Thursday, 26 September 2013

Kingston and birthday celebrations

24th Sept

Woke up to a heavy mist on the river, very atmospheric with beaded spider's webs everywhere.
We had arranged to meet Mum by Kingston bridge to take her for a trip and lunch for her birthday. Timing is not easy and we got held up in Sunbury Lock as others locking through with us needed to buy a licence. Still we got there just 10minutes late and by this time the sun had come out. It was positively hot! I saw this tiny figure standing on the path and I phoned and told her we were heading towards her, frantically waving but she didn't see us coming until we pulled in to moor! 82 today and able to climb on board, brilliant! Naughty Mummy brought wine, fruit and a quiche but so typically kind of her all the same. So nice to have her with us for this short time. We sat in the bow whilst Pete drove us back to Hampton Court, which is a beautiful journey. We stopped for lunch at Vecchia Roma in East Molesey, an old favourite and always reliable. We had deliberated about where to lunch and we are not sure about any of the waterside pubs on the Sunbury/Walton stretch, so didn't risk them. The lock keeper at Molesey kindly allowed us to moor for a couple of hours, so it was perfect; easy to disembark and walk to the restaurant.

On return to Kingston Pete was able to pull in opposite Ravens Ait where Mum and I got off and went back to her flat whilst Pete moored back by the bridge. Everything went very well and we all had a lovely day, although it seemed to go too quickly. So much planning and it's gone in the blink of an eye!

Back on board on this busy stretch along Barge Walk. Lots of people out and about on this side and in the bars opposite, but it was remarkably quiet for all that. It was warm enough to sit in the bow until it got dark, but we had the fire alight again as temperature drops off on these Autumn evenings. The cracked glass in the stove door which happened yesterday doesn't seem to be effecting performance we are pleased to see. Good old Morso, still hanging on in there!









  




The fog didn't lift until 11





Bright lights of Kingston - shame we don't have a tripod!!

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