The day began early - we had to be up in time to welcome Ellie and Alice who were dropped off just after 7:30 by their mum. The immediate need was breakfast and then, for Alice, to change into day clothes as she was still in pyjamas!
Ellie requested a cooked breakfast: egg, bacon and fried bread, which quickly disappeared. Alice was more modest: cereal. Then it was back to Tesco for supplies - Christine bought Alice a Charlie and Lola magazine, which proved very interesting most of the day!
When we were ready to cast off we went only a short distance upstream to the nearby boat services where we filled up with diesel. We also bought some more fuel conditioner as the small bottle we started with after the major repairs was now empty.
By ten o'clock we were ready to start off down the Thames. The first lock was at Sonning where Ellie quickly recalled how to hold the bow when landing and going down in the lock.This meant that one or other of the adults could be with Alice who was stuck into her magazine - as well as drawing many different pictures. Parallel lines seem to be a popular feature at the moment - a signature style!
There were lots of rowers/scullers out, practising their skills. Most of them were very careful to look out for other boats but just a couple needed care to avoid - and then one shouted at us for getting in their way!
At Henley we moored for lunch. Whilst the soup was heated up, Ellie and Alice climbed some of the trees in the park alongside the river.
Ellie was especially interested - indeed more than interested - in the large houses which line the river. her taste is much more for the modern than the traditional but she realises that she will have to wait until she is a successful lawyer before she will be able to afford one! She also took over steering, avoiding the many rowers pretending that they were taking part in the famous Henley Regatta.
At Temple Lock we were advised about what to do on the approach to Marlow Lock. Although the Orange Board, warning of strong river streams, was still out at Temple, by the time we locked through Marlow the keeper had checked the weir and reduced it to a Yellow Board status. Nevertheless, we approached with due care.
Below the lock we moored as planned - it was, by now, a little too late to risk going further and not finding somewhere with road access. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny evening.
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