16th April 2007
A fine morning in Cookham, I had a stroll in the sun and Hazel sorted some breakfast. Then things began the downhill run, on completing my ablutions it became obvious we needed a pump out, you know what I mean. I thought this a bit odd as I have hired many times before and never needed a pump out, but needs must. looking at the chart there was a boatyard at Bourne End a couple of miles upstream. An hour and £12 later it was all sorted. I decided to keep an I on use as we had another 4 full days on board.
Opposite the boatyard is a pub "The Bounty" and all the deliverys are done by rowing boat, fairly unique I imagine.
We left and continued upstream as far as Marlow in order to show Hazel the posh houses. We turned just before the lock and headed back towards Cookham, proceeding much quicker now as we were with the stream. Not as quick as the rowers though, a ladies eight passed us easily.
Fit young girls in more ways than one.
We passed our previous nights mooring and swung into the lock cut, one of the most scenic lock approaches on the river.
Back through Cliveden Reach with only an old chap in his mini tupperware for company, he said he only went out weekdays as weekends were full of gin palaces and there drivers. As you enter Boulters Lock cut downstream on the left is a wooden bungalow, this was Richard Dimblebys home during his lifetime.
The old chap was stopping so we were to continue alone for a while I was in my element sunshine, boat, scenery, and the missus even I couldn't be the miserable old git for a while.
We got to Bray Lock while the keeper was at lunch so took a break ourselves, while there one of the barges involved with consructing new lock moorings came up through the lock and I thought those guys got a good life but it may not be so, I didn't ask to find out.
We carried on as I wanted to be in Chertsey for the night a quiet mooring and not far to the pub. We passed a very formidable building which had been converted into an Hotel, Oakley Court I think, looked very posh and expensive.
Back through Windsor alas no time for pint at the Boatmans, after Chertsey Lock we did a circuit of the Island where all the wooden bungalows are, on the main southern bank stood an awful building must appeal to those who had it built but did nothing for us I guess the occupants can never throw stones.
We then moored up and walked to Chertsey Bridge and had a meal in th riverside pub, ok but nothing to write home about.
Used to live down the road in High Wycombe. Neither scenic canals nor posh houses to show Hazel there I'm afraid! Will definitely stay put!