A river trip to Kingston

Having found a mooring for the boat we have picked up a rental car and will over the weekend visit the kids and attend a Birthday BBQ.
So just to play catch up on the blog we will with a few pictures whisk readers to Kingston,  Upon Thames not Jamaica.

 Approaching Richmond lock on the extreme left. About two hours each side of high tide the lock is bypassed. Sluice gates that would create a weir at low tides are raised into the bridge arches enabling boats to pass below the bridge.

 Twickenham bridge, no worry of low canal bridges knocking the chimney off here.

 

I think this was Richmond. Just look at the crowds a bit of sun attracts.

 

Look how wide this river is. Yes that`s an island in the centre.

 

 Teddington lock and we leave the tidal part of the Thames. From now on it`s just the natural flow of the river heading for the North sea. As long as our English summer is dry the flow will remain gentle. While on the Thames boaters are mindful of the weather and keep an eye on the stream conditions on the web page of the Environment agency.

 Our first Thames mooring at Kingston Upon Thames on the quiet side of the river.

Across the river the pubs and bars that put liquid in the bellies of otherwise sensible lads making them do stupid things.

 Well ours is one boat that won`t have it`s mooring ropes released. A boat set adrift on a flowing river is very dangerous so my thoughts are safety first.

 A boaters take on a roof garden.

 

Amusing signage outside a pub across the river.