New Crew… Captain Myles at the helm!

Made it to Oxfordshire in 4 days, it sort of felt close to home for a minute but then I realised I’ve got 4 days in Oxfordshire before I reach home, as my friend George acknowledged, it’s a big county!

After yesterday’s miserable wet weather we woke to sunshine – that was a relief. More green juice, usual tablets of vitamins, tumeric & fish oil, cup of EG (not PG) and a contortionists wrestle with the bathroom – I won’t miss that! Another masterpiece from the kitchen (“Galley” said the Captain), courtesy of Captain Colin – sausages, eggs on toast, mushrooms and tinned tomatoes – set for the day. A few less ‘F’s today from Captain Colin as he wrestled with the grill.

What a great surprise and delight to see who should turn up today to walk with me… Henny’s favourite Aunt, Auntie Clare who does her doggy day care so often on Sundays when we’re cooking at work, together with her lovely Labrador Penny – yep, it’s was destined to get confusing on the good ship Lollipop (Lady Diana) with two Penny’s and a Henny!

Auntie Clare, Penny (the Lab) & Henny

First to arrive was the biggest surprise for me as I didn’t know they were coming … two of my grandchildren, Annabelle & Myles with my son-in-law Pete, I was really touched that they would all come out with me today.

Walking the path upstream from Pangbourne is not as you’d think, you have to leave the river immediately, head up the road over the pretty Whitchurch-on-Thames toll bridge and up some steep hills – hills were not on my agenda when I decided to walk the Thames Path. We then set off into the woods high above the river where Henny and Penny (not Penny the Purser) bounced around like a pair of nutcases. From our path high in the hills we could see down over Beale Park where had taken our children when they were little. Eventually, we rejoined the river some miles later.

Auntie Clare left us as planned after 90 mins or so and I carried on with the GC’s and Pete – the kids were slow – but I was so grateful for it as my feet were agony and it was taking a long time to get them moving freely.

Auntie Clare, Annabelle, Myles & Pete with Henny in the hills above the Thames between Pangbourne & Goring

We got to Goring Lock and ‘wham’! I missed George Michael’s house again, (apparently it wasn’t on yesterday’s route it was today’s)! I wasn’t paying attention and I wasn’t going back to ‘give it one more try’, I was walking on and enjoying the ‘freedom’ and in any case had I wasted too much time I’d have not made it to Wallingford before the ‘sun went down on me’ and where the ‘star people’ (the Captain & the Purser), ‘I knew they (you) were waiting’. More than enough puns for one day….I must admit to not having been a great George Michael fan, Tania was far more keen on his music than me, but I do recall we had ‘Club Tropicana’ playing at our wedding reception, so that must have been a 1983 release, and as I recall too, yes, those “drinks were free”  – well, Tania’s Dad John, had paid for the booze for the day!

We managed to get Pete & the GC’s on the boat as Capt Colin & Penny the Purser were just exiting the lock. The kids were just dying to go on the boat … and to stop walking. 5 miles is blooming good for a 9 & 5 year old! Myles & Annabelle made off to sit in the Captains seat and take turns at the wheel.

Captain Annabelle ‘spinning the wheel’

I had to walk back and over the bridge through the town and around to rejoin the path on the other side in order to stick to my route and not cheat on the mileage, and rejoin them upstream another mile or so on, just before Cleeve Lock. Penny (not Penny the Labrador) made tea and coffee for everyone and we enjoyed a good break before saying goodbyes and heading on while Pete and the GC’s made there way back to the town. I was so thrilled that they’d all joined me, that it made the parting quite emotional and I welled up – maybe it’s the mileage so far, or more likely the love, support and companionship I’ve felt this week from all quarters – everyone has simply been truly motivational and supportive, thank you all.

Myles, Annabelle, the Captain & Pete – Cleeve Lock

As you can probably tell, I spent little or no time in Pangbourne, Goring &/or Streatley over the years save for trudging up and down the roads from time to time, but they are lovely little towns and worth a visit.

I came across this 4 miles outside Wallingford, oddly enough!

My friend Gerry’s maxim for the day.

I spent the afternoon alone quietly walking with Henny on our way to Wallingford, with mixed emotions and time for thought – Gerry’s maxim about golden silence was quite apt for today. Gerry writes a ‘Daily Wisdom’ meme every day on the Yateley Community FB page, and I love reading them each morning.

Mum would bring me here on her shopping trips, I played snooker with my step dad at the Conservative club quite often on a Sunday morning before going back to mums for lunch, Mum would bring us as kids to the outdoor pool on Wallingford Bridge in the summer holidays and my step dad would get an Indian “chuck-away” from the local Tandoori (the same one we used tonight for a banquet on board the good ship Lollipop (Lady Diana).

However, today’s most troubling memories of Wallingford was Mum dying in the Cottage hospital here and the funeral directors just up the road in Crowmarsh Gifford, who attended to matters on our behalf for both Mum and my step-mum Shirley. Mum sadly died in 2009 and Shirley in 2013. Thankfully my sister and I were there when they went, and we were there for each other.

The Last Supper – Indian “Chuck-away” banquet on board Lady Diana at the Captains Table.

Mixed memories to be had in Wallingford, but I was nonetheless pleased to be here tonight – it felt somewhat like home, and after all I was now 4 days down with 4 to go – I promised I’d be home by Sunday!

Now as you know, my feet have been hell. My big toes are going black under their nails and I have blisters, also my right Achilles’ tendon is giving me serious gyp, you know the indentations you get at the back of your ankles, my right one is just swollen, and there’s no definition at all.

So, I found myself walking just briefly with another chap this afternoon, before he headed off into the distance leaving me for dust. He hadn’t walked as far as me, but he looked like he could go a lot further! I spotted his footwear … really comfy looking pair of trainer type boots, all soft, flexi and velcro’y jeez I was envious. I thought my boots were fine, they’re a good brand of hiking boots and all leather and well worn in. I’ve worn them in the Yorkshire Dales, most dog walks etc. for more than 2 years without any trouble, and they have done many a 12 mile day – problem is there’s little give in them, my feet are swollen and my toes are now pushing hard against the leather toe-caps.

New Boots – low mileage, one careful owner!

I pondered how I would fair in his shoes for a short while, and short of mugging him decided I’d call Tania and see if she could get me a pair for that afternoon and meet me in Wallingford, she could, she did and the boots are amazing – they’re like slippers. She managed to get them knocked down by £60 or so, and then spotted a bit of mud on the soles and got them to knock a bit more off too! Not only did she get me a size 10 & 1/2  for my size 10 feet (which were now swollen by at least half a size), but she also got a pair that had been “run-in” for me by a previous owner! I know it is a potentially dangerous move – to wear new boots, but honestly I don’t think I could continue for long in the others. I have test driven them in Wallingford tonight and will give them a proper run out tomorrow. Tania has been my life saver today I’m sure.

Captain Colin & I settled in to the comfy chairs at The Town Arms – Wallingford – well I had to test drive my boots and make sure they were pub-worthy!

Day 5 is around the corner and we will have the last breakfast tomorrow before Captain Colin & Penny the Purser Head back on a three day trip to Datchet to return the boat. I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for me this week.

Henny stalked and raised a pheasant this afternoon.