Down the Thames to Teddington.

Day 8 (Tuesday - 2nd. June)

We departed the Kennet and Avon Canal, from Reading (pronounced: "redding") at noon on Sunday (31st. May), on an unpromising weather forecast; but with hope high in our hearts. Graham Metcalfe's 70th. birthday celebration - on the previous evening - had provided some great choruses and harmonies, whilst a fair amount of ale was supped ... but not a hangover-inducing amount!

Locking down onto the River Thames

It's been more than a year since last we were on the river, and the sheer size of it - in comparison to any of the canals - is, at first, somewhat daunting. However; we soon became accustomed to - but respectful of - the changed conditions. With the increased depth of water and 'going with the flow', our sat-nav (not left with our car, in Warwick) informed us that we were achieving 5.2 mph. (!!!) The locks on the river are operated by professional lock-keepers and, despite being wider and longer than even the fairly large locks on the K&A, each operation (the average distance apart being around 2-3 miles) takes only 5 or 10 minutes. Our final lock on the Thames will be at Teddington; when we shall emerge onto the 'tidal Thames' for about four miles; before we turn into the Brentford Tidal Lock, and onto the Grand Union Canal.

Once we started heading downstream we became aware - even more so than when we were on the river last year - that we were in the territory of our overlords. For more than 30 miles we never caught sight of a residence with a 'market valuation' of less than (we would estimate) five million pounds ($8,000,000); with most appearing to be valued at anywhere between twice and ten times that amount. Strangely: it is not difficult to avoid feeling envious, but very easy to feel faintly nauseated. In such an unequal society, it might be easy to think: "So this is how the other half live!" until one realizes that this is how our rulers and 'the other one percent' live. Interestingly: in several hundred of these estates and mansions (throughout Sunday and Monday); we never, actually, caught sight of a living soul ... apart for a couple of gardeners!!!

There is; however; no denying the beauty and pleasantness of many of these places, so here are a selection of the less ostentatious ones ... 

Here are a couple which, admittedly, are owned by the people of the United Kingdom ... 

Hampton Court

 ... and Queen Elizabeth the Second's little pied-à-terre ... 

Windsor Castle.

We truly believe we are NOT envious. We actually believe that we are amongst the very richest people we know ... though not for financial reasons ... we're just very lucky, happy and content. We are, likewise, aware that; in almost every way; we exist somewhere within the top ten percent of the planet's population. Knowing that, we do try to positively affect the lives of others.

Enough of such socialist claptrap! Next time we'll show you the multifariousness of aquatic wildlife, and boat construction we've seen on the river.