Through the Tidal Thames

Monday 26^th March, 2012

We had both been very tired, so a good night’s sleep was a blessing. We slept for ten hours and awoke to another beautiful morning. There was no rush to do the three miles down to the Thames, since we could only go through with the tide at about 4:00pm, so we had a nice lazy morning.

After Osterley Lock, there was a dramatic improvement in the cleanliness of the water; the filthy sludge appeared to be syphoned off by the weir nearby.  As we were going through Clitheroe’s Lock, a pleasant Polish chap appeared, saying that he had been working for two years on the other side of the road and never knew the canal was there! Proof of how the waterway system is a secret world!

At 2:00pm, we moored at Brentford Guaging lock and had lunch in the sunshine. Later we were joined in the lock by nb “Arden” No. 2 (Autolycus Canal Carrying Co, Battlebridge, London N1) owned by Roger and Caroline.  It was a very traditional narrowboat with a real engine (chug-chug – no mistaking that sound as she approached!). Battleship grey, in need of a coat of paint but much loved, she was bought as a sunken wreck in 1989. The visual contrast of the two boats side by side could not have been greater. The old and the new sharing the lock - and that very much sums up the wonderful camaraderie of the boating community.

By 3:00pm, both boats were waiting outside the Thames Lock, having left room between us for a group of good-humoured fishermen who didn’t seem to mind being disturbed (no doubt due to the copious amounts of beer being consumed). While we were waiting, two men with deep foreign accents appeared pulling a wide-beam Dutch barge.  Without asking, they walked straight on to “Arden” to tow the barge round it and were told very firmly by Roger and Caroline that it's the tradition to take the trouble to ask first before climbing on board someone else's boat. So,when they got to us they asked first! They went through the lock first (again without asking, which would have been polite) so it was about 4:20 before we and Arden could get into the lock and through on to the Thames.

Thames Lock at Brentford

 So “Arden” and “Many Meetings” sailed up the Tidal Thames in stately fashion, side by side. Roger and Caroline were going up to a fly-boat meeting in Stockton, near Rugby, and had decided to go up the Oxford Canal rather than risk the Grand Union summit, which still has restrictions on the summit due to water conservation.

At 5:30, we went through Teddington Lock together. The lock-keeper was very nice and courteously called Robin “Skipper”.  We had to get a one-day licence as we needed to overnight on the Thames. The river and its banks looked beautiful; so many people walking, cycling, sitting, talking or just watching the world go by. Rather surprisingly, by contrast, there was very little traffic on the river.

At 7:00, we approached Hampton Court Palace just as the sun was setting. “Arden” was already there. “What kept you?” asked Roger, grinning! Understandly, he was amused by the fact that his traditional old engine was faster! We moored next to them, right outside the Palace, feeling very arisocratic.  It was a beautiful evening.

128.0 Hours Total, 4.3 Hours today, 11.8 Hours for this trip.

9 miles and 5 locks today, 22 miles and 16 locks for this trip.