Ready to migrate ...

 It had been a cold night and the blanket was deployed on the bed once again last night ...

 and there was mist on the Thames this morning 

 A couple of hours later we push off from Cookham where we notice that the river level had dropped again

 Swallows spend most of their time on the wing and at this time of year feast to gain weight before their long journey south in a few weeks time ...

 British swallows will fly low level 200 miles each day at approximately 20 miles an hour finding food on the way ...

 to spend their winter beyond the Sahara Desert in South Africa

Despite their fat reserves the Swallows' migration can be hazardous  and many will die from starvation, exhaustion and storms on the way.  They will winter in small flocks and join with other flocks roosting in their thousands and will arrive back in the UK during April and May.  We wish them good luck.

 Under Cookham Bridge and sharp left ...

 into Cookham Lock cut where the morning sun brings the lavender into sharp focus. 

 The lock was on self service and we were soon through into Cliveden Reach ...

 one of the prettiest and most interesting of the Thames Valley

 with its views and glimpses ...

 of Cliveden House owned by the National Trust, once the home of Nancy Aster and made famous/infamous due to the Profumo Affair.

At the top of the reach a cruiser is coming up through Boulters Lock Cut

where I notice that the happy chappy is still a fireman at the once home of the late Richard Dimbleby and impressive chimneys over the hedge ...

and a team of divers ...

preparing to inspect the lock and the landings perhaps

As we approached Boulters Lock I could see that it was on self service but there was a chap at the controls so I went to see what was what.  He was turning the lock in his favour and by the time I reached the lock the bottom gates were open and he was bringing his rowing boat in, I called down to him that I would see him through and waved a cruiser into the lock too.

Twenty minutes later we're entering the lock, the lady at the controls is off a cruiser which followed us in and has taken over from me so I'm back onboard SR.

We are surprised when we leave the lock to see wb Newlands leaving the pontoon moorings of Boulters Restaurant where they'd spent the night and they follow us through Maidenhead.

This is the cruiser that was behind us in the lock.  They had gone to the 'other' side of the island in an attempt to get in front of us; they had to perform a very tight left turn to navigate the bridge arch and they only just made it!

Through Bray Lock and we see that ..

work has finally started on what used to be Bray Film Studios ...

the redevelopment will include some demolition of buildings, some renovation and new build of detached and terraced houses

Egyptian and Canada geese making a mess of an otherwise immaculate lawn

Passing Windsor Marina in the bright sunshine, but it's certainly not warm today!

Our destination at Dorney a couple of miles from Windsor ...

bow in the weeds again ...

but who cares with great views ...

like these?

This will do us for a few nights.