Shepperton plus up date at bottom of blog re crossing

Wednesday 17^th July

We are now moored just above Shepperton Lock in a lovely spot.  We topped up with water at Chertsey Lock, so full again, we hadn’t used much but we want full tanks for our crossing.  We had an easy, short trip today, beautiful weather.  

Waiting for Bell Weir Lock at Egham

At Bell Weir Lock by Runnymead Hotel
you can see the M25 and morning traffic behind Kev

Once we’d moored near Shepperton we walked along Thames to Thames Court, a very busy pub by the river, 2 large cold ciders, and light lunch, we then walked to the Chandlery by the lock for a life buoy, as the one we’d recently bought had independently self inflated (exploded) so we have gone for a normal horseshoe shaped one now.  Unfortunately the chandlery didn’t have any for sale but we were told their larger sister store at Shepperton Marina had a good choice of lifebuoys.  So we walked the 2 miles there, mad I know as we have a boat, but we didn’t want to lose our lovely mooring spot and we didn’t have anything else to do!  We were very hot and sweaty once we’d got there as it was the hottest part of the day.  We passed a WLMG Nissan dealership not far from Shepperton Marina and we cadged a lift back to the boat!  Cheating I know but it was so hot and my flip-flops had flopped..  

Kev cadging a lift.....thanks Simon (Rutherford) from WLMG Nissan

One of Kev's birthday pressies from me - a four day weather forecaster, hard to believe this is UK forecast

The temperature in the wheelhouse when we got back was 47 degrees, cooled down after we opened the windows and doors to 41 degrees! It was only 29 degrees in the saloon, positively chilly!

After a lovely shower we are now sitting on the back deck relaxing.

We spoke to Mark this evening and it looks like its going to be too windy for Friday and weekend, Mark has commitments next week on Monday and Friday so we are hoping the wind dies down for Tuesday/Wednesday crossing.