Henley to Windsor & Eton

Gosh it’s hard work being on holiday and keeping a blog – enjoying ourselves too much in the sunshine yesterday to post, today also very hot so on board now out of the sun at 5pm to update everyone.

Sunday departed Henley surrounded by practising rowers

Sunday rowers Henley

Sunday rowers Henley

via Hambleden, Hurley and Temple locks; spotting other  Pageant boats en route downstream towards Teddington and the Diamond Jubilee flotilla – Omega, Siku Kuu and Hestia who like us will be part of the recreational motor boats squadron, plus Sudersee, Neeltje and Libertijn of Alphen who will be amongst the barges.

We came past Longridge Scout campsite upstream from Marlow where they were practising in a dragon boat (maybe they will be performing for the queen next Sunday too?). Mike remembers camping at Longridge and our son, Paul, has camped there when he was a Scout too.

Just messing about on the river - Marlow church & bridge in background

Just messing about on the river - Marlow church & bridge in background

Marlow was our lunch stop destination & shopping purchases included a Union Jack cake tin plus set of 4 ‘cool britannia’ cork placemats and free CD with ‘Mail on Sunday’ a Diamond Jubilee tribute – Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance Marches and Parry’s Jerusalem just to mention two tracks.

Setting off from Marlow after lunch we almost moored on top of a grebe’s nest at the next lock but spotted her just in time,

Grebe nesting below Marlow lock upstream landing stage

Grebe nesting below Marlow lock upstream landing stage

 

then negotiated our way through dinghies racing from Upper Thames and Cookham Reach sailing clubs before mooring on Marsh Meadow above Cookham for a bbq.  We strolled into the very quaint english village which comprises rather expensive dress shops and restaurants but no little corner shops.  So no newspaper today as not even the garage sells them.   So back to the boat where we were met by the friendly warden collecting the £5 mooring dues whilst walking his dog.

Today we have navigated through Maidenhead and Bray to Windsor marina and topped up the new fuel tank with petrol, then onto Eton and Windsor where we are moored on the outside of Baths Island. Windsor Castle and the Windsor Eye are on the south side of the river and Eton college is on the opposite bank.   We took a walk into Eton across the main Eton/Windsor bridge and towards Eton College.  Lots of smart boys in their uniform of full winged collars and bow ties, even in this heat.  Shame to see that the Union Flags in the High Street outside the St Christopher Hotel and the pub opposite were all upside down.  That does seem typical these days but a great shame in this Jubilee year.  We crossed back to Windsor to look around the Castle area and stumbled upon a well hidden Waitrose.  It seemed like miles back to the boat with the heavy shopping so clearly deserving of Pimms 🙂  We also had time to go aboard Libertijn for a quick catch up with the crew.

Currently there are several pale green double skulled boats rowing up and down past us, with several tourist trip boats too and we are just about to light the bbq again.

One of the many trip boats - wouldn't want to meet this on a narrow bend!

One of the many trip boats - wouldn't want to meet this on a narrow bend!

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