Follow the Acorn

After yesterday when my sister joined me it seemed it couldn’t get better, but today Tania and Georgie started me off on my walk to Wolvercote – no better way to do it than with the love of my life, and I can’t thank her enough for all she’s done to support my trip up the river.

The journey started well with me taking the right route after Abingdon Lock, it’s clear (I get it now), but not that clear – last time I walked it I headed off up the wrong way for about a mile and half before realising and then needed to negotiate a made up route to rejoin the river – the benefit of walking this trip before was definitely a bonus.

It’s a reasonably good path from Abingdon to Radley, a lot of it is closed in by the river one side and a wire fence the other, not striking but not bad. As you approach Radley Boathouse it opens up a good bit and Henny could run. I have no connection to Radley at all, except that my old mate John Predgen used to buy his window frames here back when we were both in the double glazing business – not an amazing fact, but the only one I have!

Tania had to turn back after a short while to collect the car left in Abingdon, and so today was my only full day alone up the river – if I had had to pick one it would be this stretch, it’s a likeable walk, one that stays on the path by the river and involves no roads. If I was to pick one to walk again it would be this or perhaps the Cookham to Henley stretch.

Today I had time to think and ponder, to reflect and remember those we’d lost to Cancer in recent years. My particular thoughts were for those closest to us as a family, my father in law, John Norris and my brother in law Ian Howe. Both were keen photographers, John especially produced some stunning photos and I thought how much they’d have enjoyed the wildlife and nature I’ve been lucky enough to see on this journey. My mate Neil Young would also have enjoyed the wildlife and nature, but Neil would have wanted to shoot most of it – he loved to hunt & would have equally enjoyed the pubs and beers available on this route!!

After Sandford, next stop is Iffley Lock, the first sign that you are approaching Oxford. I remembered that Roger Bannister had run the first ever sub 4 minute mile at Iffley Road at the Iffley Road Track as it was known in the mid-50’s, I thought and calculated that my journey would have taken him about 6 & 3/4 hours at that speed – not that he could have kept it up for 100 miles. But, it did make me think just how unremarkable it is to walk 100 miles over 8 days!

Iffley Lock

Before long, we came up on Oxford, most noticeable by the fabulous university boathouses and of course the college spires. I have an affinity with this city that started when I was little and Mum would bring me here when she shopped, right up until the present day. No, I didn’t go to university here (but you knew that), I went to the university of life – an opt-out choice when you decide to opt of of eduction however, I do have the benefit of a degree…. in Hindsight! 😉 and I think that eduction is still continuing to this day as it is for many of us!

Oxford University Boathouses

The Spires: Christchurch College & Cathedral viewed across Christchurch Meadow

I mentioned the other day when walking through Reading on Day 3, that I am a Reading FC supporter, I was a season ticket holder for 20 something years! I don’t go anymore, but still follow their ups and downs (more downs of late). However, I could easily have had my allegiance elsewhere.

Most kids get their football team from their dads or brothers. I didn’t have a brother and my dad had no interest whatsoever in football, so I was on my own to work this one out. I did the Chelsea bit as a kid for a while but probably only because they won the FA cup final in 1970 against Leeds after a replay – you did what the other kids did!

In secondary school my history teacher Geoff Anthony also played for Wycombe Wanderers, so we’d go and watch them from time to time – they were in the lower leagues then, the Rothmans Ithsmian League. And, now I was in my teens I didn’t want to go shopping in Oxford with Mum, so she’d drop me at The Manor Ground and I’d go and watch Oxford United.

Once married with twins football was off the list and we couldn’t afford B Sky B as it was back then, so I lost interest for a while until my son was at an age where we could go and see a game, so I took him to Reading as it was our local team – from then I never stopped going to see the Royals.

All said and done I’m not that fussed, I could go and watch football in any town or city I was living in, it’s about the game and the atmosphere for me, and the lower leagues really do have a special feel to them. That said, I’d draw the line at going to watch Swindon! These days for a live game I’d prefer to see a game of Rugby any day!

Back to the river and not before long we reached The Head of the River a Fullers pub on Folly Bridge on the Abingdon Road. Tania and I have been here several times before and most recently with our close friends Nick & Sue Fletcher (Nick’s my best pal, we went to the same school) who now live in Texas. We also went here with our Aussie friend Tammy on a whistle-stop tour of the sights in Oxford – me, I’d always sooner see the inside of a pub than the inside of an historical building!

I have a lot of time for Fullers, they purchased back our lease at the Frog & Wicket after chasing us for it for a couple of years and so we’ve something to be thankful for there – it makes their beer taste sweeter. On reflection I should have had a decent pint of London Pride, but instead I got a nice pint of Guinness (my current pint of choice), and Henny got a much needed and well deserved snooze!

Guinness (out of shot) Henny snoozing.

The Head of the River – Folly Bridge, Oxford

From here on the route was straight forward, up to Osney Lock and it’s pretty row of terraced riverside houses, past the Railway Station, and up to to Fiddlers Island before coming out beside the Perch at Binsey – I didn’t stop, I hear it’s nice, but they wouldn’t let me park in their car park last year on a walk, despite saying I’d be in for a drink at the end, so I trudged on to The Trout at Wolvercote which was used for one episode in the Inspector Morse series (Second Time Around) and more often used in the sequel series Lewis.

Before reaching the Trout for a beer, the walk finishes at Godstow Abbey a 12th century nunnery from the time of Henry 1st. The chapel still exists. It’s quite beautiful to see and to marvel at its incredible age.

Godstow Abbey

The Trout is in a lovely setting on the Weir, a nice patio to be shared with the ducks and a peacock! We’ve lunched here before and the food was good, we will be back for more walks and lunches in the summer.

75 miles of my 100 mile trip up The Thames is done, two stages to go and I look forward tomorrow’s company.

I called Captain Colin today & spoke to Penny the Purser – they made it to Cookham, no mean feat! They’ve got a short run on Saturday now to Datchet. I could not have made this trip without them, and I missed their company today – and the great breakfasts! By now I expect, Captain Colin’s hands will be as sore as my feet.