Off At Last!! Yes, we really mean it this time!

Friday 25th May, 2012
We both slept well, although R grizzled that he was cold in the early morning with only a sheet over him! Listening to the bird song at 4am was a joy, and M wondered why birds don't get sore throats this time of year given that they are singing for 18 hours a day!
At 8:00am, we were sitting on the stern deck with our coffee. How peaceful it was, we thought, listening to the roar of the rush-hour traffic on the M25 only half a mile distant and the drone of 747s stacking overhead for Heathrow. Actually it was indeed peaceful, and a beautiful morning with a gentle breeze that will be most welcome as the day warms up.

Morning Coffee

 We watched a pair of buzzards circling high up above us, almost as if they were dancing round each other in the clear blue sky. Then R saw a Greater Spotted woodpecker alight in the trees next to the boat. We already have a wager that whoever spots the first kingfisher doesn't buy the beers (wine).
This weather is forecast to last for several days. We bought all our clothes on board last week when the weather was cold; consequently M says she has all the wrong clothes - again! ARGH!!
At midday, R went to settle up at the Marina and then we moved across to the water point to fill up in a shady spot. M walked down to the bow and was horrified to see all the brass that needs attention; but she has decided that its a good place for a little herb garden/pot.

Leaving Pyrford Marina

At 1:23pm, (good numbers) we finally set off and left Pyrford behind us. There was very little traffic on the canal, the lady lock keeper on the Thames lock (leaving the Wey and Arun) said we were only the fourth boat through today. So goodbye Wey and Arun and hello again Old Father Thames! We moored up for tea and biscuits just before Shepperton Lock.

Shepperton Lock

We are now moored for the night just after Shepperton next to nb Hawthorn crewed by four happy boaters. There's a group of teenagers having great fun next to us, jumping into the river with whoops of glee!! Bet it's ...... cold!
It's a beautiful evening. We sat and planned the next week to maximise the cost of a 15 day licence on the Thames. We decided we would do everything on the spur of the moment but it takes a lot of planning to be able to be spontaneous!
Trip - 5 locks, 6 miles 4.3 Hours (147.6 total hours).