Hurley

 Today's Navigation - River Thames

Apart from an overcast spell mid afternoon, the day was wonderfully sunny and bright - almost 'hot summer'.

We set off early (well, 8.30!) so that our cruising day could finish early in case we wanted to take an available mooring, just in case. The part of the river where we expected to be by tonight is Hurley and it is not always easy to find somewhere later in the evening. Almost all of the marked moorings are private pay-for ones. Immediately after leaving our overnight mooring - in part tied to a tree (that's the next boat along, not us).

Although a little later the river traffic started to liven up, at this time the cruise was very peaceful.

The first part of our route ran along the edge of Windsor race course but from the river there are on a few brief glimpses.

Boveney Church stands proudly right on the edge of the river.

Oakley Court Hotel is now an expensive up market hotel although it has had a chequered history. It was built in 1859 in a Gothic style. It was owned by various families including a member of the Avery weighing machine experts. By the 1940's it was in poor state and was used as the location for a number of films and for a time became the base for the Hammer Films series. A room for two people tomorrow night will cost £450. (Horror ghosts probably come extra!)

Close by are Bray Studios. For a long time tis was a very famous production centre but gradually was eased out by the mega sites such as Shepperton. After attempts by a developer to demolish it all, the studios have recently sprung back to life and some well known films have been made there (Rocketman in 2019) and planning permission was given in 2020 for major new facilities.

We do not know, but wondered if this large structure almost next door is a film lot and part of the new development.

At one time Bray Cut ran from just above Bray, through Maidenhead to rejoin the river above Cliveden. Although long since abandoned as a navigation, there are plans to restore it, especially to bring a new waterfront to the town.

The Vicar of Bray is well-known, popularised by an 18 century song that charts the way in which clergy had to change their religious views and practices many times during the successive reigns of monarchs, each with their own, often political, whims. The church is hidden behind the expensive mansions of the waterfront and we could only see the top of the tower.

Maidenhead Railway Bridge was designed by Brunel. We only discovered later from the National Trust Cliveden website that it is sometimes known as Brunel's Sounding Arch, because of a strong echo.

The next reach occasionally gives a full frontal view of Cliveden House, known for its associations with the fun-loving Astor family but now a five star hotel.

The estate and grounds are run buy the National Trust. The boathouse on the river is the base for daily hire of a variety of small boats.

We were not at all pleased at Cookham Lock where these three boats managed to leave so much space around them that we and another narrowboat had to wait for the next turn. We could easily have fitted in! Furthermore, the people on them seemed to think that they could sit idly watching us doing the work of opening closing the lock for them! (This has been a nit uncommon experience on Thames locks where no keeper is on duty)

Marlow Bridge is a splendid suspension structure, rather reminiscent of Bazalgette's Hammersmith Bridge.

Bisham Church is another very old building right beside the water. At one time there was an abbey next door but that long since disappeared but the name lives on in a major residential sports training facility.

At Temple Lock we were reminded that we are only half way between London and Oxford - we had better get a move on.

Temple Lock Footbridge as constructed 1989 to carry the long distance Thames Path from one bank to the other. A long time back there was a ferry to take people across.

Shortly before Hurley Lock we spotted a possible mooring and took a closer look. We could just squeeze in and although it was still quite early we did what we allowed for at the start of the day and hammered in our mooring pins juts before 4 o'clock.

Whilst Mike was preparing the First Edition of this blog and the chicken and chorizo meal for tonight, Christine went for a walk over the footbridge and back down to Temple Lock.

From the apex of the bridge she had a fantastic view of all the moored boats and still quite a number on the move. She mused on just how much money must be tied up in all the craft in this one place.

15.1 Miles - 6 Locks