Up the tideway to Teddington, with bird spotters notes.

It always happens after you've stowed the computer away, or in my case slung it on the dinette seat so the table can be laid for dinner. Last night I had finished the blog when my attention was called to a domestic dispute taking place on the pontoon opposite.

The goose had been taunting the swan all day and now the swan thought he had him cornered.

No such luck, the poor old swan swam round and round in circles trying to get at the rotten b....r but the goose had it weighed off to a "T" and was always just out of reach. It must have gone on for half an hour before the goose got bored and flew off, leaving the swan thoroughly frustrated.
Well this morning we were up early, ready to be through Thames Lock at 0800 in time to catch the incoming tide. No such luck, the lockie didn't turn up until 0820 and by the time we were through the lock we were in slack water and spent the last part of the journey pushing against the ebb.

Looking back at the lock with Lizzie following us out,

then out onto the tideway and giving the engine a good work out. Jill was i/c of the camera today, she took ninety three photo's between Brentford and Teddington but I promise I won't put them all on today's post.

Syon House, London home of the Duke of Northumberland (Available for corporate events, weddings and bar mitzvah's), stands four square on the banks of the river.

At Richmond, at high tide, you can go straight through the tidal barrier, two hours after high tide they lower sluices in order too maintain a minimum depth of five foot nine inches upstream.

If you arrive outside the times when the sluices are raised you have to go through the wonderfully ornate lock and that will cost you a fiver.

Richmond's water front is justifiably renowned, no visitor moorings though.

I seem to have had a bit of an avian theme running for a while so to stay with it, a heron on it's nest.

Of course the Thames is noted for the tasteful gardens on the banks. Love the plastic flowers. Seen on Eel Pie Island, which has always had a bit of a colourful reputation. In the nineteen sixties the hotel here hosted a jazz and rhythm and blues club, I once went to see The Yardbirds there, happy days.

I'm getting a bit out of order now, this is the Star and Garter Home for disabled ex-servicemen, impressive.

Just another pied a terre, Jill said she quite fancied it but didn't fancy the housework so we left it at that.

I only put this in because of the colour of the sky and the water. Not sure but I think the big building is a college of some sort, brain is definitely in overload.

The end of today's journey, the downstream approach to Teddington Lock. We came through the lock, waved au revoir to Mick and Lesley on Lizzie who were pushing on to Hampton Court, and we are now moored opposite the weir.

I have been assured that these are pochard, which means that a while back I misidentified some ruddy duck as pochard, my apologies to all ducks everywhere. Anyway, these were begging at the side hatch.

Watch this space............