Cruising around Shepperton

Over the early part of the school's half-term holiday we had a terrific three-day cruise along the Thames with our daughter Lucy and our granddaughters. Basically we did a small amount of cruising during the day followed by sleepovers on Albert for the oldest two granddaughters, Amelia (8) and Florence (6). The weather was warm and dry and this made the holiday idyllic.

Hampton Court Moorings

Golden Gates outside the Privy Garden

Late afternoon sun on the Long Canal at Hampton Court

(Panorama)

We visited Hampton Court where there was a Beast Quest event and The Magic Garden and moored up at Sunbury and Shepperton. Along the way the family operated some of the locks where there lock-keepers were not on duty and even managed riverside picnic.

Picnic near Chertsey

Particularly memorable was our mooring outside the Red Lion at Shepperton. Situated on the old main channel of the river, alongside Desborough Island, this proved such a hit for a lunchtime mooring we returned again for the evening. The close proximity to the station made it very useful for those not staying onboard overnight to return home to Teddington.

Mooring at The Red Lion, Shepperton

During our period on the river the number of rowing crews training was considerable. The good weather and the school's holidays obviously having an influence. There were single sculls, double sculls, quad sculls and octuple (8X) sculls. There were also pairs, fours (coxed and coxless) and eights. The whole gamut in fact. The ranges of skills and ages on offer varied (as did the steering) but some looked first-rate.

Thames Rowing and Sculling

Florence bird watching

The Weir, Sunbury - one of our overnight moorings