Henley on Thames 31 July – 1 August 2017

We left Marlow the following morning and had to do a very quick reverse and turn as the sign indicating the channel at Poison Island was not very large or obvious!

The Regatta course

Riverside boathouses

Rain began just before 11 o’clock so we were pleased to moor up by the park in Henley. Mooring here requires you to use the parking meter in the car park. Quite novel!

We had a wander around the town and had tea at the Chantry House of the church

 

 

High Street

On Monday morning we went to the Rowing and River Museum. For those fans of The Wind in the Willows then the WITW exhibition in the museum is a must see. The models are exquisite and the audio guide tells you the story as you progress.  I was impressed.

 

 

 

 

Such a sad ending…

The upstairs galleries were quite interesting with a part model of a trireme, info about the Olympics etc We spent the whole morning there fortified by tea and cake in the cafe.

Then it was off to the cinema to join all the other over 60’s to watch Dunkirk. I didn’t find the film all that entertaining. I just thought of Lewis Bramley (younger brother of my Great Grandfather) who having survived the First World War, died at Ypres holding the line so the evacuation of Dunkirk could go ahead. A much more interesting story. I have to say that Mark Rylance takes a good role as the little ship skipper.

 

I liked Henley. It has many independent shops and some fine old buildings. It also has a Waitrose!

From Cookham to Marlow 28 -31 July 2017

We moored up at Bells Rope Meadow in Cookham. This is a very small village with many, many eating places, three garages, 2 bridal shops, 1 ladies dress shop, 1 tea shop but no food shops! It does have the Stanley Spencer gallery. He was a local man who was said to be one of the best painters of his day. Hmmm! His work would not be on my wall!

The following day was bright and sunny and we arrived at Marlow and took the last available 24 hour mooring on the towpath.  We moored in front of Stoney Broke from Foxhangers but never saw anyone aboard.

Mooring by the park was £12 per night! Here are the rules!

As usual we visited the Tourist Information (in the Library) and we set out to follow the town trail. Quite a nice little (Waitrose) town.

Notice the Premier Inn sign just to the left of the war memorial

And remembering

An unusual sundial

 

The High Street

Steve Redgrave won 5 Olympic medals. Sadly the year he entered the Devizes to Westminster race he had to retire.

You might be interested in the park maintenance schedule

Also in the Park a small but fascinating local museum

The Shelleys lived here

The Pub owned by Tom Kerridge. Note the price of fish & chips £17.50!

 

Now the Penguin Fish Bar!

TS Eliot lived in Marlow too

And guess who owned Marlow? Yes, Matilda wife of William the Conqueror.