Henley on Thames - A walk

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 We woke up to heavy rain on Dame Shirls roof, so a lazy morning then. Ian made some nice boiled eggs for breakfast and we were just having a cuppa when David phoned. Andrew and his triathlon group were at that moment having a cuppa in the Swiss Farm Cafe. We put our raincoats on and popped down to say hello. After a little chat Andrew asked what we were doing for the day. A walk by the river was our reply. ‘You can walk down this side you know. There is a footpath to Hambleton Lock. Then cross over and back down the other side.’ Sounded perfect, but we had looked at the map and didn’t think there was a path down this side all the way. ‘Oh yes’ said Andrew, ‘you can walk through the grounds of the college.’  OK then. 


Boiled Eggs

We both showered, nice showers, not press button ones, then set off up our side of the river. It was raining as we left but it soon stopped and the sun came out. It was a really nice walk with no one else about.


Leaving in The rain


Across the meadow




Lots of little bridges, many in bad repair


We followed the footpath signs until we arrived at the college as instructed by Andrew, although the college is now a hotel and training centre. It seemed deserted although as we crossed the front lawn a car circled around and went out again. It didn’t seem like a footpath to me and I was glad to get to a little gate which seemed to be a way out. But no, the gate only led to an enclosed garden with some wilderness to the side. We peered through the shrubbery and Ian noticed a fence at the back that had been forced open. We waded through bushes and escaped onto the main road. Cheers Andrew! 


At last, a gate!


The way out.

It was pretty straightforward after our little adventure and we soon arrived at Hambleton Lock where we crossed over to the other side of the Thames.


A house by the lock


Crossing Over

After all the excitement we were both hungry, luckily I had packed a little picnic and we sat by the lock watching the world go by.


A nice picnic


With a lovely view

A couple of exciting things happened on the path back. We saw a couple of labradors, with a man and young lad, bounding about. As we passed we exchanged comments and carried on. That’s when I recognised him as Ben Fogle the TV presenter. Further on down the path we came upon a crowd on the path. In the middle was a buzzard with a damaged wing. A lady threw a coat (someone else’s as it happened) over it from behind and deftly picked it up and put it over a fence where no dogs could get it. She was going to phone the RSPCA.


The buzzard


Nearly back


On Henley bridge in the sun

As we got back over the bridge we spotted a Wetherspoons and decided to do a little research. We wondered if Spoons charge a premium rate for beer in the South. Turns out not as Ian’s pint was £2.79. My Limencello Spritz was a whopping £4.99!


Henley Spoons

That provided a nice rest before we returned to the site. I warmed up a Charlie Bingham Butter chicken and we settled down to watch Europe almost throw away the Ryder Cup.





Meantime, Vicky had a good run in the Devizes 10k, the race that Ian was supposed to run, and got a fab medal to boot.


Go on Vicky!


Nice Medal
































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