17th April 2007
We decided to take a walk into Chertsey for supplies from Sainsburys, the weather was dull and overcast with the threat of rain but what the hell skins waterproof. It was about a mile and a half each way so we treated ourselves to an unhealthy full English breakfast while in town. By the time we got back to the boat the cloud was breaking and the risk of rain receeding.
After clearing Shepperton Lock and the town the river was broad and straight so Hazel took the tiller and handled it like a natural.
By now the sun was shining again and all was right with the world, the loo still seemed to have plenty of capacity, increasing my suspicion that it hadn't been pumped out before take over. Quite close to Walton on Thames we saw an old wooden cruiser looking a bit tired but the hull was a lovely painting, I show it here but the photo does not do it justice.
We cruised on with it getting warmer all the time, I decided a halt at Hampton Court for a pint and a sandwich was justified. The visitor moorings were empty and only a short walk to the local pubs. We strolled around trying to choose which one to grace with our custom when disaster, I hadn't brought any money with me, s**t I thought. We scraped enough between us to buy an ice cream on the way back to the boat, and that was lunch at Hampton Court.
We set off as I fancied Kingston for the night, a mile upstream from Kingston is Harts Boats, there were new widebeams and narrowboats being fitted out, so we may pay them a visit sometime. Approaching Kingston I espied a Youngs pub. " Bishop out of Residence".
An essential call as it would have "Waggledance" on tap for me and an excellent New Zealand red wine for Hazel. We enjoyed our respective tipples then strolled around town. I even got myself some half price skiddies and a bubble machine in John Lewis.
Silly bugger aint I? We found a Mexican Restaurant in town and booked table for the evening, wish we hadn't bothered as although Hazels was ok mine was so spicy hot as to be uneatable, and I like hot. But that aside we liked Kingston and enjoyed our stay.
