To Laleham in the wind and rain

The overnight rain has ensured that Hallmark is now floating and not stuck on the bottom like last week.

The Thames at Molesey has never been that low on water.

It must have been nine or ten inches down.

At 8.22am Hallmark chugs out and heads towards Sunbury.

The village of residential boats down below Molesey reservoir seems to have grown.

Almost past the encampment and the heavens open.

Sunbury lock is deserted but it is well before 9.00am and so I make a start of locking.

Soon the lock keeper arrives and takes over.

Past the weir and Hallmark passes a different sort of camping and the sun come out.

The entrance to Walton Marine on the left looks great but soon it is wind and heavy rain.

It is going to be one of those cruises.

At Shepperton Hallmark meets Mystique travelling up the south Oxford Canal and then on to Cambridge.

As the wind batters us about I follow Mystique through and past Chertsey lock and finally to Laleham where there is plenty of room to moor opposite the boatyard.

Now time to catch up with some work before lunch and the rest of the day.

At 2.30 Paul from the yard calls over.  He can do my work today and not next week.

Can I come over now.  By now it is really gusting at gale force but with Hallmark on full power I manage to moor up and Paul is drilling and screwing!