Thames to the Wey Part II

 Left the mooring fairly early for us as we had a long slog in front of us.  Its 23 miles and 9 locks to get through.  At least the Thames flow will be helping us.  A delightful evening last night with Jim cycling in the rain to the boat from Bray Wick.

 A very life-like person sitting in the garden enjoying the rain :-)

Through the bridge that carries the Great Western over the Thames and at one time I believe was the longest brick span in the world.

Most of the directions are plain as you go down the Thames but there are a couple of times when I wondered if I was heading for the lock or the weir. This one has the best part of the sign missing.

Most of the locks are a delight and there is plenty of room on the mooring.  In some places the lock is a bit close to the weir and the water disappearing off to one side does tend to drag the boat about at slow speed.

Not far below Maidenhead and we are passing the Bray Film Studios.  Not a massive amount of activity. Wonder if it is still used for films.

First lock after Maidenhead and a hold-up.  They have the divers down laying cables for cctv for the Olympics. Sadly there was a cock-up on the length of the cable front and they had to start again which dragged things out for us.

Well and truly crammed in with half a dozen boats waiting to come in afterwards.

Meanwhile just below the lock we meet these three going at  speed up stream.  Felt like shouting that they needn't rush :-)

Down to Windsor.  

One of the best addresses to have around here but not sure I would want it cos..........

its right on the flight path from Heathrow.

 Another one of those points on the river where boats are milling about and somewhere there is the lock and one hopes a sign to show where.

Coming up to Staines Bridge and the opportunity to wonder about members of a pirate crew.

This bridge with the coat of arms on the buttresses is named for Victoria while the next one is the Albert.

 

Somewhere here is a field and associations with Magna Charta.

Flood damage to a house boat will take some explaining to the insurer.

Not far to the Wey now.  The houses along this part of the Thames are almost normal but you would most likely still have to rich burger to own one

Out of Shepperton Lock and there are several roads for you.  The one I want is around the white stakes on the right.

The start of the Wey.

Into the Thames Lock via the stop lock pound.  The sluices are like those up on the Aire and Calder and a bit fierce if you don't keep a look-out.

Feeling claustrophobic after the Thames.  Time to moor up.

Down the Thames to the River Wey Part I

 Met up with BA friends just outside Reading and managed to moor up by ramming the river bank but gently :-) Spent a while correcting the state of play in the world today.

Found the mooring afterwards and didnt fall in.

Yesterday we spotted the Mikron Theatre boat.  Could hardly miss it as it was moored astern of us.  Found out that it was performing Losing the Plot in the Forbury Park about a minutes walk away.  

Thoroughly enjoyed the evening and will look out for them in the future and make sure that we attend.  A lot of hard work for just the four performers.

Next day and they are off to their next gig in Wargrave.

Having turned the boat around - there is a bridge I am not sure of the height is enough for me to get under - and we are away and heading for Weybridge. The trip from Bath to here has got several places without internet links and the amount of times I have to have a go at loading photos I lost interest a little.  The pics will end up on Picasa later.

After the lock in Reading and half a mile the last three bridges before the Thames.

OOOO isnt it wide after the K & A

 Still being overtaken but at least this one is in the air.

Had to wait while this one came up.  Not a lot of change out of any amount with six zeros in it.

Passing the St George and the Dragon and the Mikron Theatre getting some rest after the performance.

Plenty of rain but the Thames banks are always a bit interesting but I do wish there were a few more moorings about.

Hope it fines up for the Regatta that is on tomorrow.  Its nearly all ready with the tents still going up

At the start end of the course.

Rather a swish bus to be overtaken by and loaded with school children having a lovely time.

and the houses are a bit above my price range.

 Loads of interesting boats here and many of them heading to the regatta.

I bet he hasnt made enough to retire this year.

The locks are a delight.  Out of them all there was only one grumpy lockie.  Not rude he just ignored you as you went through.

 Bit of history with Bisham.

All the weirs seem to be right next to the locks which makes life difficult if you like to take things easy in the approach as you start to go sideways.

Nearly Maidenhead and one of the lovely footbridges.

The mooring just before Maidenhead.  

A lovely evening with a visit from Jim who cycled out and managed to cycle back somehow. :-)

Bath

Entry into Bath is through a couple of small tunnels with the outer face being nicely decorated.

There is a small boatyard between the then and its bit of a pain sometimes with the boats sticking out at the bridge entrace.

The first of the locks down to the Avon.

Not sure what this might have been in the past but a bit on the small size for the lockies cottage. Humane Society advert on the side.

Stopped here for a few days.  First day spent half my time filling up the pound.  Someone coming up had opened the sluices to fill the lock without checking that the bottom set were closed consequently an almost empty pound. Partly to blame are the BW.  Not sure why you need to empty the lock when you come up. Most people arent going to stand around until it is empty.  they will just open a sluice and leave.  If the next boat wants to go down they then take another lock full of water.  One that was not needed.

Wandered off into Bath and on the way was the BBC setting up for filming a harrier I think that was nesting up iin the church tower. Twitchers by the dozen also keeping an eye on it.

The lovely view over the Avon to the weir and bridge.

The weir really is a delight.

Had a wander around the abbey church when I was last here.  Bath University was a lovely place to spend a week.

The Baths in Bath.  One of the things wrong with Bath is that as all the buildings are made of the same material - even the council houses - none of them stand out as they should.  Take any one of these buildings and put it in another city and the result would be outstanding. Still awesome though.

Out getting tickets for the theatre and went in to an art exhibition.  Spent ten minutes looking out through the window at the entertainment outside with the unicyclist and a member of the audience.

Modern art.  Some of it I liked but in the main I was unable to see any point in art like the half a ladder hanging from the ceiling.

There must be a reason for a load of vacuum cleaner bags on a pair of legs.

Photo-montage of a million views of bits of Bath - I think.

A nice park but quite small alongside the Avon but £1.20 to get in is rather steep.

The bridge is a delight.  

Went to the Theatre Royal and the Ustinov Theatre while we were here.

Educating Rita in the Royal was well done with Matthew Kelly and Claire Sweeney.  Very enjoyable.

The Otheroom at the Ustinov was a bit different.  Its sub title was The Vibrator Room.  Oddly enough I enjoyed this one as well.