The dire weather forecast yesterday for this morning did not materialise and we set out in warm sunshine. We soon reached the Junction with the Slough Arm with lots of Floating Pennywort growing down it, although there was a clear channel for the boats.
Lots of moored boats on this stretch and one even had a smart duck house at the stern. This pump out station at The Packet Boat Marina has its own pump out card machine which seemed a good idea.
I was intrigued by this short arm which had an island in the middle. The Toll House Tea Rooms at the side of Cowley Lock, ideal for dropping in for breakfast as your crew operate the lock. They were obviously expecting trouble here as they have built a Pill Box into the side of the canal bridge.
Some lovely houses and gardens which we passed on our journey.. It was very strangethough to see a stern paddle wheeler on a narrowboat moored up to the bank.
Just before Denham deep Lock (11’1”) is this Dry Dock made out of a large wide beam boat. It looked quite strange to see a Narrowboat being piggy backed on a Wide Beam. After our afternoon walk we called into the cafe by the side of the lock for tea and home made cake. The lady behind the counter said how quiet it has been on the canals this year.
A short while after mooring up I had a text from Adam (Briar Rose) to see where we were. It transpired that they were only 1 mile away and coming towards us, so I put the kettle on and Adam and Adrian joined us for a chat over tea and cake. It was great to see them again particularly as June had missed Adam whilst we were moored in Paddington.
We decided to walk into Denham village for a nose around and took the path just below the lock. It took us into the Buckinghamshire Golf Club and right passed its lovely Club House and then out towards St Mary’s Church.
Walking through the church we came out into the old part of the village of Denham with its 3 pubs, village green and mysterious large house with several expensive cars in the drive. It is believed that the house is owned and lived in by 4 business men brothers and their families.
Several TV and Theatre stars have lived or still live in the village and include Raymond Baxter, Cilla Black singer, entertainer and television personality has her main residence in Denham Green, Brian Connolly, Jess Conrad, Paul Daniels, Rosemarie Ford, Sir John Mills, film actor, was a resident of the village for many years, and is commemorated by a blue plaque on his former house by the church. Roger Moore, Mike Oldfield, Shane Ritchie
In the Church Yard is the grave of Sir John Mills and his beloved wife.
Spotted this fungus growing on a tree on the Golf Course. It does not look real.
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