Day 12: Shiplake to Reading

The snow and ice of Christmas has now all melted, and it is a warm and still day - perfect to restart our Thames walk. It is, however, very very foggy! First stop - the pub next to Shiplake Station to get our energy levels up!

Then off to the Thames, which was covered in thick ice in all the backwaters.

The main river was glassy still, with mists rising all around. Lots of geese, swans, coots, grebes and cormorants were busy - plus this sleepy heron on a post in the middle of the river.

After 3.5 miles of mud, mud, mists and mud, we glimpsed the arches of Sonning Bridge ....

And now for a key decision - do we stop here or push on for another 3.5 miles towards Reading? A few cheese sandwiches - plus the realisation that we had left the mud behind - and our decision was made - off to Reading!

A 'team photo' and an atmospheric view of the misty river.

Watch out for the swans - the one in the middle was the ring-leader.

And finally the outskirts of Reading - and to prove how much progress we have made since London, here's a signpost.

Day 11, part 3: Hambledon Lock to Shiplake continued

After struggling through the Henley crowds we passed Marsh Lock - an amazing wooden causeway that zigzags across the river twice.












Then along the water meadows and around the posh houses of Shiplake - lived in by people too posh to let the riffraff like us walk past on a Thames Path.....

Day 11, part 2: Hambledon Lock to Shiplake continued

The long Remenham bend downstream from Henley.... too many people and too many rowers!!





Henley on Thames.

Day 11, part 1: Hambledon Lock to Shiplake

A bright, sunny autumn day - perfect for walking but only got got time for a short one - about 5 or 6 miles planned.





Off we go!



Greenlands - the mansion where the famous publisher W H Smith once lived, and now Henley Management College.

Day 10, part 2: Marlow to Hambleden Lock continued

Passed over Hurley lock and the backs of houses in Hurley, stopping for a picnic.












Opposite Medmenham Abbey and the site of an old ferry.





No time to stop!





And finally to the weir - impressive!

Day 10, part 1: Marlow to Hambledon Lock

Only a short one, 6 or 7 miles, to get us back into the walking habit. After a pre-walk ice-cream we set off from Marlow.


Marlow Bridge - the same architect designed the bridge between Buda and Pest.



Bisham on the far bank.



Over Temple footbridge.

Day 9, part 3: Maidenhead to Marlow continued

"I think we'll buy this one"


At last.... Marlow!

Day 9, part 2: Maidenhead to Marlow continued

......and from Cookham to Bourne End.....

Day 9, part 1: Maidenhead to Marlow

Back to Maidenhead, and off we go.


A few miles to Cookham......



Watch out for that weeping angel!!!!

Day 8, part 4: Maidenhead

Isambard Kingdom Brunel's famous Maidenhead viaduct with it's astonishing 'sounding arch'....
echo, echo, echo, echo......

Day 8, part 3: Datchet to Maidenhead continued

Past Boveney Lock, Monkey Island, Bray Lock.... making progress!!!!

Day 8, part 2: Datchet to Maidenhead continued

Past Windsor Castle.....


through Windsor........


and Eton (this being a bathing spot from a century ago).

Day 8, part 1: Datchet to Maidenhead

We weren't really planning on walking today, as we've only had a day for the blisters to heal. But since it wasn't raining and nor was it swelteringly hot, we set off with Datchet to Maidenhead in our sights!








Datchet to Windsor.........

Day 7, part 4: Datchet

Day 7, part 3: Chertsey to Datchet continued

Staines.... and under the M25!!!!



And the Sahara Desert, or was it Runnymede?

Day 7, part 2: Chertsey to Datchet continued

Phew what a scorcher!









Penton Hook island