With our visa applications submitted and paid for, we decided to say goodbye to Reading Marina and start heading down the river. We are looking at about a week or two to make our way down to Teddington and onto Richmond lock. We would then be on the tidal part of the Thames and we would take the tide through London. As it would be unlikely that we hear back from the French Consulate about our visas by the time we were through London, we plan to travel on the Medway for a few weeks. Once we hear about our visas (and hopefully that is positive outcome), we will decide whether we “pop” over to France for a few weeks or remain on the rivers in UK this year and do France next year.
So with sunny weather ahead we invited friends to join us on board for a few days as we leave Reading and make our way down river. We said goodbye to all the wonderful people at the marina, they had been amazing with helping us get the gearbox fixed and refitted and also look after (winterise) Deux Poissons over winter.
It appeared they were either wishing us a great future and trip OR were thrilled to see us leave. Either way, they really made an effort - flags, well wishes, trumpets - waving us goodbye from the marina which had started to feel like home. We promised to keep in touch and while we were sorry to say goodbye to such great people, we really looked forward to getting going on our trip.
We cast off, waved goodbye, charged our glasses and got chatting about the next few days ahead. As we approached the first lock at Caversham, which was self-service, Patrick gave a brief lesson on how to operate the locks. We tied up outside the lock and Patrick and friends walked over to fill the lock and open the gates. My friend walked back to the boat to help me bring the boat into the lock. As she approached the boat, she asked me “Carol, is that normal?” and pointed to the extensive, terrifying amount of smoke pouring out the exhaust pipe and filling the waiting area. My heart and stomach dropped. I switched the engine off immediately and shouted for Patrick to get back to the boat.
I explained what I had seen and he started her up, with disbelief, I am sure. More smoke and it just kept on coming. He opened up the engine bay and had a look inside – at what?? I have no idea.
So a call to Reading Marine Services to explain that there was a “slight” problem. They sent down a tow boat and within 10 minutes we were back on the same mooring! The flags and bunting still attached to the railings from our goodbye shout-out! The engineers promised to be down on Monday and have a look. Best case scenario – injectors. And those could be replaced and we could set off again, keep the champagne and all the flags and bunting hadn’t gone to waste.
Worst case scenario – replace the engine. I wasn’t sure what that meant with regards to the champagne.
In the meantime, we tied the boat up and made the best of a really sh*t situation. We used the marina dingy and went across the river to the grassy bank, the one we had first tried to tie up all those months ago, when the gearbox gave up.
We took all our BBQ stuff and plenty of drinks and ice and enjoyed the evening, looking at the boat from across the river. All the flags and goodbye paraphernalia still tied along the fence.
What would tomorrow bring?
