The Natives Are Friendly, and other stories

Saturday 20 July

A distant Jan & Rod

 

This was a very peaceful day spent in and around the dock. Our friends Rod & Jan had told us of their planned “Rib Experience”, so we went to the riverbank at The Tower and managed to photograph them in both directions. In fact, the rib skipper brought them especially inshore so that we could even speak to them from the railings.

Somebody's big day

 

This seems a good point to observe how much we have been impressed by the general friendliness and helpfulness of most of the people we have been meeting so far. Whether it be the riverbus ticket agent who takes time in a busy queue to explain the workings of the timetable, or the skipper of a 40 ft motor yacht who give helpful hints on how to save a few pounds buying marine diesel, or even the Waitrose staff who trustingly unlock a loaded trolley en route to the Marina, everyone is just so neighbourly, including also the berth-holders, temporary and permanent along our pontoon.  It's just lovely!

A Thames barge enters the lock

 

While we were waiting, we watched the arrival of a grand Indian wedding,  and a complete cycle of lock operations (always fascinating). The afternoon was balmy enough to play cards on deck, and the evening passed in “The Wheelhouse Cinema”, after yet another  fine dinner aboard.