Blog 18, Dorchester to Clifton Hamden, 3 1/2 miles, part of the section to end in Abingdon. 6th August.

I was accompanied today by my friend Elaine,

The picture is looking downstream at Day's lock, I managed to capture Elaine's arm in photo. I did say I was rotten photographer, this just about proves it.

Days lock

We continued walking a meadow pathway towards our goal which for this short walk was to Clifton Hamden. We spotted several herons fishing and a large flock of combined Canada geese and Greylags. Elaine also spotted a large bird of prey, species unidentified. We began walking at 9.30, it was a beautiful sunny morning which threatened to give us a pretty warm day. We were relieved to be walking early and not as I usually do, in the middle of the day.

Sun on the water.

On the walk we met several dog walkers also taking their dogs out early and a young woman walking the Thames Path towards London, carrying a heavy pack. She told us she had found the source, and walked to Oxford where she spent 3 days walking the local stretches relieved of her back pack. She was now heading for Wallingford and her load looked pretty heavy. 

The area of meadowland was split into fields, with gates to mark our progress. We found a map on a board which showed us where we were, Elaine the pragmatist and me the optimist. I reckoned we were half way, but Elaine assured me we were only a third way along the path. It was getting hot and we were looking for shade to stop for a few minutes to have a drink. Elaine produced a substantial flapjack, oozing with sugar which she broke into pieces and we enjoyed the energy boost. 

We passed the usual array of very swish houses with beautifully manicured lawns stretching to the riverbank with their boat houses nestled on the edge of their properties. We chatted as we walked, families, holidays, various ailments to be managed. It felt so normal, I had to bring myself back to remember it wasn't just a walk, it was the Thames Path and for Elizabeth. 

If
Lovely house with lily pads

Where ever we looked on this stretch of the Thames from as far back as Pangbourne and certainly to Clifton we could see the Wittenham Clumps. They were to our far left, looking very different to the 'Pangbourne' blog where they were on our right and under a huge storm cloud. 

Wittenham Clumps 

We walked on pretty much the same terrain, meadows, fields with very few shady places. It seemed to be much sooner than I thought that the Thames Path veered away from the river and up steps to a road. Elaine announced that we had reached the Barley Mow pub where we had parked her car. I thought I was getting better at judging distances and times, but clearly not on this stretch.

Barley Mow Pub

It was lovely walking with Elaine we just kept to our own pace, chatting along the way. Elaine said when we reached the car that she would like to do another stretch with me, rather than saying 'don't ask, as I hate saying no'.  A win win, I think.

Sunday I hope to arrive in Abingdon, mid afternoon, hopefully by the Bridge as this looks a good place to meet with people. From what I could see it is wheelchair friendly.

Thanks

Maureen.



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