Another blast from the past today with a visit to Brooklands, the first purpose built racetrack in the world. It also developed into a booming aviation hub, so it’s a museum well worth visiting. There are numerous buildings scattered over the site, enclosed by the banked concrete track.

The concrete track is in pretty poor condition, and a large area has been converted to a car park for shopping at a superstore, or racetrack for Mercedes World. There was lots of driver training going on.

For the most part the old garages still exist, containing a large number of vehicles. Motor racing was in its infancy, so they are set out like stables and the drivers wore coloured silks to be easily identified.

The vehicles ranged from early race cars, land speed record holders and from Brooklands Golden Interwar era, when it’s slogan was “The right crowd, and no crowding”.

On the aviation side there are numerous outdoor exhibits, including Concorde. You can board most of them. Inside various hangers there are record holders and “break thru” designs, such as the Harrier Jump jet. You are allowed to get in some of these, I tried a Hunter this time.

Of particular interest to us was an Avro 504 and the TSR2. These represented the range of aircraft that Hazels father worked on in the RAF, from doping canvas wings to Supersonic, that’s some development.

So lots to see and do, plus a bus museum and outdoor car displays as well. We have news that our alternator and spare parts will arrive today, they will be fitted immediately, so hopefully we will be cruising!

46 years ago I started summer vocational work at RHS Wisley on Battlestone Hill. One of the first things I did was help in planting trees to provide shade for the Rhododendrons and Azaleas. As I had an Australian father I was given 6 Gum saplings to plant. Every time I visit I see how “my” trees are doing.

Our first port of call is usually the glasshouse, not the original ones I worked in, but a more modern multi environment one. This has a corner for orchids, rather than a seperate growing house when I worked there. Some of the orchids still had my “labels” on them.

The range of climates provide a wide diversity of plants

Outside the glasshouse is landscaped into a lake with grasses and dancing hares !

We then walked up to the old glasshouse site, passing numerous small gardens, transplanted from previous Chelsea Flower Shows, and borders of shrubs, bulbs and annuals

The glasshouse site has been transformed into RHS Hilltop, an educational and research building dedicated to gardening. It provides a glimpse into the future horticulture will provide, and shows how backward we are in Australia ! Always trying to simplify and dumb things down rather than extending our learning and understanding.

At the back of Hilltop was a glorious bog/wetlands/wild garden area. It’s given us an idea for our back garden in Tassie. It’s about time I had another gardening challenge, and I’ve got a pre formed pond already.

We then walked thru to Battlestone Hill, passing a giant horses head. It hasn’t changed much from my days, and provided a calming retreat to sit and contemplate, far from the numerous Sunday visitors.

We finished our stroll wandering thru the Alpine House and Rock Garden, which had a colourful display of carnivorous plants.

We greatly enjoyed our time at Wisley, finished off with lunch including a honey crunch biscuit, which I loved when working there. A lot of special memories today, and thoughts about people who love these gardens and those who worked in them whilst I was there, at least one is still there !

We managed to secure the services of a mobile mechanic this morning, a really good tradie who tried to get us going again…however despite fixing 2 loose connections and getting the old alternator to work again too much damage had been done. There was something fishy about the field coil and stray currents. Basically we need a new alternator and update our charging circuit to remove some inherent problems. Fingers crossed mid week fixing after parts location. Many thanks Garath Jessop and Dad Colin, LEDGEND 👍

We’d had some rain last night, but only drizzle in the morning, nevertheless for some reason I wanted to get back to Pyrford. This meant going around Desborough Island and then up the cut to the River Wey entrance. This is quite well hidden unless you know what to look for amongst a maze of rivers, weirs and channels

We had just entered Thames Lock when another Sea Otter arrived. They had been reading my posts but it was pure chance we met!

We proceeded up to Town Lock in Weybridge, and Coxes Lock with its fierce weir stream. I think Henton was glad of our help getting thru

Unfortunately upon leaving Coxes the battery/charge warning light and buzzer remained on after starting up. As we were so close to our home Marina we carried on thru New Haw lock and back to Pyrford. We passed our old boat T42 along the way. It was good to see her again, but she looked smaller than I remembered.

Once in the Marina I checked over things with the engineer, he’s thinking our alternator (used for charging batteries) has broken. He’s lent me a similar one which I installed this afternoon but no joy and the engineer is on holiday for a week. I’ve cleaned up and will think about it overnight…..as we want to cruise again asap….as we have 2 weeks left. It’s put a bit of a dampener on what should be a celebration of completing our first trip. Hazel and I have greatly enjoyed our time in Prime Thyme, and want some more…..tbc

We are flying the Tassie flag as normal now. It always gets a few curious stares, being a bit different from the normal ensign flag.

We shared the first couple of locks with a lovely couple in a widebeam, it’s name summed up life on the water for them.

Then it was onto Staines, for a stop and shopping at the Sainsburys superstore. The next couple of reaches are well populated, so you are viewing everybody’s back garden, most of them immaculate.

