It was always going to be difficult for day 4 to beat day 3. The weather was fine but not quite as sunny. It was peaceful walking along the river, albeit in somewhat of a green tunnel at times. Then we popped out of the tunnel in Eton, and there was Windsor Castle right in front of us! Shortly after, we met up with Eric and Keesha and enjoyed a fine Evensong in the castle’s St. George’s Chapel.
We enjoyed our best breakfast so far at the Bel and Dragon to start our day.
The Bel and Dragon is in a 600-year-old building! The ceilings are too low as people didn’t grow as tall back then.
Much of the day’s walking was in green tunnels without a lot of change in the view, though the vegetation would clear every now and then to give us great views of the river.
A green tunnel!Part of the Cliveden Estate on the other side of the river.Some cool reflections.Swans ensuring their coats stay clean and white.At times, the trail was close to the river. On this Saturday morning, several joggers ran past and fishermen were after a big catch.
After about five miles, the scenery changed and we approached Maidenhead. There was more bustle and we used the bridge to cross the river again.
A bridge allowed a great view of Boulter’s Lock.Lots of moored boats in the outskirts of Maidenhead.We need to go over that bridge!A pretty view upstream from Maidenhead road bridge, looking back at where we’d walked.Maidenhead had a large rowing club and we saw many rowers including this quadruple scull and their coach boat pass under the Maidenhead Railway Bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1839.The view from underneath the M4 motorway just downstream of Maidenhead.Such a polite English sign!
On leaving Maidenhead, the green tunnel returned. We were next to Eton College’s rowing lake and Windsor racecourse was close by on the other bank, but the views were mostly blocked by trees. We enjoyed some clearings, including a stop for lunch when we counted the planes queueing up to land at Heathrow, and watched Eric and Keesha’s plane bring them safely towards Heathrow.
We spotted these private dining pods on the opposite shore at a club.We are still on the right path!A great spot for lunch and for watching the planes!
As we enjoyed our lunch, a passerby encouraged us to visit a church that was coming up, so we did. St Mary Magdalene of Boveney dated back to at least the twelfth century. I was struck by the interior’s simplicity, perhaps that way because it served river workers.
An interesting exteriorVery simple inside.The church had been rescued from demolition by a group of volunteers called the Friends of Friendless Churches.
We continued to get closer to Eton, then Windsor Castle was right before us. We used Eton Bridge to get over the river to our hotel.
This information board explained that pupils at Eton College would swim in the Thames at this location that they called Athens.Our first view of Windsor Castle, towering over the Thames.The view of our hotel from Eton Bridge. Later, we had welcome drinks with Eric and Keesha in the open courtyard, overlooking the river, and enjoyed dinner of jacket potatoes with baked beans and steak and ale pies in The Brasserie.We enjoyed the beautiful views but it was a bit crowded – with tourists, swans, and geese!The end of an eleven-mile day four.
After settling into rooms, the four of us explored the town and were treated to evensong in the castle’s St George’s Chapel. A choir of eleven sang a forty-five minute service with only about forty attendees. The quality of singing was amazing, and it was remarkable that they do this every night!
Our new gang’s first selfie while we were waiting to enter the castle for evensong via Henry VIII’s gate.St George’s Chapel. Photos inside were forbidden.We did not get to see the rest of the castle closely. It had closed early today and we saw a helicopter land a couple of times – I wonder who was visiting!
Dinner rounded off a fine day. I was tired but looking forward to some fun-filled days with our new walking companions!
"Cajunlimeys" combines Lousiana (Janet) and England (Peter). For "limeys," check out scurvy in the English navy.
We love adventures and use blogging to write a photo diary to preserve our memories. Some crazy friends enjoy following us and my notes might help others plan.
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The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 