Day off?

Well, we had stopped off in Kingston, after our epic journey. Anna had got off before we started up the Thames so that she could get her train, and Adrian and Ruth started on the red wine. I didn’t fancy mixing possible entertainment on the tideway with a boozy head, so I refrained. But I caught up with them later, once we arrived. Enough that I felt brave enough to have a dip. It’s the best bit about the rivers, that! Adrian succumbed too…

The next day was a ‘day off’. Except that the boat needed to move. So I had planned a great day of boating up the Thames with a couple of my great friends. Adrian decided that he wanted to do the boating too – which is always welcome, and so once we had said goodbye to Ruth, and welcomed aboard Jo and Jeannie, we set off upstream. After checking that we had the obligatory gin and tonics at the ready.

The Thames is a great river – and Tyseley really loves being on a good bit of water – she seems to love being opened up, and allowed to have her head a bit.

We got as far as Windsor and Eton before stopping. In previous years we had stopped off outside a pub in Staines, but I wanted to move up in the world. Of course the ideal situation would have been to stop off at the castle itself – but the queen was at home, but not to visitors, I suspect. It’s a fantastic day of boating, and the sight of Windsor Castle appearing through the trees lining the grounds is lovelly. Apart from the signs telling you that you aren’t allowed to be there. Even though we pay for it…

Anyway, a curry at the foot of the hill seemed like a fine second, and even though everything was very sweet, and accompanied by the strains of raucus public school ditties from somewhere across the road, it was still welcome.

As was the pint at the pub in Eton. Just so we could say we had been to both places, you understand.