Perfect Harmony

Perfect Harmony
Moored at Huntingdon

Monday 1 July 2013

1st July '13

Can't believe that that's the first half of the year gone, there's still so much to do!

We stayed in Kingston for a second night after going around the town in the morning and then, don't ask me why I agreed, walking to Hampton and back in the blistering heat of the afternoon. Paddy and I were not happy bunnies by the time we got back to the boat, but we had established the fact that it wasn't worth cruising back to Hampton that night.

We liked Kingston. From the river it looks all brash and new, but once you get behind the riverfront there are some really interesting buildings. naturally I forgot to take my camera, but there is a Church here that saw the crowning of the first English monarch. Impressive.

When we got back from our marathon (it was 5 miles there and back and then I realised that if we'd gone around the main road way, it would have been half that) the boat that had gone into our vacant space at Hampton the previous day was obviously looking for somewhere to moor. So we returned the favour shown to us and called them in to moor alongside us. Jez and Jane on nb Belle, sub-titled the Daschund Carrying Co. They have 3 of them on board as well as a parrot! Love the dogs, can live without the parrot! We'd actually met them before at some point on the system, possibly a couple of years ago, as they are obviously quite distinctive, but this time we had a much longer chat. You do meet some nice people on the water.

Today we were away by 9am, yes, unusual isn't it? As we arrived at Hampton, all the small plastic boats that we thought would have moved, were still there, but a narrow boat was just leaving so we got a good spot, right next to the ramp which is better for Paddy. By the time I'd given him a walk and we'd had a coffee, most of the boats had disappeared, as expected.

We went around the bits of Hampton that we'd missed last time, thanks once again to Barbara.


A rather attractive selection of chimneys, spotted from one of the many courtyards and passageways. The place is like a small town!


Just one of the lovely small gardens, amongst the huge formal gardens. So many places to hide away, no wonder it was such a place for intrigue.


This is the great vine - it holds the Guiness record for being the largest vine in the world and it's probably the oldest, having been planted by 'Capability' Brown, who was apparently head gardener here, back in the day. Not something I'd known before.

I don't seem to be able to upload any more pictures - computers gone on strike. Anyway we got to the maze and did it in an amazingly short time - minutes literally, we only went wrong once. A bit disappointing I have to admit, but then it was the only part of the whole place that was less than amazing (pun intended).

Tomorrow we end one more section of this adventure as we are going down through Teddington and getting off the Thames at Brentford, to start up the Grand Union. We are definitely going to be back. I can see many summers ahead of us, exploring the Thames more thoroughly. Who'd have believed I'd say that at the start of this trip, even at Oxford I was dreading it, now I'm in love with the whole experience.

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