Friday 12 April 2019

A Misty Morning at Marlow

After a very cold night, a sunny morning and a slow start it was after 10 when we struggled to leave our mooring on Medmenham Meadow.  The wind was so strong blowing broadside across the meadow that as soon as the bow rope was released and the pin was removed and we got to the stern ropes the bow had blown out (winded) into the channel causing the stern to float backwards onto the tree trunk.  I had to get off and hold Still Rockin' so that it didn't float away all on its lonesome whilst George knocked out the mooring pin.  It was then a long stride to reboard but ...
we managed it ok and off we continued downstream ...
passing the long term moorers ..
and Medmenham Abbey and ...
Danesfield House ... there has been a house on this site since 1750, the current building is the third one completed in 1901. In 1948 the building was procured by the Air Ministry and used as the HQ for No. 90 Group (Signals).  In 2016 Danesfield celebrated its 25th anniversary a country house hotel.
Approaching our first lock at Hurley ...

brill ... the service area is free and the lock is on self service ...

so I also got to operate my first lock of the season too!

Whilst operating the lock I glanced over to the lock moorings and remembered being told that there was an island down the other side of the lock cut ... so we turned left ...







Hurley Lock's visitor moorings
and Harleyford Manor on our right.  
The Manor house was completed in 1755 within a landscaped park which was possibly laid out by Capability Brown.  It was the seat of the Manor of Great Marlow and Harleyford from at least the 16th century.
The wind was still very strong as we approached the island which are part of Harleyford Marina moorings and are serviced by a chain ferry

Continuing past the island we can see the ferry on our right, it appeared to be the only form of access to the moored boats round the island
Canoeists in the weir stream in the distance ...
and with nowhere else to go it's time to turn around
The strong wind once again made the turn problematical but was completed with aplomb by himself.

Heading out of the weir stream ...
we unfortunately see a dutch barge type  boat coming from Hurley Lock to our right ... is he heading for Temple Lock we wonder ...






Yes, he is!
Temple Lock is manned and we know that it's 134' long and 18' wide so we know that two sixty-footer widebeams will fit in; we're 63' and he's about 58' so we should be alright.  The lockie wasn't sure but we got in and descended with no problem at all to continue on our way.
Passing Bisham Abbey which was once the home of Henry VIII and Bisham All Saints Church 
It's difficult to see all of Marlow's visitor moorings because of the bushes on the left but we can see that the boat in front has seen a space and is going for it.  Luckily there was space behind him for us too.  We love it when a plan comes together!
The view from the stern deck of Marolow's All Saints Church and suspension bridge
and Marlow's misty morning at 7 o'clock this morning.

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