6th September
We now have a leisurely trip back to Reading before us and then from there will start on the Kennet and Avon canal west to Bath and Bristol.
The weather has been grey, muggy and very still, which is very nice for boating. On Friday we moored in Cookham, a village we like very much and one that we haven't stayed in since about 1997 when on the barge. A busy mooring this, but a lovely stroll through the churchyard, past Stanley Spencer's grave into the village, where we had a beer at The Bel and The Dragon, an atmospheric pub dating from 1417, now with a vast dining area and a pretty garden. We remember it having a fantastic metal (zinc? Copper?) bar when we were last here, but that's gone, more's the pity. Still it retains it's old fashioned charm, tiny dark bars at the front, opening onto the stylish dining area at the back.
We ate at the Kings Arms though as Pete had spotted something more interesting on it's menu! It was very busy, it being a Friday night and Cookham's regatta is tomorrow.
On Saturday we took a walk up to the station to find a paper shop, this having become one of those villages now full of hairdressers, nail bars and posh frock shops instead of good old honest butchers and green grocers (a pity). The walk was also to find the locations of the little block prints of Stanley Spencer's paintings we have on the boat from all those years ago; one of the old road bridge stretching into the village and one of 'the Brew House' which we think must have been painted from the back garden as it looks completely different to his painting from the street. We then went to his gallery to feast on some originals - I love his work and he loved Cookham (his birthplace, the memory of which sustained him through the war). He certainly put it on the map, even though his more famous works are scenes of First World War, industry and religious themes.
Back to the boat and on to Marlowe to moor for the night. We managed to get on the 24hour free moorings, the only other one being near the popular duck and swan feeding area and which costs you £12 for the privilege. The sun came out as we were sitting in the bow and Pete decided to take to his canoe as the Saturday 'traffic' died down.
Stanley Spencer's 'View from Cookham Bridge' 1936 - we moor on the bank in the distance
A small view of part of Cookham Regatta, there were very few boats on show, which seems a little odd. Very different from Spencer's painting of the same thing remembered from his childhood (above).
We now have a leisurely trip back to Reading before us and then from there will start on the Kennet and Avon canal west to Bath and Bristol.
The weather has been grey, muggy and very still, which is very nice for boating. On Friday we moored in Cookham, a village we like very much and one that we haven't stayed in since about 1997 when on the barge. A busy mooring this, but a lovely stroll through the churchyard, past Stanley Spencer's grave into the village, where we had a beer at The Bel and The Dragon, an atmospheric pub dating from 1417, now with a vast dining area and a pretty garden. We remember it having a fantastic metal (zinc? Copper?) bar when we were last here, but that's gone, more's the pity. Still it retains it's old fashioned charm, tiny dark bars at the front, opening onto the stylish dining area at the back.
We ate at the Kings Arms though as Pete had spotted something more interesting on it's menu! It was very busy, it being a Friday night and Cookham's regatta is tomorrow.
On Saturday we took a walk up to the station to find a paper shop, this having become one of those villages now full of hairdressers, nail bars and posh frock shops instead of good old honest butchers and green grocers (a pity). The walk was also to find the locations of the little block prints of Stanley Spencer's paintings we have on the boat from all those years ago; one of the old road bridge stretching into the village and one of 'the Brew House' which we think must have been painted from the back garden as it looks completely different to his painting from the street. We then went to his gallery to feast on some originals - I love his work and he loved Cookham (his birthplace, the memory of which sustained him through the war). He certainly put it on the map, even though his more famous works are scenes of First World War, industry and religious themes.
Back to the boat and on to Marlowe to moor for the night. We managed to get on the 24hour free moorings, the only other one being near the popular duck and swan feeding area and which costs you £12 for the privilege. The sun came out as we were sitting in the bow and Pete decided to take to his canoe as the Saturday 'traffic' died down.
Stanley Spencer's 'View from Cookham Bridge' 1936 - we moor on the bank in the distance
A small view of part of Cookham Regatta, there were very few boats on show, which seems a little odd. Very different from Spencer's painting of the same thing remembered from his childhood (above).
Location:Marlowe
No comments:
Post a Comment