We got up early as we were booked in for the tidal Thames today. We were going to diesel before we left but at £1.30 a litre and no self declaration we decided against it. We passed through Kingston and then made it to Teddington Lock.
We checked in with the Locky and he gave us the all clear for 11.30am. The weather was being kind to us again and the sun was out and it was a bit warmer but the wind was a bit stronger than yesterday. After a cup of tea we made our way up to the lock, where we were joined by another boat. The length of the locks here are amazing.
We took the lead out into the wave waters of the estuary and Derwent6 was in salt water again.
We slowly watched the tide turn and go into our favour and flow back out towards the sea with us. We passed Twickenham and Richmond and soon got to Kew gardens where we knew we had to turn.
It was difficult to see the turn as there are no signs pointing you in the right direction. This is probably on purpose so you don't cut the corner going in and become a hazard to anyone coming out. As we turned in Derwent6 slid sideways but the power of the Beta 50 straightened us up, in line with the lock. Phew! It all seems so peaceful when you get up to the Thames lock and we're back at idle passing the moored boats.
The gates opened as we approached, as the lock keeper knew we were coming.
We then made our way into Brentford and had to do the lock ourselves, still it was electric and easy to operate. We were joined by the boat we travelled down with.
We were both lucky enough to get a mooring here.
We then had a walk along to Morrisons and picked up some cheap steaks for dinner tonight.
It got dark by 6.00pm and still boats were arriving here, ready for their passage down the Thames tomorrow.
It took a hour out of our day to fill and we didn't plan it would take so long. 
Still we pushed on towards Denham Deep lock, where we bumped into a diesel boat and filled up under the A40 road bridge. 
We were running low and our fuel gauge has packed up while we were in Paddington, another job. Derwent6 took 175 litres and must have been thirsty, but we did get it at 80p a litre....Oh it's good to be back on the canals. We cracked on through Rickmansworth and battled with the leaves in the cut but it didn't hold us up much. 
What did hold us up was the amount of moored boats we had to pass on idle. There just seems to be more each year when we come down this section, and BW seem to have given up on most of them. We then met up with Tom on the coal boat and he passed over four bags of coal to add to the two we already had from last winter.
Lets hope we're sort of ready in case we do get this cold snap they are talking about. After 13 miles and 13 locks we were getting a bit tired and decided to call it a day at Ironbridge lock. It was just starting to get dark. 
We did manage to get a telly signal here and after that long day we were like zombies on the settee.
There was loads of rubbish in the cut and a mega amount of leaves but we got out to Bulls Bridge alright. 
It was all going very well till we got to Hayes town where they all sleep under the bridges. 
We had two herberts who decided it would be funny to tip Coke all over Derwent6 as we passed under the bridge. They gave us a nice wave till we weren't in view and ended up dropping the cans on us, as the stern passed under. Lesson learnt, next time we will be taking a photo of anyone loitering on top of the bridges as we pass under, even if they wave at us! They had scarpered when we tried to find them, but we know who they are.
What do you think of this guys garden on his boat.
We were lucky enough to get a mooring at Cowley Peachy, the last one left. We also had the gap in the trees so we got telly.
We were lucky enough to have our tickets up graded to the Royal Circle and had fab seats.
Thursday 3rd November - It was another day on board Derwent6. We've got to be honest we were knackered! We felt we must go out in the evening though and ended up going to a lovely Mexican called Loco Mexicano in Bayswater. 
We took them out for something to eat in Covent Garden and then went on to the theatre to see "The Million Dollar Quartet" just a fabulous show. We had our photos taken with one of the stars of the show who played Jerry Lee Lewis.
We walked back down Oxford street as all the Christmas lights had been turned on.
We got back to Derwent6 at midnight.
We ended up having lunch in The Spaghetti House. In the evening we went over to Battersea Park firework display. Well it was Guy Fawkes night. 
We arrived at Little Venice and it was just so quiet. The winter moorers were all in position to get on their moorings for the 1st November. 
We managed to get on the water point under the bridge and it took a hour for Derwent6 to fill up. 
We then pulled into the basin and noticed an old blogger Ernie on "Ten Bob Note". I'm sure we will see him later to catch up on a few things. We made our way to the end of the arm and there were loads of spaces. We turned Derwent6 in the breezy basin with ease and moored up. 
It was nice to be back in the City and watching everyone do their Sunday thing. We can't get telly here due to all the apartments and offices, but that doesn't matter, we're in London! It was also getting dark at five o clock as the clocks went back last night.....
It was nice and quite when we arrived and we managed to have a good look around....it is huge. It has all the quality shops you need and backs right onto the Olympic Park. You still can't get to the stadium but you can see it will be fabulous. 
We stopped for a bit of lunch at the Mexican restaurant Wahaca. When we came out it had got very busy and we were pushing our way though loads of people. We wouldn't want to come here on a Saturday or just before Christmas!
We went to a restaurant called Benihanas. It was booked by them and it turned out to be a really good night. It is Japanese food which is cooked at your table but in a style that you would have never seen before. This picture is a pile of onion rings which is set on fire and then cooked to perfection. 
The food was superb and blew us away. 
After we said our goodbyes we went to TGI Friday's and watched them throwing glasses and bottles around making cocktails. 
We got back to Derwent6 at around 1.00am after a great night......
At 10.00am we made our way up the Grand Union, and soon got to the Hanwell flight. We hadn't done locks now for so long we had to take it well steady. 
We passed the old Asylum; it's funny how we always pass this place near to Halloween. 
We did ten locks in all and managed to pick up some wood on the way. At the top we then took the turn at Bull's Bridge onto the Regent's canal. We had been greeted by showers all day, some of them heavy, but we did get sunshine now and again which was nice on our backs. 
Al sorted out Derwent6 while we were on the move, with a lovely warm fire going, and she made some of Del's favourite rock cakes to keep him going.
We carried on till we couldn't feel our fingers on the tiller, and managed to get a mooring at Kensal Green cemetery.
It wasn't long before it got dark and after a long day (15 miles and 10 locks) it was an early night for us.
We have nice views here, and it should be good enough for the weekend, and it's free. We made our booking in with the lock keeper at Brentford tidal lock and hopefully we will be going through on Sunday at about midday, but we have just heard that the winds are getting strong on Sunday...Oh well!
We soon got to Staines and it was warming up nicely, there are some lovely houses on the Thames in this area. 
We decided to stop for water and just top up while it was quiet. 
Things were all going well till we got to Weybridge. The lock had been closed due to divers inspecting the lock floor. They also inspected the lower gate hinges. 
We ended up having some lunch and it held us up for a hour. As we arrived in Hampton we passed David Gilmore's (Pink Floyd) recording studio or galleon and yep we went and had a good look. 
It was getting cold again as the sun went down, so we moored up at Hampton Court. Right outside the gates in fact, and we then lit the fire. 
We get a good telly signal here so the evening was sorted.