and quite incredible that you can walk inside the bridge.

Thursday we visited HMS Belfast and spent the day climbing ladders! Andy said I was very brave, in all those small spaces! Here he is with his new guns to help us get through the locks without queuing!

Weather lousy today - raining, but had a successful trip to Hamleys and purchased some birthday presents for the grandchildren.