Sunday 26th August 2007
What! another beautiful day? Yes. Clear blue skies and starting to warm up.
Sue, Gweneth, Beatrice & I set off to walk into Richmond along the river. Down past Marble House to the Ham Ferry, paid the ferryman 1 pound each and we were over to the other side, the trip taking all of 5 minutes.
Walking through the park we saw the set up for the days polo match, riders exercising their horses, riding around the ring or just out trotting.
Across the Richmond Common meadow, cows grazing, people strolling along and all this within 20 minutes from the heart of London.
Caught up with Stuart who had ridden his bike to meet us at the Tides Table Coffee shop on the riverbank in Richmond. Saw the river cruise boats so B & I decided we would take a trip down stream to Hampton Court, about 1-½ hours each way. Grabbed a Foccacia and a cup of coffee to ease the hunger pangs and caught the 1 pm cruise on board the Riverboat ‘Henley’
Found a couple of seats on the top deck and took in all the sights of the Thames, everybody out and about, walking, riding their bikes, pushing prams or just lazing about on the river banks. Rowing boats, sailing boats, powerboats and the narrow boats all making their way up and down stream.
Through the Teddington Lock where the river becomes controlled and is no longer tidal and up to Hampton Court, to the palace that King Henry VIII loved. Passing magnificent homes with lawns extending down to their boathouses most with pontoons where very often a cruise boat was moored along side. Pubs with lawns rolling down to the waters edge, everyone enjoying the summers day eating and drinking, this being the last public holiday long weekend for most people until Christmas.
Along side the river entrance wharf at Hampton Court and its golden gates it was time to disembark. We walked down the path and through the gardens and over to the bridge to buy a couple of ice creams where they were doing a roaring trade before returning to the wharf to board the boat for Westminster which would drop us off at Richmond along the way.
The River boat Master was telling us how busy it had been all day and said that the same time last week they had only 2 or three people on the cruise each way as the weather had been so cool and sunless. Not today though as Beatrice and I both found we had caught the sun and had red faces and arms.
In and out of the Teddington Lock and now as the river was ebbing we practically water-skied back.
Arrival at Richmond wharf we jumped off, crossed the bridge and walked back to St.Margaret's, sun burnt and tired.
Stuart had prepared his speciality Nicoise salad, which we washed down with ample glasses of wine and chatter about all the things we had all been up to that day.
Sue and Stuart had spent the afternoon packing their bags for their early 6 am start the next day travelling to Italy for a fortnight’s holiday to laze about in the sun and learn to make pasta and no doubt do some walking and exploring.
Before bed it was the rundown on household matters, garbage, door locks and the cat routine for their medicine and food requirements.
Will catch up with them both when we return on October 25th to drop off our bags before we travel down to Christchurch to stay for a few days before leaving for home in Australia. But that’s a long way off yet as we have France to look forward to next week.
And so to Bed.
What! another beautiful day? Yes. Clear blue skies and starting to warm up.
Sue, Gweneth, Beatrice & I set off to walk into Richmond along the river. Down past Marble House to the Ham Ferry, paid the ferryman 1 pound each and we were over to the other side, the trip taking all of 5 minutes.
Walking through the park we saw the set up for the days polo match, riders exercising their horses, riding around the ring or just out trotting.
Across the Richmond Common meadow, cows grazing, people strolling along and all this within 20 minutes from the heart of London.
Caught up with Stuart who had ridden his bike to meet us at the Tides Table Coffee shop on the riverbank in Richmond. Saw the river cruise boats so B & I decided we would take a trip down stream to Hampton Court, about 1-½ hours each way. Grabbed a Foccacia and a cup of coffee to ease the hunger pangs and caught the 1 pm cruise on board the Riverboat ‘Henley’
Found a couple of seats on the top deck and took in all the sights of the Thames, everybody out and about, walking, riding their bikes, pushing prams or just lazing about on the river banks. Rowing boats, sailing boats, powerboats and the narrow boats all making their way up and down stream.
Through the Teddington Lock where the river becomes controlled and is no longer tidal and up to Hampton Court, to the palace that King Henry VIII loved. Passing magnificent homes with lawns extending down to their boathouses most with pontoons where very often a cruise boat was moored along side. Pubs with lawns rolling down to the waters edge, everyone enjoying the summers day eating and drinking, this being the last public holiday long weekend for most people until Christmas.
Along side the river entrance wharf at Hampton Court and its golden gates it was time to disembark. We walked down the path and through the gardens and over to the bridge to buy a couple of ice creams where they were doing a roaring trade before returning to the wharf to board the boat for Westminster which would drop us off at Richmond along the way.
The River boat Master was telling us how busy it had been all day and said that the same time last week they had only 2 or three people on the cruise each way as the weather had been so cool and sunless. Not today though as Beatrice and I both found we had caught the sun and had red faces and arms.
In and out of the Teddington Lock and now as the river was ebbing we practically water-skied back.
Arrival at Richmond wharf we jumped off, crossed the bridge and walked back to St.Margaret's, sun burnt and tired.
Stuart had prepared his speciality Nicoise salad, which we washed down with ample glasses of wine and chatter about all the things we had all been up to that day.
Sue and Stuart had spent the afternoon packing their bags for their early 6 am start the next day travelling to Italy for a fortnight’s holiday to laze about in the sun and learn to make pasta and no doubt do some walking and exploring.
Before bed it was the rundown on household matters, garbage, door locks and the cat routine for their medicine and food requirements.
Will catch up with them both when we return on October 25th to drop off our bags before we travel down to Christchurch to stay for a few days before leaving for home in Australia. But that’s a long way off yet as we have France to look forward to next week.
And so to Bed.
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