After the gale force winds that made mooring so difficult at Kingston the night before, we were then blessed with two good cruising days for our progress up the Thames; these days being separated by a couple of days of shore leave in Norfolk. We started the day by sampling the delights of Kingston, where a modern shopping centre lies conveniently adjacent to the free moorings. We had planned to visit Hampton Court but although we were moored next to the grounds, there seemed to be no way in that did not involve a long walk.

We had decided to return home for the last Norwich City match of the season and to celebrate Debbie's birthday with her, a decision confirmed when we heard that Chertsey lock, only a short distance upstream, would be out of action until after the Bank Holiday weekend - good job we could be flexible. Our friend and local guide, Bob, had offered to lend us one of his company vans for the drive home and met us at Hampton Court so that we could drop the van off at Shepperton, his home marina.

Our experiences of the non-tidal Thames so far are that care must be taken in keeping to the main channels and outsides of bends in view of the shallow water. Whilst there are many moorings to be had, most of them are occupied, even at this time of the year, by liveaboard boaters trying to make an economic home in this very expensive area.

Our only problem in arriving at Shepperton was the very optimistic view of the marina manager concerning the height of the entrance footbridge. It proved to be 16'6" clearance, rather than the 20' he had intimated and this was the only time we had to take our mast down on both this days cruising and the next.

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Cruising Statistics

Distance: 7nm

Total to date: 292 nm

Avg Speed: 5 knots

Duration: 2 hours

Wind: W/S 6

Mooring: £18/night

Electricity: Free

Locks

Molesey

Sunbury

Bridges

Hampton Court 19'5

Sunbury footbridge 19'6

Shepperton marina 16'6