Runneymede

Today's Navigation : Thames

 

The forecast for today was now very much wetter than last night but initially, whilst grey, there was a glimmer of sunshine.

Mike took a short walk up to the lock to take some photos, including a plaque to mark the opening of the newly re-built lock.

We set off, wrapped in wet weather clothing but as yet it remained dry. Here is the mooring we used last night - room for two narrowboats. (The other boat had set off a bit earlier although we did seem them briefly at a later lock)

We soon came to the long reach beside the Cliveden estate where a number of distinctive and usually elegant cottages line the bank. Not sure if cottage is the right term as they all give the impression of grandeur but on closer inspection are probably not much more room than a standard three bed suburban house)

It is possible to hire day boats from Cliveden Boathouse, although, unsurprisingly, there was not much business around today.

Unlikely that the sun loungers will be in demand today, either.

The first lock today, marking the start of Maidenhead, was Boulters Lock.

Just below Boulters a moored boat warned us that there were rowers ahead After passing under Maidenhead Bridge we could see the start of Maidenhead Regatta. Even if not on the scale of the more prestigious Henley Regatta, it does seem to attract plenty of competitors, as the regatta timetable shows.

Signs at either end of the race course directed we 'other vessels' to a marked lane, separating us from the competitors.

At the start, the rowers for the next race, Women's Masters D Double Sculls, were lining up. Sadly one team failed to complete the distance and so the other team won 'easily'.

The regatta website later showed that he weather had meant that some events had been cancelled and that for a short period racing was delayed because of thunder and lightning.

Bray Lock was today's only Self Service. two narrowboats, including the one that shared our mooring last night, were just entering the lock which left not enough room either for us or for a cruiser that arrived behind us. Christine yet again stood in as lock keeper - surprising how many boaters on the Thames expect someone else to do the work for them!

Just below the M4 bridge, traffic on the water as well as the motorway!

Bray Studios seems to have had a revival in recent years, something recent that we noted a couple of years ago. The weather was a lot kinder that year.

Soon after, at Oakley Court Hotel. all the outdoor seating looks rather lonely today.

Alongside is their 'Outdoor Dining' facility, River House - some diners get to use these distinctive (post-Covid?) gazebos.

As we neared the tight bend just above Windsor we met an assortment of craft - the pink stand up devices are new to us. They seem to be propelled by pushing down with alternate feet, but they do not move like a bicycle pedals. Immediately after we passed at least three trip boats.

There was little remarkable as we passed through Windsor itself, everything seemed very quiet. Just after is Romney Lock. Occasionally we felt some light rain so were keeping an eye out for a rare place to stop for lunch.

Alas, there are very few - a long stretch the bank to our right forms the edge of the Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park, with clear signs every boat length that warn of the dire consequences of stopping. 

We thought our luck was in at Datchet where it seemed as if there was just enough room for us on the free town mooring. Alas, despite almost getting in, the gap was just a few inches too short and although another moorer suggested we move the two small motor boats up a little, we abandoned the attempt.

Soon after the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse. Not only very heavy rain but also the occasional flash of lightning followed by a loud clap of thunder. Arriving at Old Windsor Lock we were now seriously wet and Christine pleaded nicely with the lock keeper who very kindly allowed us to have lunch moored at the very end of the lock landing.

By the time lunch was finished, the rain had cleared and so we set off to complete our planned schedule for today - only another 20 minutes run to Runneymede. We almost could not believe our luck when almost the first opportunity with the National Trust moorings was empty - the more so because the next one was fully occupied.

Although there was just a little rain on the way down, by the time we were  moored some sunshine was emerging. One of the Windsor boat trip fake stern wheelers came by.

Although very dark clouds dominated the afternoon, there was enough sunshine to give us hope for a better day tomorrow.

14.3 Miles - 5 Locks