Blog NO 14, Reading to Pangbourne 27th July 2025

A good walk weatherwise, nice and cool fairly cloudy. lots of overgrown trees and foliage creating tunnels which was not so good

I tried to take more photographs, so here is the picture of Caversham Bridge. A good pathway for approximately a mile before the path narrowed and I crossed meadowland. Loads of Canada Geese and Greylags browsing the grass fresh from the rain.

It wasn't long before I came to the first tunnel, this is not good for me as thoughts seem to turn to difficult times had through Elizabeth's illness. I am trying to be more disciplined and when I see a tunnel ahead to try to turn my mind to the happier times. However this first tunnel made me think of the first time Elizabeth cried. She was staying with me and our friend Alison had bought a pair of denim shorts in M&S. Elizabeth loved denim shorts and practically lived in them or dungarees. She was thrilled. They were on the settee where Elizabeth sat, she was planning on putting them on later to lay out in the garden sunshine. I began her morning tube feed and accidently overflowed beetroot juice onto the shorts. Elizabeth was upset and cried. By lunch time the shorts were washed, into the dryer and then ironed. . They looked as new. Elizabeth reassured and happy again put them on and took her afternoon rest on the patio. I found this incident so upsetting as I had caused Elizabeth's distress. 

The other reason to hate tunnels,  the tree roots determined to trip up the unaware, stinging nettles ready to brush against bare skin. This picture is the start of one of the tunnels. As usual not very clear.

I walked through other tunnels along this stretch and was taken by the contrast between here in an affluent area with expensive houses on the opposite side of the river, with boats my side clearly inhabited, but with debris, discarded bikes, chairs, bags full of rubbish and dog poo bins brimming full. Having walked through Walworth with its pristine tow path and well managed garden areas the difference was very noticeable.
I soon came to another meadow with very fresh cow pats littering the bank, I looked around but not a cow in sight. I kept going dodging cow pats and remembered when Elizabeth and Adrian were quite small we played a game when walking, 'spot the squishy cowpat'. They had to judge from the surface which cowpat was solid all the way through and which were dry on top but squishy underneath by jumping on them in their wellington boots. Needless to say a messy game. 

When I got to the end of this large field, close to the gate and path I saw the cowpat producers, quite a large herd of beautiful deep brown cows, a breed I did not know, sitting and standing all close together. They looked young and curious, one headed towards me but changed its mind. I talked to them as I passed to open the gate. On the other side a young couple waited anxious about passing the cows, the only way to continue on the Path.  I offered to walk with them putting myself between the cows and them, to demonstrate that these particular cows were harmless. I wish I had taken a picture of them, they were beautiful.

Not long after this there was a diversion, this took me across the railway line which I had been following for some while, I ended up having to walk through a large housing estate at Purley up hill which one does not expect to find on the Thames. Eventually I came to the Path again across a field with horses this time, leading to Mapledurham Lock. The usual quest for a loo at this point, only to be told that the loo had been vandalised but the lock keeper could point out a large bush,  I declined.

Mapledurham Locke with the vandalised loo.

 Less tunnels along this section, more open with people about so this kept my  eye on the narrow path, and greeting walkers passing to Reading. One man I met stopped to talk, he had walked from Shillingford that morning and was intending to complete 20 miles at Reading. He hoped to reach the Thames Barrier by the end of next week. He told me he was on a 'personal journey', my Tshirt made the reason for my walk obvious. He also said about the big hill on a detour close to Goring. This will be my next stretch with Alison who is walking with me on a four mile stretch from Pangbourne to Goring.

About a mile from Whitchurch Bridge, the path was narrow but mainly through meadows. The path was a single track with mounds of grass in the middle which made it difficult to judge which was the widest bit which two feet could be side by side instead of one in front of the other. Again loads of geese feasting of the refreshed grass. I know when I am reaching civilisation by the number of people around. I spotted Whitchurch Bridge, an iron bridge painted white. Lots of people near a boating hire shed advertising paddle boarding and canoeing. By this time the sun was shining and people picnicking on the side of the river. I asked a couple if they knew if there was a public toilet close by. They pointed to a brick building on the edge of the field some 100 yard to my left. I thankfully took advantage of this, but it needed a strong stomach to cope with it  I then walked away from the river to the Swan at Pangbourne, a person directed me along a passage way and at the end just a short distance was the Pub on the weir. It was very scenic with geese standing on the ledges catching food presumably in the fast flowing water. I thought I took pictures of this scene but they have not been recorded. On beginning my next stretch I will certainly try again. 

The next stretch Pangbourne to Goring I am walking with Alison, on Thursday 31st July.

Thanks for reading about my Thames Path walk for Elizabeth,