Sunday 11 October 2015

Thames River Walk (Oct 1, 2015) - Reading to Henley-on-Thames

Today was a very peaceful walking day after an equally lazy rest day in Reading yesterday. For the 6th walking day so far...brilliant sunshine...no rain...perfect conditions...and we are in England! We walked 15 km's in 4.5 hrs...quite respectful pace.

No dangerous animals, no ghosts, no wild encounters of any kind today so the day belongs to pictures.

Yesterday Dennis, Elaine and Dave travelled 20 minutes or so out of Reading to see Maria, Dennis's and Elaine's oldest daughter who has recently started a one year teaching contract. Dawn and I simply lazed around in Reading...walking to a local pub restaurant for a nice meal.

By all accounts the visit with Maria was nice...Dennis and Elaine will see Maria and another daughter Danielle in London in a few weeks time. Should be a great visit for everyone!

Elaine (far right) with her oldest child Dennis and daughter Maria
Yesterday we also visited Mark's and Spencer's which was a real treat...just looking at the food and maybe buying a little candy! 

Sampling of bakery items from Mark's and Spencer's

Some pictures from the day...again a very quiet day 

Look at the number of swans!

Neat ivy on the house

Elaine and someone walking

Dawn and Dave...well ahead of Dennis

Well no one else will take my picture! Selfie for those who are wondering!
We had a small misadventure early when it was decided to go to Tesco to buy sandwiches. The rest of the group took a short cut based on a local's advice which took them off the official Thames River path. I must always stay on the official walking path that I have set out to do due to my unwavering high standards so I soldiered on! A short while later I left the official Thames path for Tesco. 

Stayed on Thames Path...then went to Tesco...here is proof...neat photographic technique!
The path was both really pleasant and well in my books boring today...depended on the stretch we were on. A few pictures...

Pleasant

Boring

Very pleasant

Dreadfully boring!


Pleasant again!
Sometime during the day the planning Dave and I undertook paid off! See scooter photo!

Little red wagon (ok motorized scooter) for Dennis
There are some really nice houses along the Thames River as you would expect...few pictures...




Yes a house patterned after the White House in Washington!

A nice lunch spot

An incredible resemblance to Dennis!
Be careful...once touched such a fence in France!

You thought I was joking about dangerous animals!

We came upon a really interesting property along our walk...apparently the gentleman who owns the property was a former CEO of a very large insurance company and hand built a railway engine...then he needed a track to run it on and a railway station to boot! Incredible!


Mini railway station!

Finally we were walking into Henley-on-Thames...each of us likely thinking the same thing. I've never seen a more more peaceful River setting...would be nice to return and stay here for a fortnight (British term although I am not sure how long a time period this is!)






For Rose our precious little granddaughter


For Rose



Tomorrow on to Marlow...only three more walking days left in the adventure!

1 comment:

  1. A fortnight is two weeks. The other thing you might like to do is hire a canalboat. You could even get off and walk the towpath while you left Dennis to steer. Or not.

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