East Molesey to Harris Boatyard at Laleham

3 Locks:  10 miles.

Before I left East Moseley I spoke to Monique about my plans.

It seems that I have only just finished moving to the new mooring and Hallmark is off.

It is a cold morning start as Hallmark glides away from the River Bank in East Moseley.

It will be a familiar trip today!

But, nonetheless an important one with some work at 4Marine at Harris Boatyard at Laleham.

It is exciting to have Hallmark chugging along once more.

Going up river on the way to Sunbury the warmth of the sun finally gets through the clouds and there is no doubt day one will be a good cruising day!

There is not much river traffic about and very few people walking or cycling on the banks too.

But all the sites I really love on this so familiar stretch are there.

The Weir Inn is deserted but ready for the summer rush no doubt.  

Walton Marine looks enticing as Hallmark glides on.

At Shepperton Lock,  Thames Court is looking grand and then I see as the best part of this stretch Chertsey Mead and the arched bridge.

Not far to the last lock of the day and then the quite peaceful Laleham reach.

There were not many lock-keepers around either on this late March day meaning I had to work two of the three Thames locks myself.

Never mind ................ they are electric but slow when they are set for 'self service'.

Start of the 2011 cruise

The 2011 cruise will be different to my long trip in 2010 when Hallmark completed in fine style the Thames Ring and its 174 locks.

There is a good chance I will reach Birmingham this time!

There is much more time with no work to come back for..............

However, the intention in 2011 is to do bits of cruising and then return by bike and train to London and the coast as the cruise develops.

The planning is a little loose........

Certainly it is first up the Thames to Windsor, Reading and Oxford. 

Then up Oxford Canal to Banbury and beyond and then on to Birmingham via the Grand Union Canal passing through Leamington Spa and Warwick and finally i9nto Birminham on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.

Tommorow through a trip to Laleham to get a few jobs done at 4Marine at Harris Boatyard.

Then when April starts I'll be on my way...................

The new mooring is complete

Yes!

The new mooring is complete and Hallmark is safely installed.

Thank you Peter for all your hard work.

A great relief.

Hallmark remains at the Riverbank in East Molesey.

It would have been so sad to have moved on!

So Hallmark is just one mooring downriver at the Longships and what a fine mooring it is too!

 

Getting the first pontoon in place

The new mooring is taking shape.

It should be ready in the next couple of weeks and Hallmark will move to The Longships.

The banks are nearly clear of brambles and small trees and bushes.

Today the construction of the pontoons got underway

First task was to take apart the one at Hallmark's bow and shift it down to the new mooring.

No mean feet.........................

But it was done after dismantling and some heavy lifting.

By the end of the day the pontoon was in place.

Of course as one photo shows Hallmark remains on its own mooring and the bow pontoon is in midships!

Another few days and the central pontoon will be made!

Another day dealing with an overgrown mooring

Rod and I spent another a whole day clearing Hallmark's new mooring.

I had promised Monique at The Longships I would get it back in order.  

In other words a tidy bank with cut back trees and bushes and no litter!

There was so much cutting of over grown Hawthorne and enormously thick brambles to be done that Rod came with a chain saw and a hedge trimmer.

With his machinery he quickly zoomed into action and piles of cut down branches had to be chopped up into small pieces to go into the garden waste containers we had brought.

It was a tiring but worthwhile day and with maybe one more push the mooring will be almost clear!

  

A sunny day on Hallmark

What a great day down on the river!

Wonderful sun for almost the whole day.

The river was so quite but it is a cold January day so that is to be expected.

The island downstream of Hallmark is looking at its best.

The sun is glinting on the weeping willow on the end of Platt's Eyot and proving some great reflections into the river

I spent the day doing the usual bit of cleaning of Hallmark's roof and attempted to rake out the built of of drift wood and all sorts of rubbish that collects by the pontoon.  

Of course I lit the wood burning stove and got through half of basket of logs keeping warm between the 'outside' action! 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Hallmark's new mooring

Hallmark has been moored at The Holt on the Thames at East Molesey for 15 years.

It has been a really brilliant place to be.

Sadly its time there is coming to an end.

The Holt has been let and the new tenants have a boat and will be bringing it to the mooring at the end of March.

I was expecting to have to make a bring break with the lovely stretch of water just downstream from Platt's Eyot.

But amazingly I have secured a new mooring at The Longships right next door to The Holt.

How lucky is that.

There are 'problems' of course.

Firstly, the new mooring will need a pontoon and I have Peter Bayliss from Garrett Aitt lined up for this.

He is a real expert pontoon builder and he has repaired my current pontoon over the years.

Secondly, there is a small cruiser tied up and a rowing boat on the bank.

The owner of Longships reports they are moored without her permission.

So today I posted a notice on each asking for the boast to be removed as a pontoon was being constructed for a 50 foot narrow boat.

We await development!

Peter is due to start work in about 10 days so they will have to be gone.

See and download the full gallery on posterous