The out and about Gazette - the july dispatch from quintessential Henley

President Macron can’t stop certain boats crossing the Channel but he did stop Out & About enjoying a boat trip on Tuesday on The River Thames. I couldn’t help but see the irony, especially as we had planned to book with the aptly named French Brothers.

A drive around the Sainsbury’s roundabout in Maidenhead alerted me to a problem. A State Visit had been scheduled when we had planned to be out on a boat in Windsor. The Palace had not consulted with Out & About! I gazed at my plans now left in tatters. Requiring humour, I contemplated where I might put a stale baguette.

Henley Boat Trip

My evening was spent studying all the road closures in Windsor. Next day I made phone calls to get advice, reworking our plans to avoid these closures whilst working with carers who were also affected by these restrictions. At the eleventh hour I learnt about the hordes of police, along with snipers and troops. President Macron won. Windsor was his. We turned tail and headed to Henley where we enjoyed an hour’s boat trip with Hobbs of Henley.

The weather was perfect. Sat on the top deck of The Waterman, we basked in perfect English summer temperatures, whilst enjoying the views. We sailed downstream to Marsh Lock before returning to Henley and onwards. Ducking our heads as we went under Henley Bridge, we headed upstream to Temple Island. Along the way we were able to see all the stands which had been erected for Henley Regatta, whilst learning about the history of the buildings along this stretch of The Thames.

Enjoying the views along the river Thames.

After our boat trip, we tucked into a hearty English picnic at Mill Meadows, comparable with a State Banquet at Windsor Castle. Then we took a well-earned siesta in the sunshine– the only acceptable French element to our day. Monica asked why we were still sitting down. My answer: “we have nothing better to do” to which there were floods of laughter.

President Macron did us a favour. We had a fabulous day in quintessential Henley. Fortunately for President Macron there wasn’t a baguette in sight. Unlike President Macron, Out & About left with our rear doors firmly closed. Only eminently approved members of Out & About were onboard and nothing fell off as we drove home.