After the Fifteenth Leg

Just over 40 miles left.

At Newbridge

Andy was there to meet us at Newbridge.  We were tired, with wet feet but glad that we had completed this leg which is the longest one we have done at 14 miles.

We mostly enjoyed this walk although the weather was against us at times.  Around Oxford the walk was lovely and practically the whole walk has a very rural feel.  As usual the bit we weren't so keen on was the bit when we had to leave the river and this was made worse today by not being able to find our way.

Redundant Stile

As you can see from the path is isn't really necessary to go over the stile.

Faffing

Feeling much better after a cup of coffee, a packet of crisps and 2 chocolates and it isn't raining.  Angela just needs to get a few things sorted before we set off on the last lap which should take us about an hour.  Doesn't the river look lovely!

Elusive Pub

We had a few problems before we finally made it to the Ferryman in Bablock Hythe.

We met a couple coming the other way just as we had to leave the river briefly at Pinkhill.  They told us they had found it difficult to find the way after Pinkhill Lock as the path was not next to the river but through fields and it was raining when they went through.  Well what do you know when we reached the tricky bit it was raining too so our book with the directions was wet, we couldn't understand them, the signs were vague or non-existent and our feet were getting wet from walking through fields with long grass.  We came to the back of a caravan park (the one you can see in the distance on the photo) and we knew the pub was near a caravan park but we couldn't find a way through.

We finally came to a field with horses in and we could see a road on the other side so we braved the horses and as we came out of the field we met one of the stable-workers.  She told us the way - back through the field we had come through!  Catherine asked if the horses would give us any trouble and she said she didn't know about the chestnut one as  it had only arrived today.  Back we went through the field trying to avoid the chestnut horse which of course decided to follow us.  We were gald to get out and shut the gate.  Finally we saw the pub and as it was about 2.30 and the pub didn't close, according to our book until 3, we went in to get a sandwich or something only to find that they had stopped serving food at 2!  

Well this is definitely a challenge! 

What's wrong with the water?

One of these geese hissed at us as we went past but these really were the least threatening-looking animals we encountered today.

Weather Problems

We reached Eynsham Lock and were glad to take off our waterproofs.  We sat down to have a banana and heard some thunder so we set off pretty quickly.  Brendan phoned from Oxford and said he was in the middle of a thunder storm.  We looked up and saw this not very promising sky.  We quickened our pace and crossed our fingers that the cloud was going in another direction.

Hazards!

Things were not going well by now.  It had rained on us so we had to don waterproofs but it was also hot so the waterproofs were proving uncomfortable and then we came across this!

King's Lock

This is King's Lock the most northerly point of the Thames.  We met a couple here out for a picnic who seemed surprised that we were walking to Newbridge.  I thought that we looked like quite professional walkers in our boots and all.

Road to Nowhere

We were a little confused by this stile as the river is just beyond the reeds there!

Port Meadow

Here is the aforementioned Port Meadow which our man had informed us was the largest meadow in Europe.  Our book told us it is 342 acres and was given to Oxford by William the Conqueror as common land and has never been ploughed or built on.  Also around here is Binsey Ford which was probably the original ford in Ox-ford.  That's enough information for you.  What we were most concerned about was where were all the animals going?  They were all going in the same direction apart from the horses who just stood in the river.  Given our nervousness around large animals we were glad they were all on the other bank. 

Osney Bridge, Oxford

There was a little confusion about which direction we should be heading in so we asked a man if this was the right way for Eynsham Lock.  He looked shocked and told us it was a very long way and were we sure we weren't going to Port Meadow (not very far into the walk).  We obviously didn't look capable of walking far so we didn't like to mention that we were actually going to Newbridge.  He then went on to tell us lots of interesting facts and we were a bit worried that by the time he finished talking we wouldn't set off until lunch time!

Anybody Need a Plumber?

Well done indeed to Tim and Simon!  I'm not sure what happened to their moustaches.

Hey Mario!

Here comes Mario! 

Hey Luigi!

