the following night i get the urge to follow the lane down to the river thames.

quickly and assertively i tell fiona "we are going to look at the river from ferry lane", very soon we are there after passing the village crossroads, and leaving the commuter traffic behind.

we walk onto the landing stage and grab each other tight to witness a natural event that can only be seen at this time of year.

• swans going to their shelters for the night, heron creek island.
• kingfishers darting back to their secure perches.
• fish jumping from the water into the air to enjoy the last few flies of the summer.
• a heron on its last flight of the river that day
• and bats just starting the day by detecting what is new to discover around the river, including >>

>> us standing on the landing stage, witnessing every move of these majestic creations of nature.

all of a sudden we realise that mist from the other side of the riverbank is drifting like a blanket closer to the river..

almost like someone is throwing a blanket across the entire meadow and slowly pulling it over the river to tuck all the fish, birds and mammals into bed for the night.

a debrief in the greyhound pub is much needed, first time to pub and not asking for a cider for.. well, for a long time.. thanks fi :)

then back into the house, to pack for spain.. the next adventure begins so soon after another unexpected one ends..

thanks for the show mother nature