On Sunday morning (25/07/2021) Vera checked out Cockmarsh for the last time, after a comfortable night moored by The Bounty.
She was delighted to find a beach on the Thames across the river from Bourne End.
Some gits still don’t seem the have got the Litter Bug memo and ignore the signs asking you to take your rubbish with you.
The Bounty was getting ready for another days trading as we got ready to go.
Today we would be chugging through Marlow and on to Henley on Thames. Small sailboats were out like this little flotilla of Toppers.
And more grand houses demonstrating that an Englishman’s home is his castle.
We kept away from the weir as we made our way towards Marlow Bridge.
The sign at Temple Lock told us that we had 53 miles to go to Oxford.
We spotted the landing stage for the Flower Pot Hotel at Aston Ferry, which was a favourite pub for Steve’s dad to take the family to for days out in the 1980’s.
We became more accomplished at getting through the big Thames lock, even though many of them were Self Service, a blue sign indicating that there was no lock keeper on duty.
As we approached Henley we passed a wedding party arriving by boat for their big day at the Temple on Temple Island.
White posts sticking up from the river marked out the course of Henley Race Track used for the famous regatta. Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a Rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839.
We moored up alongside a nice green area after crossing the race track.
Steve walked along the tow path into Henley to the Sainsbury’s Local, one of the few shops that sold food and essentials in the town.
Henley is a great example of an English riverside town with years of tradition. Henley Brakspear’s Brewery could be seen behind the waterfront houses.
He walked passed the prestigious Leander Club. It is home to heroes such as Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE, triple gold medallist Peter Reed OBE & double gold medallists James Cracknell OBE, Steve Williams OBE, and Alex Gregory MBE, as well as the champions of tomorrow.
Walking over the bridge took him into Oxfordshire and the town centre. People seemed to ignore the footpath closed signs on one side of the bridge.
Some impressive boats moored near us and properties with big gardens offered picnic spaces and parking for the regatta. The Hidden Garden between us and the bridge promised a luxurious experience. In 2019, The Hidden Garden launched at Henley Royal Regatta to glowing reviews.
Inspired by the world’s finest hospitality, such as the French Riviera’s acclaimed Club55, The Hidden Garden offers guests a seamless, modern and truly engaging way to enjoy an iconic British event.
Free from the rigours of tradition but sensitive to the spirit of Henley Royal Regatta, The Hidden Garden is the ideal place to impress clients, celebrate with friends or support a crew in a fresh, laid-back and luxurious manner.
Despite all this, today it was closed “due to technical difficulties”.
A bloke in a dingy collected our £12 overnight mooring fee on behalf of Hobbs of Henley. Unlike Windsor it was cash only and no receipt issued. We enjoyed a glass of wine on the stern and a peaceful night on this mooring despite the joggers, walkers, cyclists (many with megaphones shouting advice at rowing teams) and dog walkers passing the boat. Vera found two young girls on the next boat to play ball with.
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