L-R. Penny the Purser, Captain Colin, Tania

Wow, we finally got started. Bit of a manic morning getting packed, yep totally unprepared.

Knock on the door – Mick Cleaver from the local Bampton branch of Cancer Research UK came round to the house to say “hi” and check if I needed anything!!! I was totally gob smacked – the team at CRUK has been amazing and I wasn’t expecting a last minute visit. Hopefully Mick and his significant other, Doris will be joining us in Kelmscott for lunch a week from now.

We managed to do the clandestine thing at the boat yard – you see the rule is no dogs on the boat! However, the girl on the bookings desk knows all about it but wanted us to make sure her boss didn’t know that Henny would be sleeping on the boat at night! So, Tania joined us for the start of the walk and off we went with two dogs, but when she turned around to head back to the car she was seen by Captain Colin who was out on the river with a boat yard instructor, giving him a bit of advice and, of course she only had one dog with her, Georgie. Still, we think we’ve got away with it, but in any case who gives a s**t – it’s for charity!

My old friends Craig & Sarah from 38 years back joined me today together with Neil Brotherstone from Yateley who I’ve known for many years, Masie their dog, and Henny myself and Tania all headed off in the direction of Windsor. Great scenery with the castle on our left and the flag flying at full mast – did Her Maj know we were coming?

And we’re off. L-R. Tania, Georgie, Craig, Masie, Sarah, Me & Henny (Neil is the photographer)

We can’t have been much more than a mile or so in to the trip when we stumbled upon the Bel & the Dragon on the bridge at Windsor for a well earned pint of Guinness! This was going to be my kind of trip!

We went past what was once our favourite Italian restaurant La Taverna today, it’s on the corner of River Street & the Datchet Road, and I was disappointed and surprised that it is now called ‘The Real Greek’, sadly it’s changed hands, and Don Pepino finally decided to close. He was a lovely man, always on hand to show you to your table and to check on your meal. La Taverna has played a very important part in my life on 3 occasions. It’s the first ‘proper’ restaurant I ever took Tania to way back in the early 80’s when were courting, we went back a few times and I was living just down the road in Alma Road for a while, renting a room. The second time we went still makes me shudder – we’d hit a rough patch, a really rough patch and I’d been a total f**k up, and this booking was make or break for us, I’d laid on a limo, balloons and champagne – god, I was desperate to keep the most beautiful woman I’d ever known – it was touch and go but here we are happily together after almost 36 years married – and there’s no one happier or more relieved than me. Don’t ask me for more details – you won’t get them! Tania, I love you!

La Taverna Windsor

On the third poignant occasion we went to La Taverna, we were taken by John Peirce. John was the Landlord at the time at the Frog & Wicket in Eversley, Hampshire, at that time called The Cross (at Eversley Cross). We had no idea it was a favourite of his. On this occasion we went with John to seal the deal that had me and Tania take charge of our first pub, which we renamed The Frog & Wicket. Before it was called The Cross, it had been called Le Toad & Stumps for many a year, prior to that The Lamb. Everyone still called it “The Toad”, and we wanted to revert back to that quirky and familiar name but, it was a local, a friend of ours, Neil Young (sadly lost to Cancer) who told us he’d nicknamed Le Toad & Stumps as The Frog & Wicket, so there it was – it was new, but it was essentially the same.

Without John’s help we couldn’t have started our journey in pubs – he’s a funny old stick, but he could not have been kinder to us and we’ll always remember him as a good man. John did many good deeds for people and our good friend Wendy Nowell will tell you how he helped her and her husband out when Cancer first descended on John. He has a great heart – shit at running a pub (he’ll tell you that), but a great big heart!

Up river we passed the Olympic rowing park at Dorney, where Team GB’s rowing team went all out to gain 4 Gold, 2 Silver & 3 Bronze medals in 2012 London Olympics, an impressive haul – it’s a huge venue with 8 lanes and over 2 kilometers long! On we went towards Bray.

Dorney Lake 2012 Olympic Rowing Venue

Bray, and it brought back memories of my time working here at Weir Bank, right on the Thames and, my first foray in to the world of self employment, selling rolls of continuously cast Lead Sheet, mainly to plumbing merchants, my friend Andrew & I didn’t do great at it, but did OK for a while and enjoyed occasional visits to Monkey Island Hotel, where with a little bit of cash you could go out and be out of your league and hope no one would notice. I recall a party that Tania and I went to at Pip Robinson’s house next door to Weir Bank, we went to his bathroom – it was as big as a sitting room, and had a double bath! We both lay in it (fully clothed) for a minute or two.

Weir Bank – Bray

On we went past the renowned 3 Michelin starred Waterside Inn at Bray, founded by Michel & Albert Roux after their success at London’s La Gavroche. I’ve never been, couldn’t afford to, but Craig recalled a visit here, and told us about the excruciatingly painful effect it had had on his wallet, and that was before he’d got to the wine list!

Waterside Inn – Bray

On we went to Maidenhead, Tania worked here for while, on the High Street at Barrett Shoes and we’d meet for lunch occasionally or after work. Wendy Craig of ‘Butterflies’ fame once visited her shop, as did Patti Boulaye.

Under “The Sounding Bridge” and past the old Skindles night club, a late night haunt at the end of the 70’s and early 80’s. The bridge is fascinating, it was built & designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and named so because of the incredible echo created underneath the arches.

The Sounding Bridge (Railway Line) – Maidenhead

The next pub loomed in the near distance, another pint at Boulters Lock a nice up-market pub restaurant now owned by Peach Pub Co. Blimey it was years since I’d been here. A welcome pint of Guinness indeed – not more than a couple of miles to go now!

Boulter’s Restuarant – Maidenhead

We’d expected to see Captain Colin and Penny the Purser here, we knew they were behind us, but somehow we’d missed them going past us, probably while we were crossing Maidenhead bridge, and so we pressed on to join them in Cookham and to enjoy a birthday drink with Penny the Purser – we wont say how old she is today. I used to cross Cookham bridge several times a week heading from home near High Wycombe vía Maidenhead to Bracknell, when I’d first met the love of my life – I knew this road well.

A birthday drink aboard the good ship “lollipop” (Lady Diana) and a smashing evening and birthday dinner at the Ferry Inn, a night cap of Sloe Gin, and a green shot of night nurse – that should make me sleep well. I’ve had a great first day on this challenge, my feet are a little sore, and only 89 more miles to walk, but the company has been amazing, and were parked (“Moored”!! said Capt. Colin) just opposite Frank Lampard’s house, so i’m told! My trusty little companion is safely tucked up in bed next to me (don’t tell Kris at Kris’s Cruisers!) – sleep well Henny, another big day tomorrow!

L-R. Neil, Sarah, Craig

A tired Henny, Penny the Purser & Captain Colin Day 2 in the planning with a drink and a box of birthday chocs.