Relaxing Cookham

July 5, 2009

This time last year we were at Cookham with severe battery problems and a failed alternator. This year touches head we do not have these problems and can enjoy the peace that is Cookham.

I was up very early this morning, it being a Sunday and 7 am being totally inappropriate, but there you are.

We came through Maiden head which boasts two famous bridges, the first going up river is a railway bridge which is the flattest and widest brick arch in the world and was built by Brunel.

Maidenhead Railway Bridge

Maidenhead Railway Bridge

There are two such arches spanning the Thames, the second bridge is the aptly named Maidenhead Bridge dating from 1772, both of these facts are stolen from the Pearson’s guide.

Maidenhead Bridge

Maidenhead Bridge

We did go passed Michael Parkinson in a very smart river boat and he did us the honour of turning around and mooring up so that we could get a photo. I wont put it here as it was some distance away and the resolution probably leaves a lot to be desired.

Cookham is a sleepy old village, spot the cars.

Cookham

Cookham

We did visit the Stanley Spencer Art museum the last time we were here and Frances has been holding on to a Spencer walk around Cookham that she found in the Guardian some months ago, so we decided to do that. It was a 5.6 mile walk around the country side and back to Boulters Lock and then along the Thames path.

Walk around Cookham

Walk around Cookham

Arty Shot

Arty Shot

Today we did 9.71 miles and 4 Locks

Statistics so far:-

601.72 Miles, 476 Locks, 47 Swing Bidges, 27 Lift Bridges, 6 Tunnels.