Luigi has finished!  But where is Mario?

En Route

En route and doing very well considering that they have more clothes on than most of the rest of the runners.

At the Start

Ready to go and at the back of their minds wondering if this was such a good idea!

Being down on the Rye on Half Marathon day was a bit of deja vu for Angela after doing the Fun Run with various children while Andy was running the Half Marathon with the CAFOD Runners for several consecutive years.

Before the Start

Everyone needs to stretch before running - even computer games characters.

Tim and Simon Ready to Go to the Half Marathon

You may remember back in the blog for the Tenth Leg - Marlow to Henley that I told you that Tim and Simon weren't walking but were going to run in the Wycombe Half Marathon for Helpachild.  Well here they are ready to set off and because it is so easy to run 13 and a bit miles they have decided to run as the Super Mario Brothers.  Do you like the moustaches grown specially for the day.   

After the Fourteenth Leg

Incredibly we have only 5 more legs to walk. It doesn't seem long since we started back in March.

At Kingston

Here we are at the end of our walk.  Brendan, and Catherine's Mum, Sheila were there to meet us at the end.  We had a welcome cup of tea in a very busy Kingston while Andy was driving to pick Angela up.

We enjoyed this walk and to say it was so close to London it had quite a rural feel to it.  Thinking back to the walk to the Source it is incredible to think that the tiny trickle ends up as such a wide, majestic river.

Teddington Lock

The river is no longer tidal at Teddington.  Earlier we had seen the lock at Richmond which was huge.  This one seemed to be made up of more than one lock across the river which of course is very wide at this stage.  We thought it must be pretty scary and confusing for small boats coming along the river here.

Richmond

We met Brendan for lunch in Richmond at a nice cafe under one of the arches of the bridge (once it was on dry land!)  The cafe turned out to be vegetarian and served lovely vegetable pies and huge salads.  It was very popular and most importantly (for us) had toilets.  Here we are ready to start out again with about 4 more miles to go.

Old Deer Park

Angela is standing on an old meridian which was used to tell the time before Greenwich Mean Time.

What a Lot of Chimneys!

We hadn't been walking for a while so we had worried that we might struggle on this long walk but we were actually making very good time and were surprised to be at Kew Palace so soon.  The weather was being very kind to us - not as hot as last time we walked and no rain (despite the weather forecast!)

Hammersmith Bridge

This was a really attractive bridge that we had driven over earlier.  The man in the background seemed to want to take a photo as well.  We weren't sure why he had to balance so precariously on the wooden railing Catherine did a good job without taking such risks.

I Thought Harrods was in Knightsbridge

There are such a lot of sights to see on this part of the river that we managed to miss a few but we did notice the Harrods Furniture Depository.  Apparently when people took up postings in the Empire they would store their furniture here and when they returned they would occupy a flat at the back of the Harrods store in Knightsbridge while they found somewhere to live.  It is a very impressive building which we assume is now flats.

Walking the Thames Path?

Have Catherine and Angela decided to run this leg?  Actually you can probably tell that this isn't Catherine and Angela.  All along this walk, and particularly at the beginning, there were lots of runners and also lots of cyclists as this part of the Thames Path is a cycle route as well.  There were also lots of boat clubs with rowing, sailing and canoeing on the river.  The people of this part of the Thames must be very fit.

Putney Bridge

I think you can tell we are in London by the number of red buses on the bridge!

After the Thirteenth Leg

Just under 70 miles left to walk.

The End of Our Walk

We walked to the bridge at Eton and then walked back to have our drink and share a sandwich.  Brendan met us and took our photo outside the restaurant as we were too tired to walk back to the bridge!

 

Sharing a sandwich (we've got to think about those dresses for weddings).

We found a better view of Windsor Castle when we were walking back to the car.

I must admit that Staines and Chertsey conjured up images of Thorpe Park and the M25 but this walk was really lovely in places and quite peaceful-looking although we did see, or more correctly hear, a lot of planes going over so it didn't sound peaceful!