https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/ May 09 They all came up to the gate to watch us on the boat and when Mel sauntered over to say hello they all licked her hands - salt probably! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=34942953 34942953 Does that mean its summer? https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=34942954 34942954 Its good to see them anyway, summer or not! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=34942955 34942955 It was quite surreal first thing in the morning but within 15 minutes it had all gone!! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35063657 35063657 So many people on the towpath, dog walkers, families and lots and lots of cyclists! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35063656 35063656 Just before we reached the top of the flight we spotted this moorhen with her three chicks! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35063655 35063655 This swan is curled up asleep on the most enormous nest! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35179668 35179668 We saw this duck, who is just short of a bonnet and shawl, keeping a very close eye on a cat!! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35179669 35179669 Very blurry photo of a Swallow skimming the surface of the water for bugs. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35179670 35179670 He zoomed past again but I still couldn't get a clear shot! Must try harder. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35179671 35179671 We often see these lovely birds flitting around the locks. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35314871 35314871 We think they must be on the lookout for insects around the sides of the locks. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35314874 35314874 These two boats broke loose from their mooring and drifted right across the canal! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35314872 35314872 Clive and I managed to pull them back into the bank and secure them again. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35314875 35314875 New crew members we picked up at Crofton Locks! If Toby and Ben's daddy will email us we will send him all the photos we took. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=35314873 35314873 We had heard plenty of warbling but hadn't seen the Warbler till today. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049860 36049860 This beautiful bird was doing aerobatics around the boat. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049769 36049769 Couldn't resist taking picture......... https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049772 36049772 after picture................... https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049773 36049773 after picture! There are more but I will spare you! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049774 36049774 Its not just chicks we are seeing this Spring. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049770 36049770 We often see cows and sheep coming down to the waters edge to quench their thirst https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049775 36049775 These baby Canada Geese are soooooooooo cute! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049776 36049776 Little black bundles of fluff! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049861 36049861 Mooring up for a well earned lunch. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049771 36049771 They opened the gates https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049777 36049777 They closed the gates https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049778 36049778 Heaved on the ropes https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36049859 36049859 And wound the paddles up and down! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36050536 36050536 Clive pulled up alongside Verity so that I could get back on board! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36215127 36215127 We were very taken with the lovely artwork on the side of this narrowboat. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36215126 36215126 This farmer had a right struggle persuading this calf to go with him! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36462209 36462209 At one point it just lay down and he had to pick it up again! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36462215 36462215 You can just spot another narrowboat making its way down the Thames. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36462212 36462212 Lady Arwen is the one right at the end of the path tied to two trees! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36462214 36462214 This is the first female Mandarin Duck we have seen. She was quite feisty! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36462211 36462211 This huge boat passed right alongside us on its way into the lock. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36462210 36462210 From the ridiculous to the sublime! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36462213 36462213 A not quite so regal aspect of a swan! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36619431 36619431 We have seen several males but this is the first female we have seen. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36619432 36619432 This large paddle steamer was moored in Henley - spectacular isn't it. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36619430 36619430 Looking back upstream to Henley https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36619434 36619434 Temple Island marks the start of all the races which take place during Henley Regatta. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36619435 36619435 We watched them driving pilings into the riverbed marking out the course of the races. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36619436 36619436 We saw an alpaca farm higher up the Thames a few weeks ago, now we have a llama! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36619433 36619433 You get all sorts of craft navigating the Thames, this is one of the smaller ones! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36619437 36619437 We spotted this little guy grazing under the trees right next to our mooring in Cookham. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36735772 36735772 There are lots of little day boats moored outside the riverside houses, this one is the best by far. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36735774 36735774 This unusual craft is built in the style of the barges used in Elizabethan times. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36735775 36735775 There is not much to see of Marlow itself from the river. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36735776 36735776 Another of the more unusual craft we have been seeing on the Thames. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36851183 36851183 The riverside mansion with a very chequered past! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=36851184 36851184 The first part of the race is the swim - here's one lot just setting off. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37100146 37100146 As soon as the swimmers emerge from the water they struggle to get out of their dry suits! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37100145 37100145 Next section is the cycle race, around the whole of the Dorney Lake. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37100147 37100147 Then its off the bikes, change shoes and go round the lake again, running this time. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37100149 37100149 This is the home of the famous school's rowing club. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37100148 37100148 This enormous rowing lake will be used during the 2012 Olympics. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37100150 37100150 This photo was taken from the other side of the castle as we were leaving Windsor. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643159 37643159 This house had been transported to London piecemeal and reconstructed here. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643160 37643160 David Garric the acclaimed 18th century actor erected this temple in 1773 in honour of the bard. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643161 37643161 The impresario Fred Karno owned this boat originally then it passed to Vesta Victoria who sang "Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643986 37643986 This place is amazing I wish we had had time to go and see it properly. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643162 37643162 We moored up just behind these boats! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643163 37643163 Just one of the paddle steamers we have seen on this stretch of the Thames at Richmond. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643164 37643164 Another paddle steamer - you would think this was the Mississippi not the Thames! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643172 37643172 You can see how close the planes are as they fly towards Heathrow - we could almost see the passengers waving to us! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643165 37643165 I spotted this lovely bird just after we came through the Brentford Lock onto the Grand Union Canal. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643166 37643166 We have seen lots of swans on their nests but this is the first batch of cygnets we have seen so far. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643167 37643167 It is bizarre seeing and hearing these unlikely residents of the Thameside trees! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643168 37643168 You can easily see this is not a British bird. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643169 37643169 Clive was getting a bit concerned about the sail boat - he didn't seem to have a clue what he was doing and was heading straight for us! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643170 37643170 Yet another lovely bridge spanning the Thames. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643171 37643171 This one was on a birdfeeder in a tiny garden next to the canal! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643173 37643173 The cheek of it - pinching the bluetits nuts! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643174 37643174 I only knew it was there because it was screeching its head off! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=37643175 37643175 Indeia showed no hesitation in going up and stroking this large lizard. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38293047 38293047 After seeing the green parakeets flying free outside it seemed a shame to see this lovely red one stuck inside! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38293048 38293048 Indy had followed this chicken around for ages until the nice man picked it up so she could stroke it! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38293049 38293049 Again she was quite happy to stroke this baby croc that daddy was holding. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38293050 38293050 Gareth and Indy on the steps of the beautiful building that houses the Natural History Museum. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38293055 38293055 Passing the time whilst we were waiting in the queue for the Natural History Museum. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38293053 38293053 One of the great new exhibits in the Natural History Museum. (Its a model I'm afraid!) https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38293051 38293051 I couldn't resist taking a pic when she sat down next to this rock! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38293052 38293052 Clive and Charles Darwin - do you think they are related? https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38293054 38293054 Although built up these were great moorings with all the facilities we could need and a great base for getting around London. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38721770 38721770 Proud parents with their brood of cygnets. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38721769 38721769 This was the surprise waiting for us as we passed the Glaxo Smith Kline building just beyond our moorings. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38721771 38721771 Yet another to add to my collection of weird and wonderful craft - I think this takes 1st Prize! https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38721772 38721772 Pretty houses with lovely gardens flank the canal on this stretch. https://www.morrisfolk.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=38721773 38721773