Grumpy Bear Too on the hard

Work is progressing well.  The engine has been serviced and just requires “in-water” testing.  The hull has been cleaned using a gelcoat paste and “elbow grease”, and then polished with gelcoat polish with the aid of the “Halfords” electric car polisher. 

Work continues – albeit slowly – on fitting the inboard fuel tank.  There is just enough space to fit a 93 litre tank and its associated fittings, but the working area is very confined.  The installation must fully comply with the requirements of the “Boat Safety Scheme” – the boating equivalent of an MOT, and of course we don’t want petrol leaking in the boat!!   There will also be a fuel gauge on the instrument panel so wiring has to be run through the boat to the dashboard.   The tank fitting is more easily finished with the boat back in the water.

The antifoul paint – to prevent barnacles etc sticking to the bottom – which must be suitable for the salty tidal Thames as well as fresh river water, will be applied immediately before the boat goes back in the water.

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  Craning In Grumpy Bear Too

So the big day has come and Grumpy Bear Too has been successfully craned in with nice new antifoul paint on her bottom.   I always take a deep breath when I see her being swung around high in the air.   Lots of work now needed to finish the fuel tank installation ready for us to proceed down river back to Buckden on Saturday morning.  Fingers crossed.

The plan is for Grumpy Bear Too to be transported from Buckden to the Thames by road on Friday 25th.  She will go in at Benson Waterfront giving us 6 days to get to West India Dock.   That will be a nice gentle cruise.  Very excited now!

Well, after a bit of a delay on Saturday morning because the workshops had not finished proving the fuel tank, we had a very pleasant trip down river staying overnight at a favourite mooring at Lamas meadow in St Neots.   Talk about taking it to the wire.  Was a bit Grumpy I have to say 🙂 However, events were to prove later, that we could not have done the trip without the new fuel tank.

Met up with an old friend who was out coaching the rowers.  An earlyish start on Sunday morning saw us back at Buckden by midday.   Now we have a few days to get her clean and shipshape ready for the Thames on Friday.   Never realised there was so much to clean 🙂  We also need to get the very important Jubilee regalia on board so that we look the part in the pageant.

A selection (but not all) of our Jubilee kit

Yesterday saw Grumpy Bear Too slipped out onto the trailer by “Riverside Marine and Leisure” ready for an early morning trip to Benson Waterfront.  The trip went smoothly without a hitch, so that when we arrived at Benson mid-morning Grumpy was safely in the water.  Once again we were met by the very friendly and efficient staff from “Benson Waterfront” who helped us out with car parking for two weeks, and the details of the return pick up.

Grumpy Bear Too ready to leave Buckden

Grumpy Bear Too safely at Benson Waterfront

Having unstowed all the breakables aboard that we had had to secure for road transport and then unpacked our bags, food etc by 1.00 pm we were ready to leave for the short journey to Benson lock where we had to get our Thames River Licence.  Fortunately, the lock keepers are very helpful and the paperwork was rapidly sorted.   As we have an Environment Agency licence for  the Great Ouse system we get 15 days free per year on the Thames so nothing to pay 🙂

The Lock Keeper's cottage at Benson Lock

We then proceeded down river to Wallingford where we stopped for lunch and a wander around the pretty Oxfordshire market town.   Lots of bunting about – is something happening soon?    After a very pleasant stop, we carried on down river through the next two locks and are moored for the night at Goring – I think summer has arrived:)

Gentle stroll to village shop to buy the Saturday papers before departing downstream of Goring bridge; just 65 miles north of Teddington lock and the tidal Thames. Sun shining all the way today although a little breezy at times which seemed to be more of a problem to the Saturday rowers than us. Passed Beale Park, well known as site of previous annual Inland Waterways Association festivals. We have camped on this site and also been guests of the Dutch Barge Association and our very good friends, Diana and Chris on Esme.

First lock of the day Whitchurch with helpful & friendly lock-keeper, as they all are on the Thames!

Whitchurch Lock

Then cruising on down by Pangbourne meadow to Mapledurham lock (sadly no time for bacon butties this morning, maybe on the return journey)  and Caversham lock. Quick pit stop at Better Boating Co for replacement gas bottle and water; followed by Tesco Reading for some groceries.

Setting off again the River Kennet, entrance to the Kennet and Avon canal, branches, into the Thames at this point; just before arriving at Sonning lock we stopped for lunch. This meant we could watch the antics of the schoolboy rowers made all the more chaotic by a hired narrowboat breaking down midstream.

Broken down narrowboat causes chaos to rowers

Admiring all the lovely waterside properties – this one we’ll buy when we win the lottery!

Dream waterside property

After lunch we seem to hit the Saturday afternoon traffic & had an interesting time queuing at Marsh lock above Henley in some gusty wind. Finally moored in Henley for a well-earned Pimms at 5pm.   I must say the harbour master has some pretty sharp eyes, as it was not long before he was alongside in his little launch to collect the £8 overnight mooring fee.  But, since we were in such a great spot we smiled as we paid.

Arrival Henley-on-Thames – busy, sunny Saturday afternoon

Gosh it’s hard work being on holiday and keeping a blog – enjoying ourselves too much in the sunshine yesterday to post, today also very hot so on board now out of the sun at 5pm to update everyone.

