Day 12—Cookham to Windsor

We didn’t rush to Windsor to see the castle. We walked at an even pace. But it was a long walk, about 9.5 miles, and once we got to Windsor, we couldn’t help ourselves, we had to see the whole castle. It’s a big castle with a lot of rooms. There’s a lot to see. And now we’re both really tired.

The inn in Cookham where we spent the night was very pleasant.

After leaving Cookham, the Path went through a woods.

Near Maidenhead, the Path was back on the river, along perhaps the most beautiful stretch we have walked along.

It was along this stretch that we met a young woman who has been walking sections of the Thames Path, a different section every year. She said it will take another few years before she has pieced together the entire Path. This is the approach that the other hikers on the Path take. They walk day-long sections of the Path, usually in the most beautiful areas. We have yet to meet anyone walking the entire Path.

While we walking near the center of Maidenhead, we came upon a ferry boat bound for Windsor taking on passengers. This is not the boat. But it’s similar.

Anne paused at the ferry boat and thought for a moment. We had walked more than ten consecutive days. We are tired. But the walk we were on through Maidenhead was very beautiful. Anne decided we should continue walking.

That was a major miscalculation. After about a mile, we were back in the trees, with little view of the river.

Occasionally there was a break in the foliage and we could see the other bank of the river.

But for most of today’s walk we were in a long green tunnel.

Just before reaching Windsor we walked out of the trees into a meadow and saw the castle in the distance.

We also saw where the passenger ferries are docked. I expect that there is a boat ride down the Thames in our near future.