TALES OF THE THAMES

Going out on to the Thames much less choppy than last year and a calm journey up to Walton on Thames. Tyseley with new water pump seems to be running well but weeps oil on to the exhaust pipe when pushed too hard so we will retain a sedate pace and hopefully keep going. Sailed blithely past the Swan (our next venue) and had to turn round at the next bridge. You can't do that on a canal. Managed to persuade the boats on the 24 hour mooring to budge up and let us in. Took the kayak out for the first time this year, current very light and then obligatory night time swim at end of which cut all the fishing line off the prop. In the morning we found that someone had untied our three mooring ropes, obviously hoping we would drift off down the river in our sleep. Luckily we were wedged fast on the gravel at the edge and there was so little flow we didn't move! The pub has some awnings we can perform under tonight if it rains which it has been, on and off, since early morning.