Blog 22, Osney Bridge to The Trout at Wolvercote. Sunday 17th of August'25.

A sunny day, not a cloud in the sky but at least an intermittent breeze. I was not looking forward to this stretch mainly because I thought the weather conditions were not ideal. 

At Osney Bridge with all the diversion signs I could not find my way to the river. I asked several people who told me there was no access through the Botley Bowls Club and no access through the allotments. By this time I had walked up and down for about 20 minutes. I decided to walk through the pedestrian diversion route past Oxford Railway Station, to reach Hythe Bridge. My thinking was to head for Walton Street and down to Port Meadow. Whilst it was not the Thames Path it brought back memories. I walked past my old college, down to the University Press, past the Jericho Tavern where Elizabeth and I were invited to gigs. Primal Scream played there in their early days just before the Clash and punk groups, I remember it being absolutely deafening. 

When I got to Port Meadow I realised I had not taken a single photo. Looking across the meadow and up at the sky reminded me of when my dad took me to the cinema and saw films with men staggering across the desert looking for water. Hot sun, a stretch of green and thankfully not a mirage but the river.



 Here I made my first mistake, I realised that if I had crossed the bridge at the beginning of the meadow I would have walked along a smooth path, tree lined in places giving shade which was clearly the Thames Path. As it was, I trudged across an uneven path, dodging between cow pats, goose poo and horse dumps. It was hot with an occasional gusts of breeze. 

I had my sights firmly on the line of white houses which is the beginning of Wolvercote. Soon came into view the new laboratory construction along the A40 close to the Wolvercote Roundabout. Also the outline of houses being built along the Canal. This photo was meant to be all the Canada Geese gathered on the water's edge. Somehow I missed them. I thought of Godfrey and the life he had led. I comforted myself by thinking that his last few years were lived in a safe haven with lots of grass, water and company of other birds which he seemed to enjoy. 


Maybe I need to take a course in photography before my next big walk.

Eventually Wolvercote was getting nearer, and I headed for a fence where I could see people pick nicking and having fun by the river close to a car park. I walked through the car park and turned left, heading for the Trout. I was very hot at this point and looking forward to seeing Jen and having a cool drink. We planned to have lunch. I was disappointed with the food, given the inflated price, paying for a tourist attraction in a beautiful spot. 

Nevertheless we spent an hour sitting, chatting, eating and drinking. It was cooler under the umbrella and a lovely view of the inlet beside the pub. We spotted an Egret and of course the famous tiger placed in the undergrowth on the far bank. 

I am hoping that the walk tomorrow from the Trout to the Swinford Toll Bridge will be cooler. The forecast is for cloud in the morning which will make the walk easier. As I am now heading for the home stretch, the distances are approximately 4-5 miles hoping to encourage neighbours and friends to join me on this section of the walk. 

Monday, Trout to Swinford, start approx 10am.

Tuesday Swinford to Bablocke Hythe, start approx 10 am.

Wednesday Bablock Hythe to Newbridge 4pm. 

Thursday Newbridge to Tadpole Bridge.

The intended walks are subject to weather conditions. I will try to update arrangements if necessary. 

Thank you for reading, hope to see you on the walk

Maureen

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