2nd January 2011 - a bright blue sky, but quite cold! Time to head back to the river. So far we have reached Reading on our walk from London, so today's plan is Reading to Pangbourne - another 6.5 miles. No trains running due to engineering works, so its the infamous 'replacement bus service' - but it worked well and we got to Reading with no problems. Setting off from Reading Bridge, we passed through areas of Reading we had never seen before - surprising in a town we know quite well. On the island in the photo below, just before Caversham, there was even a sign for a bowls club on a small island in the river!
The next section of the walk follows the river between Tilehurst (to the south) and Caversham (to the north). We expected (and had read) that this was a dreary section - but it was far from it. In fact, with the sun shining, the river glassy smooth and parkland on both banks - plus grebes and even a kingfisher - it was one of the best parts of the walk so far.
After about 3 miles the Thames Path takes a detour, leaving the river.....
......crossing the railway track, and heading through the village of Purley.
After Purley the path headed back to the river at Mapledurham Lock.
Time for lunch, shared with hundreds of ducks, swans, geese and dive-bombing gulls that would catch pieces of bread and prawn crisps in mid-air.
And then 3 more miles of a big bend in the river, passing Hardwick Hall on the far bank - inspiration for Toad Hall in
Wind in the Willows.
And finally, as the cold was setting in (and feeling was being lost to fingers), we reached Pangbourne.
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