Over a quarter of the distance covered now!
Thursday, 29 April 2010
The End of our Walk
It wasn't necessarily going to be the end of our walk but after 11.5 miles mostly in the rain and with wet feet we decided to do the remaining 4.5 miles another day. We had a very welcome bowl of soup and coffee in the pub and then we were thrown out (that's never happened before). It was just because the landlady wanted to close up and have a break not because we were misbehaving. Luckily Andy soon arrived to take us home.
We really loved this walk. We were next to the river virtually the whole way and it was very unspoilt and quiet. The weather was against us unfortunately. We had looked at the weather forecast and we had hoped to get most of the walk done before it rained but sadly that wasn't to be.
Even More Animal Hazards
After encountering an electrified fence and going through yet another field of cows we saw this notice. I'm glad we didn't see it before we went into the field.
More Animal Problems
We had to walk through fields of cows which neither of us was that keen on. One of the cows did follow us for a while but we managed to shake it off and took this photo when we were safely behind a gate. We thought the cow standing on the hill looked like it was going to jump in the Thames or it was playing "I'm the king of the castle".
Rescue Party
I know we've been out for a while but there really was no need to send out a helicopter for us!
Water Hazard
As you can see you really are right next to the river on this walk, luckily Angela didn't fall in! The rain had really set in by now so we were glad of our waterproof trousers - pity the boots/shoes didn't turn out to be as waterproof.
Catherine's Wood
Catherine liked the strange effect caused by the seemingly dead wood beneath the trees.
Our First Problem
We hadn't been going long when we realised we'd lost the river (nothing to do with talking too much - I'm sure). We had to climb down a bank and over a fence and from the looks of things we were not the first people to do this!
At the Start
Just about to start at Newbridge.
Well it was new in 1250! If you look closely you can see Brendan on the bridge.
Friday, 23 April 2010
After the Fifth Leg
This was only a short five mile walk so we are just a little bit further along the way.
Dorchester
As you can probably tell we stopped off for lunch with our drivers in Dorchester. Well it was a lovely day. There was an unusual game in the garden which seemed to involve throwing bits of wood at a large black circle. We didn't have a go but there was a man practising, it made quite a noise when the bits of wood hit the ground.
This was a lovely walk. We had to leave the river a couple of times but not for too long. The walk over the weir at Benson Lock was wonderful - the water on one side was so still and on the other side it sounded like a waterfall. We really liked Benson and the small caravan park we went through had some lovely wooden holiday homes.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Walking by the River
Ah but I bet you didn't know that this is the River Thame not the River Thames. We had finished our walk along the Thames Path and were just walking up to Dorchester alongside the River Thame which flows into the Thames here.
A Shame to Leave it Behind
We had to leave the river a bit in Shillingford and we got all excited when we saw it again, only to find we had to leave it straightaway. Doesn't it look beautiful!
The Shillingford Hotel
At last the Shillingford Hotel! Catherine has been telling me about this hotel on every walk so far. It is a good place to go for coffee apparently but we didn't - we don't stop until the end, just in case we can't start again! We weren't sure about taking a dip in the pool, we thought it seemed a bit too public.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Still on Wallingford Bridge
Debbie made it too and she says she'll come again.
It was a lovely day for this walk and there were some beautiful parts of the river e.g. just before Goring but we spent quite a bit of time not next to the river which was a little disappointing as we prefer walking by the water to walking along the road. We have plans to return to visit some of the restaurants along the route when we win the lottery!
Wallingford Bridge
We made it! This was our longest walk so far 11 miles so it was good to reach the end and we had a nice cup of tea with Andy before he drove us home. Must say a big thank you to our drivers Andy and Brendan for all their support.
Action Photo
Some (former) friends have been saying that we are only driving out to places and having our photo taken and that we are not really walking so here is an action photo to prove that we are!
Aha Another Willing Companion
Good to have Debbie for company and to take photos. Debbie said she would only come if we could guarantee good weather see what we do for our friends! This is at Goring after up and down walking including some enormous steps which were a bit of a challenge for Debbie and Angela who only have little legs.
A Familiar Site
Here we are back at Pangbourne. The last time we were here we didn't realise that cars still have to pay a toll to go over the bridge luckily walkers don't and luckily Brendan dropped us off before the bridge so he didn't have to pay either!
We overtook a slow moving lady on the bridge and followed the Thames Path signs around the church in Whitchurch on Thames only to find the same slow moving lady in front of us again near the Greyhound. Was this a Harry Potter disapparating moment?
Thursday, 8 April 2010
At our Destination
Well we've been along the Thames Path and we've arrived at Maidenhead.
This was another lovely walk. The weather was perfect which helped - no rain and not too hot. It was relatively short only 6.5 miles. We passed Windsor Race Course on the other bank and some very lovely looking hotels - Oakley Court (the St. Trinians house) and one on Monkey Island. We weren't sure they would welcome us in our walking gear though. There were some lovely houses in Bray and the Thames Path actually goes through people's gardens at one point, although they still have a lot of unaffected garden. We discovered that the Maidenhead Railway Bridge is an architectural wonder built by Brunel and we wanted to test out its echo capabilities but someone was standing under it at the time.
Friendless?
Angela resisting the temptation to sit down outside a church which has been adopted by the Friends of Friendless Churches (we have a very informative book!)
Eton Bridge
No parking spaces for Brendan at Eton Bridge in Windsor so we had to take our own photos. Here we are on different sides of the bridge ready to start. We didn't see any young men in tailcoats as it is the Easter holidays. The weather seems more promising today.
Monday, 5 April 2010
High points
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Rain 2: Return of the precipitation
It was a lovely walk but very wet in places especially just before Sonning and just before the end when it was raining/hailing and very cold. Still, I suppose we have called it a challenge and we know that conditions in Grand Cess are very difficult for the people to face every day; although, I think their problems aren't normally to do with being cold.
Do you recognise this?
Sonning and London or Bristol ..... I thought we were going to Reading
Weather worsens (spoke too soon)
Shiplake Lock
Look, our "willing" companion
Henley
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