Tuesday 5th August

Nigel arrived by train to Brentford at 9.30am and we moved down through the gauging lock to Thames Lock to re-enter the Thames. Small discussion with a very young and cautious lockkeeper as to whether it was advisable to leave as high tide had been an hour previously. A call to Teddington confirmed that they were happy for us to enter there so we decided to give it a try. The worst scenario would be that we made no progress and had to re-enter Thames Lock. It was hard going at first but after a while we only seemed to be going against the stream rather than the stream and tide. 

When we reached Richmond Lock the sluice gates had been lowered 10 mins before we got there. You can see the sluice in the right arch and the lock on the left. The sluice keeps more water upstream until the next high tide.

The lock is manned and we were in with 2 other small boats and an enormous one. Here is Jadi entering the lock.

The cost is £5 paying by card and £6 cash. We didn't fancy handing the card up to the lockkeeper in case it disappeared into the water!

Nice properties started to line the banks, some with boat houses.

Soon we were off to Teddington Lock where you need to buy a licence for the Thames. At £120.00 for 2 weeks Graham thought he was buying the Thames. 

The lockkeeper here (not Nigel) has to be the grumpiest we have met so far. Hope things improve as we head up the Thames. 

Not too sure how to classify this object - boat? submersible? folly?

Nigel left us at Teddington and we moored for the night at Kingston with a lovely view of the bridge and  outside our favourite shop which also has a Waitrose! It has free 24hour mooring so I think that we were very lucky. The photo appears to show a whole line of potential mooring points but there are only bollards at one end.

Dave and Kate joined us on board for a drink and we shall see them again tomorrow evening. Rain is forecast but we hope to look around Kingston tomorrow before moving up towards Hampton Court.