Boat Trip - Day 5: Tea Staines

All sleep well. We're in no rush this morning so we decide to cook whatever breakfast food we have for a mini fry up. Lisa and me exchange anniversary cards ❤️.

The weed bench

The boat bobs about a little in this mooring due to the wake from sea cadet instructors in little jet ski things and racecourse ferries going back and forth on this stretch of river.

There's a tap on the window at 8:30 and it's the Bailiff lady coming to collect mooring fee. It's a tenner. She's friendly and chatty.

I'm told by Rob & Lisa that we still have a bit of luke warm water for a shower without need to run engine. It turns out it's cold for me, you bastards.

We set sail at 10:30ish and we go up through Old Windsor, Datchet. Only 2 locks before we hit Runnymede where we plan to stop off. Romney lock is chocker with Le Boats. 

I hand Ange a cuppa which is spilt all over front of boat. I make another which is also spilt all over front of boat. 

At Runnymede, we moor at a river bend. A couple in a boat moored in front help us tie up. The guy says he is sure he's rented our exact boat years ago because he recognises a panel at the top which is a slightly different colour because it needed replacing after he trashed it going under a bridge. I pay the mooring (£4 for 2 hours) and we go for ice cream and walk up river to visit The hotel where Rob & Ange got married. It's as hot as balls today 🥵. 

Back to boat, we head off thru Runnymede lock. There's 2 lock keepers; one is an old boy in a little hut and is talking to us but we can't really hear him. I try a fancy flick of the wrist to untie but end up tying it up even more, annoyingly. Only two spectators this time so not too embarrassing. 

Up river to Staines and we plan to moor up at The Swan pub/hotel. Luckily the pub garden is not very busy, and there's a peach of a space which is secured without too much fuss. Le Boat guy tipped us off that this is a good place to stop for last night because it's better than being in marina where there is nothing to do. And better than being outside Slug and Lettuce on opposite bank which can get rowdy on a Friday night.

In the pub we ask about mooring charges which they say is free. Also no need to book restaurant. Cheap drinks after 5 too.

We start drinking and we have a visit from Ange's niece Verity, her husband Ollie, and their son Freddie. They bring cleaning products to hopefully enable us to remove tea stains from front of boat 😬.

Not much more to say other than we drink, eat, play gin rummy (as usual) and determine that Lisa has won then go to bed. Tomorrow is an early start because we have to pack and clean and get boat into Penton Hook marina so this will be the last of this blog. We've had a really fun trip and the good times far outweighed the stressy times and we'd do another boat trip again one day.

FIN.