A May Day at Beale Park - full moorings and a grounding on the Thames

Monday, 02 May 2011 17:59

When we decide to stay a while we (or more accurately I) still need to get on the move - so a walk is called for! It was time to explore the Beale Park area without paying for entry (yes - we can be cheap skates!)! There is a free bit that can be reached from the Thames Path

Boating entrance to free bit

But there is a bridge across so it was definitely shanks pony

There is a narrow path southwards around the upper lake. This is beside the huge (and full) car park. The lake supports some shell fish - are they mussels or clams?

Fresh water shell fish 

It was a family day out for many to look at the model boat display in the wildlife park. This explained the moorings full of cruisers at the river entrance too!

Peeking through the trees at the lake

On the other side of us was a high wire *electrified* fence but John was tall enough to get this shot over the stream in the paying bit! We could see a stork and possible a few other birds.

Over the fence into the wildlife park

Continuing our northwards walk around the lake we let ourselves out onto another path which ran alongside the stream that runs alongside the River Thames. We needed to find a bridge! Eventually we did and found ourselves at the northern end of the Beale Park moorings which are a very long stretch on the west bank.

Mooing notice opposite what we call the north island

Can you see the mistake and the strategically place cattle in the photo? We walked south and back to Epiphany. Later that afternoon we had a grandstand view of a grounding. Above the island we are moored by, there are channel markers. This unfortunate narrowboat passed us in our seclusion and then tried to turn right back down stream.

A gallant cruiser came to their rescue

It could happen to any of us, but we now know how not to turn around above the island!

Cruiser pulling with rope and one to the bank

Success - the narrowboat was across the river, but free from its grounding.

Free and ready to head upstream before turning!

We had company in the evening - ever feel you are being watched?

"Mooo - this is really good TV"

I was watering the plants on the roof - I was glad that there was nearly two foot of water between us.

Today we have sat out the fierce gusts of wind, changed the oil, made a cake and generally chilled in the sunshine - we are off cruising tomorrow, downstream this time.