Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th August - Remained at Ladbroke Grove

Friends Kathryn and Brian had been planning to join us but we couldn't manage the timing.  Plan A had been to travel back with them along the Thames from Lime House, which is quite adventurous as this section of the river is tidal, taking us beneath Tower Bridge and passed the Houses of Parliament.  However the tides were not right for several days meaning we would have to adopt Plan B - the shorter trip along the Thames from Brentford - and not as interesting.  Our intention was to be on the Basingstoke Canal for my birthday.

I spent part of Tuesday trying to book the boat through Brentford and onto the Basingstoke Canal.  In the event I was unable to do either.  No answer from Brentford and the Basingstoke was closed due to low water levels.  In the end we decided to wait until tides were more favourable and booked to go out through Lime House 8am on Sunday.

Cycled in to Marble Arch to pay a cheque in and have a look round in London.  On Wednesday spent the day trying to obtain an oil filter for the boat so that I could service the engine before venturing out onto the Thames.