Sunday departed Henley surrounded by practising rowers

Sunday rowers Henley

via Hambleden, Hurley and Temple locks; spotting other  Pageant boats en route downstream towards Teddington and the Diamond Jubilee flotilla – Omega, Siku Kuu and Hestia who like us will be part of the recreational motor boats squadron, plus Sudersee, Neeltje and Libertijn of Alphen who will be amongst the barges.

We came past Longridge Scout campsite upstream from Marlow where they were practising in a dragon boat (maybe they will be performing for the queen next Sunday too?). Mike remembers camping at Longridge and our son, Paul, has camped there when he was a Scout too.

Just messing about on the river - Marlow church & bridge in background

Marlow was our lunch stop destination & shopping purchases included a Union Jack cake tin plus set of 4 ‘cool britannia’ cork placemats and free CD with ‘Mail on Sunday’ a Diamond Jubilee tribute – Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance Marches and Parry’s Jerusalem just to mention two tracks.

Setting off from Marlow after lunch we almost moored on top of a grebe’s nest at the next lock but spotted her just in time,

Grebe nesting below Marlow lock upstream landing stage

then negotiated our way through dinghies racing from Upper Thames and Cookham Reach sailing clubs before mooring on Marsh Meadow above Cookham for a bbq.  We strolled into the very quaint english village which comprises rather expensive dress shops and restaurants but no little corner shops.  So no newspaper today as not even the garage sells them.   So back to the boat where we were met by the friendly warden collecting the £5 mooring dues whilst walking his dog.

Today we have navigated through Maidenhead and Bray to Windsor marina and topped up the new fuel tank with petrol, then onto Eton and Windsor where we are moored on the outside of Baths Island. Windsor Castle and the Windsor Eye are on the south side of the river and Eton college is on the opposite bank.   We took a walk into Eton across the main Eton/Windsor bridge and towards Eton College.  Lots of smart boys in their uniform of full winged collars and bow ties, even in this heat.  Shame to see that the Union Flags in the High Street outside the St Christopher Hotel and the pub opposite were all upside down.  That does seem typical these days but a great shame in this Jubilee year.  We crossed back to Windsor to look around the Castle area and stumbled upon a well hidden Waitrose.  It seemed like miles back to the boat with the heavy shopping so clearly deserving of Pimms 🙂  We also had time to go aboard Libertijn for a quick catch up with the crew.

Currently there are several pale green double skulled boats rowing up and down past us, with several tourist trip boats too and we are just about to light the bbq again.

One of the many trip boats - wouldn't want to meet this on a narrow bend!

I have to say  that our stay at Windsor was rather noisy.  The disco boats ferrying partygoers to and from the races went on late into the night and the grebes were keen to wake us at first light.  We decided to go into Windsor to get milk and a paper – and found the very quick way to Waitrose – doh!  Whilst walking back we spotted the “must have”.  A Diamond Jubilee Teddy Bear.  We told the lady in the shop that Teddy would be introduced to the Queen on Sunday and she gave us a discount.  How kind was that?

Jubilee Teddy (on the left) makes some friends

Windsor Castle from the Thames

We decided to crack on through the locks to our overnight destination without a lunch stop.  It was after all only 12 miles or so, about a 3 hour trip.   So that is what we did taking the opportunity at the locks to fill those tanks that needed filling ie water and empty those tanks that needed emptying – we’ll leave that to your imagination.  But this part of the river passes through some delightful areas with some lovely houses – including one once owned by Richard Dimbleby, the blue plaque proudly on display to the riverside.

After a very pleasant cruise we are moored on “Lady Lindsay’s Lawn” at Old Shepperton.   It is a large meadow and wood now set available for public use given to the town by Lady Lyndsay.

It was here that Paul managed to find us, having driven from Wendover to Shefford then around the M25 & A30. He had very kindly offered to collect our pageant boarding passes which arrived in the post after we left home. We were very grateful for this as he also brought Mike’s cufflinks to wear with his smart outfit on Sunday. We enjoyed a quick meal together – sausage and mash, followed by strawberries and cream – on board before his trip back home. Thanks again Paul!

This morning it was a bit cloudy and overcast when we got up; according to the radio flights to Gatwick were being diverted due to fog. A few rowers were out on the river & a motorboat came past with what we assumed was ‘Dad’ giving his daughter a lift to school by river – better than being dropped off in the car – unless it happens to be raining perhaps.

Sunbury and Molesey locks passed through before cruising by Hampton Court Palace;

Hampton Court Palace

and a few elegant houseboats en route.

One of the many Thames houseboats

…before arriving at Teddington just before midday.

Since our arrival we have lunched and shopped in Teddington, done our accreditation & received our pageant wristbands. It seems a bit like going to a music festival wearing these – possibly more like Cropredy than Glastonbury. Whilst I have been updating the blog Mike has been busy completing boaty jobs. He’s secured the throwing line and lifebuoy on deck, attached longer bow and stern lines and checked the anchor chain & rope – all items that we need for additional safety on the tidal Thames. The final preparation has also been done for the mast to secure the Jubilee bunting – Sunday here we come.

Teddington Lock - off to get accredited