Windy Windsor

Back in September Stuart and I went to Windsor to pick and buy my engagement ring so we thought it would be fun to go back there today to buy our wedding rings. I was very motivated this morning and went for 6k run and by the time I'd finished my jog, had a shower and jumped on the train to Windsor it was the best time of the day - lunchtime! As soon as the train pulled into the station we headed to my favourite burger place, the Gourmet Burger Kitchen. Now I do like to try the different burgers they do but today I went for my old favourite, The Kiwi Burger. Don't worry no Kiwi's were killed to make this burger, it is named after New Zealanders tendency to put egg, beetroot and pineapple on their burgers.  It really is delicious and a lovely treat, especially with a cool can of L&P (world famous in New Zealand). Stuart had a mint lamb burger and we shared a portion of chips with some delicious smoked chilli mayo (normally I'd go for GBK's heavenly garlic mayo but I thought I'd better not breathe garlic around Windsor especially in the jewellers)! 

A masterpiece!

We made short work of our burgers and then headed into the streets of Windsor. Windsor is an absolutely lovely place, and if money was no issue it would be somewhere I would love to live. The shops are varied, with not too many of the general high street stores you see everywhere, all the houses seem quaint with beautiful gardens and it is right on the Thames (if I can't live by the sea I need to live near the Thames!) And then of course there is the great hulking castle looking over everything. However before we could go exploring we had to deal with the task in hand - ring shopping.  After window shopping we ended up the same shop where Stuart brought my engagement ring.  It didn't take us long to agree and perhaps closer to the time I will post a picture of them on here!  

The gates that welcome you to the shopping area in Windsor

With the rings purchased we were free to wander around.  Last time we came we walked around the outside of the castle and in the town centre so this time we decided to head to the Long Walk.  The Long Walk starts at Windsor Castle and heads in a straight line through Windsor Great Park.  Before we started we didn't realise quite how far it was, but it was worth it to reach the view at the end.  I will let some of my photos do the talking.

At the beginning of the Long Walk

Me - with Windsor Castle behind me!

The statue in the distance was the one we were aiming for!

Awwww, look, there's a few deer over there.

A few? There were hundreds!

Well worth the walk!

Stuart with the statue at the end -  and trying not to get blown off the hill!

Since I returned home I have looked on the Internet and discovered that the Long Walk is 2.65 miles long, which is a nice length for an afternoon walk.  Apparently Queen Victoria and Prince Albert used to get a coach up here with a picnic, finish the picnic, send the servants back with the dishes and walk home together, which is lovely really, until you realise they only had to walk one way! Once we had enjoyed the view and had a little rest we realised we had to walk all the way back to Windsor.  The return walk is not as much fun especially when the wind is howling around you, and you realise the view is getting pretty repetitive - it seemed like the castle was never getting closer! However Stuart and I battled on and made it back to Windsor.  I had a really good day out, and with my 6k jog, and a 5 mile walk completed I don't even feel slightly guilty about my massive, delicious burger - result!