193. Refreshments in Windsor

Cold and wet, we were forced against our better judgement to seek even more shelter and even more beer in a great pub called The King and Castle which was part of the JD Wetherspoon chain.

Just to the left outside the pub, is a small gateway called the King Edward VII gateway and on the wall there is a plaque to this effect and a mounted bust of the late King on the wall.

Apparently some rich old boy called Jesse Boot generously donated the arch and gateway to the citizens of Windsor. “That Edward was a bit of a laddo you know “said the First Mate,” Used to be a right party animal always getting pissed and thoroughly enjoying himself. A bit like yourself eh “said the Captain” And like you he used to like the odd “cee-garr”. More like you eh Billy” said the First mate” You to think he was a bit of a ladies man and used to have a bit of a thing for those loose actresses. It upset his mum, you know that Queen Victoria so much that she regarded him as frivolous, indiscreet and irresponsible and told his sister that she said , “I never can, or shall, look at him without a shudder.” The Captain continued “After her old man Prince Albert died, she never laughed again, went into permanent mourning and blamed her husband’s death on Edward enjoying himself too much. You couldn’t blame the poor boy for enjoying himself; he was only very rich, very handsome and could have any woman he wanted.”Yes but often someone else’s wife” said The Captain.

We spent the rest of the afternoon there, contemplating whether we should continue our journey up to Marlow .After several more beers and a warming curry; we decided to stay In Windsor. Eight hours after our arrival we staggered out and made our way back to the boat but the boat was nowhere to be found.

“Some fucker’s nicked it “shouted out the Captain and panic ensued in the darkness.

After about an hour of searching around the bridge where the boat had been moored, we suddenly realised in our drunken stupor, that it was the wrong bridge and much more of concern was that we had cycled from the boat to the pub and had left our bikes chained up to lampposts outside the pub. Luckily after almost crawling on our knees up the hill, the bikes were still there intact.