Henley-on-Thames to Windsor - 25 Mile Walk

Hello there Dear Reader,

I am stepping up the training as we get nearer to the big challenge. There is only 2 months to go now, so despite the plans for the massive walk in the Lakes next Wednesday, I decided to go all out for a 25 mile walk on Saturday 13th April.

I was reticent about walking from Henley due to complex travel arrangements with Rufus, but the distance on my planner at 25 miles was what I was looking for. It also offered ample opportunities to break off early and get a train back to Paddington from other stations along the route should either I or Rufus not be up for it.

The route to Henley meant I would have to take Rufus down to Finsbury Park tube station and catch the Victoria Line to Kings Cross, change and catch the Metropolitan  Line to Paddington. Change and catch a train to Twyford. Change then catch a hopper train to Henley. Also, within all that is an escalator which Rufus is terrified of.

When I got to the ticket office at Finsbury Park, an African lady literally started screaming saying "please, please!" to me. I was totally bemused and asked what the problem was. She said she was scared of dogs! How can anyone be scared of cute little Rufus? he looked on, equally bemused at the whole affair.

I managed to get to Kings Cross no problem, but did notice Rufus is also terrified of Tube trains, which was upsetting. When I got to the escalator, I went to pick him up, but he was cowering in fear. I managed to gather him up and console him on the way up, so he was OK when I got him back on terra firma.

We finally got on the Twyford train and Rufus is strangely very calm on overground trains, and simply settles in. We got an earlier train so time for a nice relaxing coffee at Twyford before getting the Henley train.We arrived at Twyford at a very respectable 9am, ready for the long days march ahead.

Henley - the start of my journey for the day.

View upstream from Henley

It was heartening to see how many boat crews were out on the water under instruction. The future is certainly bright when it comes to rowing in this country.

Henley Regatta

Looking down stream from Henley

I was hoping the Thames Path would not be like this all the way or me feet would be mush. I can't stand walking on pavements on long walks. However, equally, I like to be able to push-off so here's hoping the ground improves. Also, the weather was holding out at this stage, so all looking good.







It didn't take long for Rufus to go for his first dip. We could still see Henley in the distance and he was in!

First dip of many for the day.

There's no need to shout!

It became clear the narrow track was not a benevolent inclusion for walkers along the Thames Path, but a means for rowing coaches to thunder down the river barking orders via megaphone to exhausted crews.

Soon after this point, I came across an elderly crew with the coach shouting at them saying it was their tiredness that was leading them to veer towards the bank, and they should focus on this on the way back! I wonder how many were still alive when they got back?

View of one of the many islets along the Thames

One of the many massive houses along the Thames. This one was like the White House!

I came eventually to Hambleden Lock at the point of a massive weir. This was the site of Hambleden Mill which still exists but is Yuppie apartments now.

That's Weird!

I took Rufus over to the mid-point of the river to see the Mill, and it was a bit precarious for poor  Rufie.

Rufus had to navigate this narrow walk way to the Mill.

Here it is in all its glory.

On the way back, Rufus had to walk over this slatted walk way and was terrified, but managed it by clinging to the edge!

Don't worry, it will soon be over!

Phew! Glad that's over!

Once you get to a posh town, you always have to come away from the river because the toffs buy up all the river banks as gardens, so us plebs have to walk around.  This often meant long detours. I didn't really mind, as it offered a different aspect in terms of views and broke up the monotony of watching a river flowing inexorably towards London.

I had to go through a massive estate through a deer park. It was lovely and the ground soft underfoot, always with a reassuring view of the river to the left.

The Estate Lodge at the entrance.

The Deer Park

The Thames below

The estate Manor

Some of the houses that fronted onto the Thames were simply amazing. This one had a ruin merged into it as a folly. I don't even think it was a hotel. Someone actually lives there!

Then I came to a small community on the banks of another island in the river. It merged into a sort of vile holiday park. I felt myself wondering why anyone would buy one of the units behind the river fronted ones where the only access to the river was the same as I could benefit from without living in a horrid condo. Well, Rufus decided to have a poo here, so it says a lot!

You got quite a few pleasure boats, and I noticed there are quite a lot of steam boats this far down the Thames.

Steam Boat Willie

Rufus is in again!

You often had to cross over the river at locks which offered good opportunities for great views like this.

I came to Temple Lock and saw this interesting sign. well, if I was intending on walking to London from here, after I had already done about 10 miles I would have been disheartened to see another 58 miles to go.

