No rush this morning. There are only two locks to Teddington where I must wait for the tide, so I set off at 8:50 to guarantee a lock-keeper at Sunbury Lock. I was the only boat waiting and just as I was entering the lock a long blast on a horn from behind (round the corner, so out of sight of the lock keeper) preceeded the arrival of tug ASH with a flat in tow. I love the way the workmen just asually toss a heavy rope with a large eye in the end over a bollard to stop the barge. As I approached Molesey Lock the gates were against me, but the paddles were up and I could see a chink of light between the gates. No sign of any boats inside, so I continued ahead slowly aiming for the centre of the gates, and the gates duly opened - to reveal two narrowboats, one each side of the lock. A hasty sideways manoeuvre followed to the startled look on the lock-keepers face. I entered the lock, alone again, and apologised. The lock-keeper must have been so perplexed that he forgot the top paddles were still up. With no further incidents I arrived at Teddington super new moorings at 11:15. At 13:45, three other boats that had turned up behind me started off for the lock and I joined them. Being a bit early it was Richmond before we started to pick up some useful tide to speed progress and by Kew Gardens I recorded a mind-blowing speed of 6.8 mph (having risen from 4.8 mph above Richmond), so 2 mph of tide half an hour after high water.
The blocks of flats opposite the moorings at Brentford Basin are pretty well finished now and look absolutely cheerless. There is another block being built on the towpath side by the little swing bridge and this appears to be so close to the path that the area is beginning to resemble a canyon. I just hope that the ambience improves in future because it looks absolutely sterile at the mopment. There is lots of commuter traffic, both pedestrian and cycle on the towpath here. Nonethless, a quiet night
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