Another stretch of the Thames today, it could take quite a long time to reach 187 miles! Having finished at Caversham Bridge, Reading on my last stretch, I was back to Reading station and down to the river. A different way out of the station so a little confusing at first but I soon found some landmarks from my last visit! There are a proliferation of swans at the start of my walk!
One advantage of doing the Thames Path is that the navigation is very straight forward! I notice a ‘boat’ moored on the far side of the river – rather looking as if it had seen better days. Definitely a candidate for the ‘In need of’ series of paintings! Many of the house boats have adopted bits of land beside the river and there are many different things stowed along the way. One enterprising person obviously created from old pallets!
The water cuts in and there is a large bridge to cross with an extended route up and down. Steps and a slope for cycles of which there are plenty this morning , along with dog walkers.
I’m aware of large lakes which form a body of water alongside the Thames and I’m slightly surprised that I can’t see them from my side. Maps can’t tell you how high hedges are!
Along the way I see signs of late spring, not only in the form of flowers but also the next generation. I’ve always loved the interplay between trees and water and the way the roots spread out but also cling to the bank.
As I approach Sonning I’m aware of the Blue Coat School behind fences to my right and there is work happening to improve the side of the river bank. The bridge comes into view round the corner and I note from the map that I will cross this and walk on the other bank, back in Oxfordshire after my temporary visit to Berkshire.
The horse chestnuts are in full bloom everywhere and I’m pleased to spot a lone example on the other bank with red flower spikes. I also spot a heron quietly preening itself , rather different from the very noisy geese that really do honk! More quiet and graceful are the great crested grebe, I love watching them up end and dive down, never knowing where they will reappear.
I stop for my lunch on a bench next to Shiplake College -an Independent school for boys. A few conversations about rowing could be overheard in that slightly upper class loud voice one might expect in such an establishment!
The next landmark is Shiplake Lock. I used to visit Shiplake as a child, one of my dad’s aunts lived there with her five children – all younger than my dad. I remember enjoying trying to ride a bike, I was never allowed to have one of my own! Across the river is Wargrave and another aunt. Somewhere nearby was my Great-grandmother’s cottage, demolished to build a road! I do remember it, very small with a lean to kitchen and a big garden with a pig sty at the bottom. And of course an Earth closet – toilet- a double seater- I think one for adults and one for children but it ‘s a long time ago. Not far away is Twyford where my gran lived for many years and my Uncle John, my dad’s younger brother, still lives. He must nearly be 94! I stop at the lock.
Earlier in my walk I met a couple who enquired if I was going to Henley, to which I replied I replied yes and they pointed out that the bridge over the weirs at Marsh lock was closed and they had had to make a long diversion. They were on their very last stretch of the Thames path, they had walked for four days on this occasion but had completed it but by bit, over four years.
I checked out this information with the lock keeper who indicated that he thought there should be a signed alternative through the fields. He also told me that there was a path by the river even though the signed route cut up onto a road and the western side of the village – I took the river.
Up to the station and passed the Chiltern way crossover- this had been pointed out by the couple previously as a way to go. Rather stupidly I didn’t just go that way and stubbornly continued even after a sign saying a particular bridge was closed. I continued on next to the river and met someone on a bike, I asked if she had got through and she said no. She had had to turn round and was now late. I had thought I should be able to go round the lock and weirs by a road but apparently it was blocked off just before that.
So I had to turn round and go along the Chiltern Way and down a main road to Henley. Not a pleasant experience, quite narrow verges and lots of traffic. As I neared the town I decided to take a side road, almost parallel and get to the train station that way. It was going to take just over an hour to get back to Didcot so I was trying to catch the 14.57 train, as I had to pick someone up from Blewbury. Time was running away with me and I was having to walk very fast, unfortunately although my path took me along the top of the river meadow, I was at the back of the station – with no way in. As I got to the entrance the train pulled out. – so nearly caught it- a 30 minute wait until the next one !
Henley is just a small branch line with trains coming backwards and forwards to Twyford. So I had to change there and again at Reading. Still the meadow was attractive with lots of buttercups! 15.5 kilometres today but it did seem longer!
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 