I wonder if you could actually walk that far in a day if you had a gun to head?

Here are some more beautiful images of my little boy Rufus!

He looks like he's having a wee!

I came across this amazing church on the banks of the river. What a great view of you happened to be buried there. Probably more one for the mourners than the dead of course!

I eventually came to the very wealthy looking town of Marlow. Since I was not using a map of any description, I had no idea where the path was going to take me. I naively thought it would all be along the river bank. Where can you go wrong! Anyway, I got a nice ice cream here, and the weather looked like it might break through the clouds. I had just had one of those surreal telephone conversations with my Mum before arriving here. Despite the fact she lives 250 miles away, she has a habit of saying things like,"well the weathers great for a walk, you've got lovely clear skies and beautiful sunshine. I have to remind her it may well be nice in sunny Accrington, but not where I am 250 miles away.

The bridge at Marlow

It was here I found Marlow had bought all the river banks and again, had to troop off out of the town for about a mile away from the river. I couldn't believe how far away I had to go to get around.

View from bridge as I was leaving Marlow, on what I thought was a short detour

As it happened, I must have gone wrong. More because I had no map and was not expecting to have to navigate around rich land owners. As it happened my detour was a welcome one. I ended up connecting with the Chiltern Way which provided much better scenery and something I had missed all day - hills to climb! Seriously, I love climbing upwards.

Rufus waiting for me to catch up.

Interesting change in scenery

I came down from the fell tops to river level, but still ½ mile away from the Thames. However, there was loads of flood water left over from recent snow and rain.

This was my path!

I came down to Cookham, expecting to rejoin the path. However, after an hour away from the Thames path, it was too much to hope this village would allow a lesser mortal as me sully their banks with my boot marks. No sooner had I arrived than I was directed along the busiest road I can ever recall walking along. It was so ironic to see these signs stating you were on the Thames path, when clearly you were just on a motorway. Unfortunately, some wag had bent the bloody sign to point the wrong way, so I added an extra mile to my tortuous journey. What a complete tool!!

As soon as I got back to the river, all Rufus wanted to do was get straight in.

He looks guilty, so I suspect he is actually weeing!

Rufus finds a new friend

We ended up walking across what looks like someone's neatly coiffeured lawn!

Photos will get very scarce now, as I am starting to suffer. I got to Maidenhead where I could theoretically have stopped if I choose. I had done 18 miles by then, and it would have been a nice comfortable days outing. However, I saw the sign saying it was only 6 miles to Windsor. That seemed such a small amount in the grand scheme of things. It was only 3.30pm and I reckoned I could do that in 2 hours easy. However, in retrospect, it might have been better to save my poor feet for Wednesday's challenge than carry on on hard ground. I got to the 3 mile marker and my feet were agony. I tried singing out loud to pretend it didn't hurt, but there was no kidding, my feet were in agony, particularly my right heel. It is so frustrating when you think, "oh, my sock is folded over on my heel. I'll just take my boot off to straighten it out." However, when you remove your boot, you see your sock is smooth as a baby's butt, so you're just going to have to live with the pain. There is no pulling out now. it also started to rain really heavily now just to add to my misery.

I eventually got to the outskirts of Windsor on the Eton side, and can see the tantalising glimpses of Windsor over on the other side.I was in such pain, I had taken to asking people how far to the railway station. These are a collection of the responses:

1. "Well, go down the path as far as you can see to the end of the river, then turn right and go over the bridge to Windsor." So I had visions of walking to Whitstable as the Thames meets the sea, and my heart sank.
2. "Huh, huh, make sure you turn onto the bridge because the waters deep down there- ha ha ha ha!" Oh, I chortled with him as he lay at my feet in a pool of blood!
3. "Oh yes dear, are you wanting the river station, because that's just over there. No? Oh dear, you want the central station if you need to go to Paddington. In that case, you've got quite a walk still to go. Never mind!"

So I trudged on at a funeral pace until I came to the Windsor and Eton Bridge. Eureka! I am within touching distance of the end. 

It is such a shame I was not in the right frame of mind to appreciate Windsor. It was absolutely lovely, enveloped in the castle as if the town was just squashed around the existing fortress.

I limped into the station only to have to run the last 100 yards to catch the 17.40 train to Slough.

Destination at last!

I asked Karen to pick me up from Finsbury park station. it is only ½ mile to home from there, but I have absolutely nothing else to prove to you by now dear reader.

Now we just have to hope I have repaired enough for the really big one on Wednesday. I will report how I got on.