The weather had been kind to us overnight and there was no rain to wet the bridge, exposed as we were without our canopy which was with the trimmers for repair. They had already fixed it when we saw them in the morning and our policy of generosity was rewarded when, upon refitting it to Lady Martina, we found the second tear. We didn't have to worry as they fixed it while we waited and we were soon on our way. The cruise downstream was blissfully without incident and we reached Hampton Court Bridge around 3pm.

We planned to make the tidal cruise downstream the following day and opted to stop at Hampton Court Palace moorings overnight, as the downstream moorings at Teddington were not especially exciting. This gave us a couple of hours to fit in a tour of the palace, including the apartments of King William III and Henry VIII as well as the Tudor kitchens. There is free admission to the extensive gardens and grounds, which are open until dusk or 9pm, and we enjoyed a stroll along with other casual visitors and joggers. Unfortunately we could only see the famous maze from the outside at this time.

It was interesting to look out from King Williams private chambers across the privy garden to see Lady Martina moored beyond the ornate railings that secured the palace from the river. The rest of the boats moored there were narrow boats of lower profile and could not be seen above the high banks! We enjoyed our short visit at Hampton Court Palace and the free moorings adjacent couild not have been more convenient.

Cruising Statistics

Distance:10 nm

Total to date: 363 nm

Avg Speed: 6 knots

Duration: 2:45 hours

Wind: SW 3

Mooring: Free

Electricity: N/A

Locks

Chertsey

Shepperton

Sunbury

Molesey

Bridges

M3 21'3

Chertsey 19'1

Walton 18'3

Sunbury lock cut 19'6

Hampton Court 19'5