Upon arrival at Heathrow from Manchester, I found myself with an afternoon to spare while Bruce got on with earning his living – something that he can do from almost anywhere, provided he has a reliable Internet connection. I had long harboured a notion to visit Thames Valley towns such as Maidenhead, Marlow and Henley-on-Thames, and decided to make a start with the first of these.
I was surprised to find that the Thames is not the main focal point in Maidenhead. It’s quite a walk from the town centre to the river, which flows close to the boundary between the Berkshire town and neighbouring Taplow, in Buckinghamshire. After eating a late lunch on arrival at the riverside, I enjoyed strolling northwards to Boulters Lock and Ray Mill Island. The grey cloud cover was less than ideal, but at least I had made a start on a long-held objective!
