15 Miles: 6 locks: 6 hours 20minutes
An early start………off at 8.10am.
The water is like a mill pond as I cruise away from the Bells of Ouseley.
Hallmark arrives at Old Windsor lock at 8.20 and I have to do the lock alone.
It takes just under 40 minutes. That is the problem with an early start on the Thames.
But wait for the Oxford Canal …………you have to do them all!
Soon Hallmark comes to Albert Bridge (so that means the Thames is crossed by two Albert Bridges) and is cruising in the Windsor Great Park and you can see Windsor Castle in the distance.
Chris Crafts in Datchett is going strong.
I remember breaking down here once. The impeller needed cleaning out.
The hire fleet seems to have grown over the year and this looks a good place for diesel.
Windsor seems to have a load and loads of bridges.
As well as those in the park there are two railway bridges and the now pedestrian Eton bridge
Today Windsor also seems to have loads and loads of swans and Canadian geese. They are gliding all around. Suddenly they are joined by scullers……. So it is slow right down time.
I had intended to stop in Windsor (for some food shopping) but the town moorings are booked out. One reason is it Windsor evening races.
I really enjoyed Romney lock with its side sluices.
The lock keeper explained how to tie up and drift with the side current. So no tugging at ropes for me at this lock. Time for a cuppa!
No time to stop at Oakley Court or Monkey Island and its fishing lodge now ‘converted’ into a high quality hotel and restaurant. Not the place for Hallmark although it is a monkey boat!
You approach Bray with the M4 motorway roaring overhead and the lock soon follows. The Thames is crossed four times by motorways and in the last two days I have chugged under three of the four.
Bray once famous for it vicar is now the home of two international famous restaurants. Here is a picture of The Fat Duck. The other restaurant is appropriately called The Waterside.
Maidenhead makes less of its waterfront than Windsor.
It has a historic red brick Brunel railway bridge.
By all accounts it is the widest and flattest brick arch in the world. Despite its age it copes with First Great Western trains speeding overhead on the way to Bristol and the west country.
The town’s road bridge (built in 1772) has some magnificent arches. Is it better than Chertsey?
Cliveden reach was as majestic as I had remembered.
The famous house, once home to the Astors towers down from a great height while the river flows through the valley below.
Cookham lock is unique. It has six lock gates!
The middle two are no longer used. They were a feature on quite a few locks such as Chertsey but have all been removed except these one.
After the long narrow lock cut you are suddenly at Cookham’s Victorian cast iron bridge (actually cast in a foundary Darlington) is still light blue.
The meadow mooring were as popular as ever. These are rightly described as excellent in the Nicholson guide. At 2.30pm they were almost full.
I ventured up to quant old Cookham after a light lunch on Hallamrk.
No good at all for provisions!
Plenty of pubs but no wi-fi! I ended up at the Kings Arms for a fine cup of tea and a use of their 13 amp socket! I might go back for supper! (I did not but had spag bol instead)
No comments:
Post a Comment