Major Castle and Major Prep School

By LAFreebergHagen August 03, 2025

Day 18. Sunday, August 3.

5.96 Miles. 14,409 Steps.

Chequers Hotel, Marlow to Crown and Cushion, Eton.

3 Trains.

Shakshuka. “rich, spice-infused rustic tomato sauce, 2 baked eggs, toasted sourdough, fresh herbs.” Tasted sort of like pizza with eggs. Very Yummy! Basically the best thing eaten in a long time.

Bottom was all tomato sauce with the eggs baked on top, with runny yolks.

Made my way towards train station, but first checked out the Thames River, another church which actually had church going on - it was of course Sunday.

At tiny train station there was just a machine to buy tickets. I was the first to arrive, checked schedule, not bad only about a 35 minute wait. By the time train pulled in there were probably 30 of us ready to board.

The train only had 2 coaches as we were only going 3 stops, then it would reverse and return to Marlow. Got off at Maidenhead, transfer to Slough. There it was necessary to buy new ticket to Windsor Central as it was a different line.

There was a family traveling from Marlow to London. 3 kids. 1 man and 2 women. Couldn’t figure out who the parents were until observing them a bit longer when it was clear the woman talking constantly to the kids, taking their photos, singing and playing games, supervising and making everything fun, must be the nanny, and the other couple who basically were talking to themselves, must be the parents.

Like the first train this one also had only 2 carriages that traveled back and forth on the track totally dedicated to bringing tourists/royal watchers/history buffs/people having trouble hiking the Thames River path, to the castle.

Train arrived at Windsor Central and basically spit us all out at the base of the castle ramparts.

In a commercial art gallery just outside the train station. Nathan’s!

I did not go into the castle as that has been done twice before, but I did walk around as much as possible.

…or other less serious matters.

Knee, shoe, boot, experiment today. As I didn’t plan a long distance walk wanted to see if going back to the original walking shoes and not the boots would make a difference. Had wondered if the boots affected the right knee because it became more painful once the boots were purchased…but the foot felt better with the boot, and I think that helped the foot mend.

Also wore no knee braces during most of the day, but did take ibuprofen pills and rubbed the gel on knees. Later in the day after lots of walking about Windsor and Eton the right knee began to complain. Put one brace on that leg and I believe that made it worse.

Should the boots be abandoned? Possibly not yet, but possibly.

Guards now have real weapons.

On the Right is Honest Burger, on the left is what? Not a honest burger? In between is the King and Castle.

Maria - our famous cook!

Thames River

This British boy is Fixated with the Milwaukee Bucks! He was so proud of the outfit his mum got for him.

Crossed bridge over Thames and suddenly I was in Eton. Located tonight’s pillow at Crown and Cushion.

“Please excuse our crooked floors, the hotel is 500 years old.”

Along with the usual room treats: instant hot water heater, teas, coffees, sugar, milk, biscuits/cookies, toiletries, this one also had available Ear Plugs. I am right above the pub so it might be an interesting night 😁

Eton is just up the road from where I am staying. A few blocks along the High Street. High Street is basically what we would call Main Street.

Eton College. Students - Select of the Select! Only 250 admitted each year. Typically about 1500 apply. It is not a ‘college’ as known in the US, but rather what we call high school. Grades 9-12. Only boys attend. Both Prince William and Prince Harry went here, along with many famous people such as Prime Ministers.