There are also plenty of houseboats, or rather house barges about.

Then onto very familiar territory to me, Chertsey and Weybridge, where the River Wey joins the Thames.

We’ve carried on downstream a bit and dropped our pins in the original Desborough river course, rather than the cut. It’s a lovely sunny afternoon, we’ll stay the night and see what the next couple of days weather is like. We can then decide to carry on down the Thames to Hampton Court or retreat up the Wey to Pyrford and home.

Another great day, starting thru Cliveden Reach and then thru Bray. I thought Goring and Henley had some nice houses, but Bray must be millionaires row on the Thames. House after house outdoing each other

Some of the locks are impressive as well, catering for large ferries. Probably the most famous being Boulters, but we liked some of the smaller ones upstream from Oxford. All the lock keepers have been friendly, and are so patient, trying to teach “Le Boat” hirers how to steer their large floating blocks of flats. They usually end up sideways, so we give them plenty of room and don’t enter the lock until under ropes.

All too soon the amount of road and air noise increased, we must be nearing Windsor….then the Duck appeared during our lunch break.

Thru another lock and there was Windsor Castle, and the town. Masses of people still milling around, and little good mooring, so we decided to carry on, especially as the last time coming down the Thames we’d had a day there. It looked sad, lots of mobile cranes and half packed camp grounds still much in evidence. On to Runnymede, and Magna Carta.

After 6.5 hours of cruising I was ready to accept the first decent mooring, and found a secluded spot or was it….I can’t cross the road to the JFK, Magna Carta Sites due to the footpath being fenced off….also we appear to be moored at the end of Heathrow’s runway…..as there are huge jets roaring overhead…..never mind, I’m sure I’ll still sleep well. Tomorrow we will decide wether to carry on to Hampton Court, or just turn back up the Wey……yes after almost 3 weeks boating we’ve covered what we did by car in 2.5 hours ! It’s called SLOW BOATING and we love it !

After a very peaceful night we set off on one of the best bits of the Thames, I’m my opinion that is. First up Bisham Abbey, then we had the Thames to ourselves as we drifted along.

Then onto Marlow, which has a good set up for boaters with mooring near the town. The town is most attractive, has some smart shops and a Sainsburys for shopping. Hazel had done some research, and found “Lady Sew and Sew”, Rowan sewing book purchased along with 12 balls of felted tweed.

Not wishing to repeat yesterdays late mooring we cruised past Bourne End and moored up for lunch at Cookham. It’s such a nice spot we’ll stay the night. I’ve had a walk into town and found the 11th Century Church, well known in Spencer paintings, along with flowers everywhere.

A sad day this morning, with the Queens funeral. We flew our Tassie flag at half mast, and watched most of the ceremony on TV. The crowds at Windsor were enormous, I’m sure the river was as busy as well.

It was only in the afternoon we were told that the locks were still being manned, so we pushed off and headed down the Rowing Regatta course. First under the Henley Bridge, with its 2 figureheads, and then Temple Island at the end of the course. Time for a lock ? It’s maned !

After that, with time getting on, we decided to moor up, but all the places we tried were too shallow or rocky, and we had to resort to the pole twice to get off. The light would go soon and we were both anxious, but decided to see if one more lock, Hurley, was still open. It was and the ever helpful lockie had some EA spots in the weir stream, so we are by ourselves on a landing stage. After the hustle and bustle of Henley it’s a welcome relief. Tomorrow Marlow, and old stomping ground of mine when I worked at Beaconsfield Garden Center.

Just a couple of hours cruising and locks before we moored up in Henley. There’s a cold wind blowing but as it’s a long W/E everybody is out in hire boats or having picnics. Our mooring is along the main promenade and we’re getting a lot of complimentary remarks, “ what a sweet little boat” or “that would do us”. Our neighbours fore and aft are narrowboats, a distinct minority in “floating gin palace” land.

We’ve had a wander into town to top up supplies, then a visit to the excellent River and Rowing Museum and their wonderful Wind in the Willows display. Suitable for all kids, big and small !

I’ve added 2 more classics to Prime Thymes library, perfect when moored up on a rainy day with a low battery. We will see what happens tomorrow, but will moor up by mid morning to watch the funeral. I’ll avoid Windsor till Wednesday, it’s going to be very crowded till then.

We are still meandering our way downstream on the Thames, going slowly to avoid Windsor on the 20th

We availed ourselves of the services, and topped up with diesel and water at Caversham Boat Services, an excellent stop just before the lock. Being a long W/E there are a lot more boats around. Nevertheless we’ve found an excellent spot to have a lazy afternoon after charging the batteries this morning.

Some of the properties were very impressive, and contrasted with some of the live aboard boats that seemed to be barely afloat.

I’ve had a walk along the towpath where we’re moored. Some lovely wild hops are scrambling thru the fences and up trees. Henley, and lots of rowers, tomorrow.