Windsor

At play in Cliveden

View across the river from Cliveden.

 Sculptured log seat

 We got out from under the trees at Cliveden with a little difficulty. A branch swept the roof and we lost a dustpan brush over the side which sank out of sight. Through Boulters Lock  where there was only one solitary gongoosler to watch our manoeuvring competency. We spotted Rolf Harris in his garden  among the million pound plus bankside homes in Maidenhead. In  Romney Lock the  skipper on the boat behind left it in gear the result one slightly bent tiller on Festina Lente.

Roux brothers establishment.

Wild fauna in the countryside

Hotdog cooling down

We have got a good mooring spot in Windsor outside the leisure centre in the shade of some tall trees. As I write this the girls are in town hunting down a hairdresser and handbags to match shoes. Sylar is under the table sleeping, all this swimming is exhausting for him.

Swan Upping

 Before we left this morning I spent 20 mins down the weed hatch removing fishing line and burgee from the propeller.

 The Bounty this was just a shack open only at weekends selling warm beer last time we were here, apparently that burnt down some years ago and now it's grown into a very popular eating establishment even the patio and garden tables are reserved after 1830hrs!

Cliveden estate gardens lead down to the Thames, Cliveden House was purported to of played a part in the spy scandal known as the Profumo affair.

cormorant

The pageant that is Swan Upping  in progress  for Her Majesty followed by a film crew aboard Argonaut.

Peace is a shady spot and a Kindle.

The Swan uppers passed our mooring for tonight among the trees at Cliveden,  I'll expect a knock on the door for a mooring fee as this land is run by the National Trust.

Bourne End

I was up walking Sylar at 7am, there are some pleasant walks over the weir and into the fields beyond. He found a discarded Frisbee and carried it for an hour around Henley's parks and back to the boat. I had my breakfast alfresco on a park bench then we set off under Henley Bridge

Tamesis on the other side of Henley bridge

The green boat is a Broom 30 and has been moored in the same spot for 30 years to my knowledge

The Henley regatta course.

 Temple Island marks the end of the racing course

She has the best view of the course.

Goose guards

All Saints Church is next to Bisham Abbey where the England football team train.

Smart launch.

Stragglers

Larger locks on the Thames

I visited this hut 25 years ago to gain my VHF license

Sylar's gang having fun in the water.

So quaint.

Former Abbey now a private residence 

We tried to moor at Marlow but there wasn't room so we pressed on and moored at Bourne End. Where we took it in turns to entertain Hotdog by swimming, sitting in The Spade Oak garden or walking. This evening I took Hotdog for a walk into the village and stopped off for a quick chat with fellow blogger Ken 

Tamesis and Isis

Heatwave continues as we cruise to Henley passing some impressive bank side property

we are moored just above Rod Eyot on Mill Meadows and the moorings are packed with boats of all shapes and sizes.

Sue and Nikita went into town to do some shopping while I babysat the Hotdog. We played fetch but in this game, he brings the stick right back to you ok, but I had to wrestle it off him to throw again.

This is a sculpture of Isis which faces upstream on Henley Bridge, there is also a sculpture of Tamesis which faces downstream, these were produced by Anne Seymour Damer.

Enjoying the sun.

Shiplake

Left the Thames and Kennet Marina before lunch time, not sorry to leave as the facilities and especially the pontoons are not up to the standard we found at Wigram's Turn. The pontoons are really short and the charge was £22 a night compared with £10 inclusive of hook up at Wigrams.

It's another scorcher of a day so after going through  Sonning and it's lock and Shiplake Lock we have moored on the opposite bank to Shiplake. Took Syla for a walk along the towpath and a swim to cool him down, now the boat smells of damp dog.

Hot Dog

One of Julia's

Dinner is served on a Grand Piano.

Heat Wave

Today we have been saddened by the news that one of Nikita's friends has died in an accident during racing at the Southern 100, this after an ex-colleague of mine died in a practice session earlier in the week.


We have not done a lot around the boat today apart from Sue who has been baking bread and cakes and walking the dog.

Sylar, the huge puppy, is only 6 months old but boy does he fill the space in the cabin. He love's to rip cardboard into little pieces and spread them everywhere. He is not very coordinated and needs help to get on and of the at the stern, we have to put his front paws on to the pontoon for him and push his rear end to coax him to step off. We have bought a fan to keep him cool as the poor chap is overheating in this heatwave.


Happy Birthday to a special follower my sister Yvonne. X

Nikita and Sylar

Wednesday

Set off just before 0900hrs  and once through Caversham lock, we stopped at the very handy Tesco mooring. Sue spent a couple of hours walking up and down their aisles and I bought a pair of shorts and a Dab radio. I have it on now inside the boat listening to Talksport and The Ashes while I write this. We have moored in the Thames and Kennet Marina for a couple of days as our daughter and puppy are joining us. She came on the ferry to Heysham and drove down in the early hours arriving at 0330hrs.  The Puppy has grown so much since the last time we saw him.

We will probably stay here till Saturday while Sylar gets used to the boat and the girls do some shopping, we have been invited to a BBQ Saturday evening but expect we will leave before then.

Thursday

I took Sylar for a long walk to let Nikita sleep for a while, the rest of the day has been used up with a Sainsbury's delivery and playing with the dog.