Rewind Festival (plenty pics if you're on a poor connection)

[rr_123]

I had a great time going up for the Rewind Festival at Henley, met a number of forumites including PandE and Brayman (as in other threads), Doolittle introduced himself in a lock (doing a lot not a little, escorting a load of kids out in kayaks; brilliant) - and I forgot to thank him for his recommendation re a plastics supplier in Staines (spot on, thanks Mike), and also the mysterious Shades

I thought the Rewind was very well organised, just the right level of security versus freedom, and loved the idea of table service in a festival bar!

The music is an essential part of a festival, and if I'm honest it wasn't all my cup of tea first time round, but it was all very jolly despite how out of breath the artists seemed to get so quickly

Took lots of pics, some of the festival which may be of interest to the forum, others of more general river things which may of interest to people outside who are just browsing Thames info; first night in Windsor just to prove that it's not all pies and lager on my boat:-

And what a gorgeous spot to enjoy it

After Winsor I meander up through Cliveden, one of my favourite spots in all the land

To Maidenhead, this little duck garden amused me

and as an engineer I have to take pics of bridges; Maidenhead is a very pretty example

Cool!

The weather was pretty kind to me on the whole, a couple of rainshowers, but it helped Medmenhan Abbey to look fantastic in bright sunshine with the brooding sky; can't decide which of these I prefer so you've got both I'm afraid!

Arrived at Henley lateish in the afternoon

Past the various campers in campers and tents

And moored up.Met up with a few friends on a lovely Thames launch for Friday night drinks, this is where they keep it - dead posh!

Saturday in Henley dawned bright and beautiful ( a portent for the weekend as it transpired) - what a truly beautiful place to be moored -

A couple of pics wandering in to the big stage

And Gloria Gaynor, bit blurry with a mobile phone at night (with a couple of, ahem, 'friends of Dorothy' trying to explain the meaning of the lyrics to us...)

I'd better not include any pics of Mohito racing lest anyone think this wasn't a serious musical event... oh what the heck ...

A sailiing mate of mine joined me for the cruise back down (so the ropework was up to standard for once...), he brought butcher's sausages, farm bacon, and eggs from his neighbour's chickens, so when we were told at Marlow that Cookham lock had been "fixed but there was still a bit of a backlog), we had the ideal opportunity to drop the hook and bash up one of the finest cooked breakfasts I've ever had

One thing about being away on the boat for a few days, it really does help you to appreciate taking a little bit more time to enjoy some of the little pleasures that we take for granted. Why does a cup of tea taste SO much better on the boat?

R

 

[pande]

Fabulous photos - thanks for posting.
Nice to meet you on Sunday.

 

[byron]

Hmmm! Is that a Crack Pipe you are lighting in the last but one picture?

 

[Stormin Norm]

Thanks you rr_123 this is a really nice post, loved the photos, I think it would be good to get more photo's onto the forum.

Like you I liked the Cliveden one, always wanted to stay there but every time I look at the rates it scares me off, maybe one day.

Question: What is Medmenham Abbey nowadays, is it still an abbey or has it been converted for other use?

Thanks again.

 

[rr_123]

Hmmm! Is that a Crack Pipe you are lighting in the last but one picture?

Damn! We thought if we disguised at as a Mohito, sat in the Mohito bar, and feigned "brain freeze" and ice cream headaches nobody would notice, but you have to get up early to catch you out!

PandE - good to meet you too, though wasn't sure which is P and which is E... maybe time for another forum meet up!

Stormin Norm - ta, glad you like the pics, it is quite a photogenic part of the world , I think Medmenham Abbey is now a private house, and I think it was once owned by Michael Caine but I could well be wrong, hopefully one of the more informed forumites could clarify

 

[Brayman]

Byron will know for sure but I think Michael Caine owned Littlestoke Manor on Byron's reach, I may be wrong but I don't think he ever owned Medmenham Abbey.

 

[byron]

Question: What is Medmenham Abbey nowadays, is it still an abbey or has it been converted for other use?

Many years ago it was owned by an old mate of mine Peter Corby, he sold it in the late 70s.
It hasn't been an Abbey for generations as far as I am aware.

 

[byron]

it was once owned by Michael Caine but I could well be wrong, hopefully one of the more informed forumites could clarify

Michael Caine never owned it. His last Thames side house was upstream of Cleve about half way to Wallingford. He did own one previously at Windsor and still owns an apartment at Chelsea Harbour.

 

[Doolittle]

It was good to make your acquaintance too Rob. That was a bunch of scouts for whom we organised a 3 day trip from Bray to Shepperton. I really like the sound of this festival in fact SWMBO is already noting dates for next year!