Off to Windsor.

Sunday 25th July 2021 in Windsor.

It was cloudy but dry as we set off for an early start.

The lockside gardens on this stretch of the Thames are managed by Squires Garden Centres, the same garden centre as we have at home.

We were getting a bit low on diesel, so were relieved to find that this marina and hire fleet could sell us some. We had to moor broadside so as not to stick out into the river! The staff were very cheerful and helpful.

It was getting hot, so we rewarded ourselves with a Magnum each!

Eventually, Windsor Castle hove into view but it appeared that HM was no longer in residence, off on Her summer holidays, no doubt!. The river does a huge meander around Windsor Great Park, so it still took a while to get into Windsor Town where we were lucky to find a mooring. Predictably, moorings are highly sought after here.

M had never walked across the bridge into Eton, so we set off on foot. On the way back, we spotted "The Real Greek" restaurant and decided to treat ourselves to an early dinner there. What a good decision that was! We had a warm welcome from Ilias, the owner, who told us that his mother taste tests all their dishes and he doesn't offer them until she has thoroughly approved each of them! She was right, the food was excellent, authentic and almost like being back in Greece. The restaurant is right under the Castle walls and we couldn't help wondering if Prince Philip, being of Greek descent, used to nip down here occasionally!

We decided that we should return to Windsor in the winter, if only for the restaurant!

It was raining as we walked back to MM past a full-sized replica Hawker Hurricane silhouetted against the evening sky. 

It is a memorial to Windsor resident Sir Sydney Camm, its designer and aviation pioneer. In addition to the Hurricane, his designs include the Hart, Typhoon, Tempest, Sea Fury, Hunter and Harrier. He started his aviation career just nine years after the first powered flight and, when he died in 1966, he was working on the design of an aircraft capable of travelling at over 2,000 mph!

At MM, we were visited by the moorings bailiff, who arrived in a tiny rubber dinghy that was smaller than the umbrella under which she was sheltering!

Today, we saw a wide range of different and strange craft on the Thames.

 Every shape and size of craft!

Today: 13 miles, 6 locks and 4.7 hours.

Trip: 312 miles, 180 locks and 162.7 hours.