Well.. an interesting start to the day.. the warnings of shallow water were proven – as the water level dropped last night, and we were grounded out. So much so that Suggs could not walk from one side of the boat to the other without sliding back again.. to our amusement and to his total confusion 🙂
Loosened off the stern rope a bit more, took the bow and centre lines off completely.. and – with everyone on the port side – managed to get the stern free and into deeper water. Double checked everything, untied the stern rope and pushed off.. got the stern out into the river.. but the bow was still hanging in at the shallow end – even with the engine in reverse.. got everyone on the port side again (to the amusement of people watching from the benches) and just about got enough momentum to move clear. And were off.. finally!
Continuing round the Windsor Castle grounds, and through into Eton.. 
With trip boats a plenty, its busy on this stretch.. with so many swans you could cross the river “James Bond” fashion by jumping from one swan to another!
Pulled up and the water point next to Windsor Bypass Bridge to top off the water tank after all the washing that’s been done in recent days.. and found that the slip into the river here is used by Duck Tours..
I didn’t think there were many of these running now – since the one that sank on the Thames in central London.. but its good to still see them being used.
Once the tank was full, time to move on, through Boveney Lock and stop at the moorings near Dorney Lake.
Unfortunately, the moorings there were totally full – so no choice but to carry on.. Through Bray Lock which has a lot of sunken boats around it.. both at the weir, and on the other side of the lock.
– and on up to Taplow Railway bridge, Maidenhead – an extra 3 hours and 4 miles from where I wanted to stop.. needless to say – I need a break as the suns out.. and I’m nackered!
So – first mooring we get to.. free or otherwise, were pulling in for the rest of the day!