The Thames filling me with love and gratitude

Day 4 on the Thames. Another leisurely start to yet another beautiful day. My husband and I out of bed before the children. Rowers gliding by under instruction. As we discoverd we were near a rowing school.
My husband and I having some alone time. Sacred time together. Uninterrupted. Intimacy. Chatting about life.  About the tranquility and peace and abundance all around us.And then when we were done, I listened to the silence of the morning. Breathing it in. Letting it flow through my body, mind and soul.
Looking up at the trees surrendering to all the peace and love in the world. Feeling it flowing through my whole body. Feeling full of love and light. Tears springing to my eyes as I stood at the large porthole silently giving thanks to the Universe for all that I have in my life. Asking for guidance as to how I can best give and receive love and light in this world. Whispering Namaste and feeling it go through my whole being. Listening to the sound of silence. Watching the mist rising off the damp grass. Feeling total and utter surrender.
There's nothing like looking out the window and seeing only yourself being reflected back to you by nature itself. The essence of self being shown to you as you see the world. There is nothing more freeing than understanding that I am a part of the whole. That everything I see with clarity and love is because I have opened myself to the Universe, welcoming its abundance and treasures into my heart. There is nothing like that feeling at all. True and unfiltered love is such a blessing and I am so grateful to this journey on the Thames for allowing me to see and feel the unconditional love of the Universe. And for this blessing I am truly grateful.
And for realising when we are still long enough, nature comes to us, life comes to us. As it did me yesterday morning as I stood at the window looking out across the riverbank, I spotted a red fox slinking through the grass. Understanding the expression as sly as a fox. Knowing it was only in surrendering to the silence was I able to observe the fox in its natural habitat. Gratitude spreading through me.
And then we took a leisurely stroll along the overgrown towpath. Getting stung by nettles as we walked. Finding the cure right beside the poison, dock leaves, and rubbing it on my sting. Feeling instant relief. The wonders of nature with the sting and cure right beside it. Making me understand that life always provides us with what we need as long as we are still enough, grateful enough and open.
We walked to the Beale Wildlife Park and had a wander through but with the number of people there we quickly escaped to our peaceful Sancerre and cast off again to find more adventures on the Thames. This time much later than other days so we knew the day cruising on the River would be short but sweet.
We cruised to the town of Goring, another spectacular town on the Thames. Once we went ashore, we met a local lady who was gracious enough to escort us to a fork in the road which led us to a couple of pubs she recommended we should go for lunch. We ended up at her second choice  Catherine's Wheel but the food was superb. And my Pimms was to die for. We then had a stroll through the village finding everyone friendly and helpful.
Back on to Sancerre and through the Goring lock, a small and tight lock which we had to open ourselves. Again our daughter was in her glory skipping along the lock to close the gates behind us then open the sluices. The people in the other barge beside us commenting that she is the prettiest and youngest lockeeper they have ever seen. Once that side was done, she skipped to the other side to open the locks for us to go through. Skipping back on board feeling very proud of herself.
We cruised about 1000 yards to the next lock, The Cleeve Lock. Having read that the Goring and Cleeve Locks are the closest locks in distance on the whole of the Thames. The lockeeper was still there and opened and closed the lock for us much to our daughter's disappointment. As we cruised through accepting we were not going any further up the Thames because we had to think about turning around to make it back to Maidenhead by Sunday, we decided to moor alongside a field because the River was beautiful. The Sun was still high. And our daughter wanted to have her a dip in the river with her papa or daddy, as she has been calling him lately.
After mooring the Sancerre, my husband prepared the barge for them to swim. Of course me being the true spoilt Bermudian I am, there is no way that I would go into the water because it is not blue. I can't see the bottom. And the temperature of the water is less than eighty degrees. So I stayed onboard happily snapping pictures of them instead.
And then my husband jumped in the water gasping from the  cold but being the true Englishman that he is, braced himself and convinced himself the water was not that cold. My daughter, after much coaxing, jumped in after him. As a motorboat drove by, my husband and daughter pretended the water was  warm and they were thoroughly enjoying their swim. After the boat moved by, my husband commenting about how cold his feet were and how he wanted to come out. But my daughter wanted to stay in longer so they did for a short while longer. Treading in the cold water as a flock of about 20 ducks came swimming towards them quacking for food.
A perfect end to our up river journey. Walking along the field as our son rode his bike. Dodging goose poo and nettles. The sun still high in the sky. Past others barbecuing, walking dogs, sitting out on their decks. Trains speeding by in the distance. A busy road in the other direction. While we were still away from it all.
Then my husband and son rode back to Goring to pick up a bottle of wine and cheese while I prepared an evening snack for us. My daughter helping to set up the table on our deck. Once my husband and son returned, we sat out on the deck as a family looking out over the field and river reflecting about our journey thus far. Grateful for the beautiful weather. The perfect conditions. And our family working as a team together to get us safely up river. Though we did not make it to Oxford as we had hoped, we managed to learn so much about working a barge on the river. About working together. About anticipating each other's needs. About life. About love and  trust.
Being reminded the journey is way more important and enjoyable than the destination.