07-19 Kingston on River Thames

Sunday 19th July:   A very warm and sunny day today and a slow start although the Regatta races started prompt at 9am.  These events were on a shorter course today and we were not too many boat lengths from the starting point.  We had two umpires(?) sat just in front of us and I inquired as to lunch time or breaks in the proceedings when we might depart. There was a break about 11:30 and we took the opportunity of heading up river to go round the island and then head downstream to Molesley lock.  Here very slow progress, a busy Sunday at the lock and all services on the up stream lock landing.  We wanted water and a GRP cruiser was moored on the water point waiting for crew He was determined I was not to lie alongside and pushed us off.  In the end we had to wait for the lock to disgorge its lockful of boats passing upriver before we  and another boat could get to the water point.  Once water ,rubbish disposed of and loo emptied we progressed through the lock by the side of an old dutch widebeam heading to Brentford and then headed down river.   The Hampton Court moorings were full to bursting so carried on and moored up at Kingston after turning to face up river again. During the afternoon I took the dogs for a walk up the 'towpath' and found an entrance to Home Park opposite the Ravens Ait Conference Centre which we explored.  Then later still Bridie and I crossed Kingston Bridge and did a short explore of Kingston.  Came across a ballet dancer in the market square

(whose music later caused Bridie some effort on the internet trying to identify it- we think it is Larna Del Ray singing Young and Beautiful? ). There we might have stopped for a drink but the sunny evening had brought the masses out and we decided to retreat back to the relative peace of the shady side of the river on Prairie Oyster.

As it was, we were moored opposite Woody's and spent the evening until quite late very aware of the celebrations, music and other activities going on on the opposite bank of the river.