Rural Thames Path section 4 - Henley-on-Thames to Reading (Sept 14th 2013)

Unfortunatley, after looking through my emails last night, I've discovered that I need to get back home before Monday, as I have a couple of interviews booked! The plan today was to go as far as perhaps Streatley or Goring before catching the train back to Reading for the night. But I've changed the plan so that I stop at Reading, just a short 12 mile hike. 

After a hearty breakfast, I set off down to the Thames from my hotel and head on upstream towards Shiplake.

Henley

Henley on Thames bridge

Soon we come along to Marsh Lock with its fabulous long wooden causeway stretching out into the middle of the river and then back onto land, and we continue through to Park Place, on ever muddier fields! The track is narrow and very difficult in negotiate in places! 

There are impressive houses on the riverbank as always and upon entering Shiplake's environs, I see one house has a very large miniature railway set up in the gardens! Past through Shiplake without event and soon back in the mud, trudging along! We come across Shiplake lock, then the College with its cute little boathouse.

this is part of a railway set, it's bigger than me! 

Pear trees

Shiplake College

Shiplake Boathouse

We carry on through ever more slippery fields, until we come to Sonning, with its quaint little bridge, and which has a postbox in the middle of it! Over the river! Cross over the bridge and then down past Sonning Lock and onwards to Reading.

Damsons?

Sonning Lock

Gates near the Reading Blue Coat School

Soon I see some familiar buildings in the distance like the ORACLE building which I recall from many years ago. I head through the park then turn off from the Thames Path and head into town where I am staying at the Ibis Hotel. 

View from the window at the Ibis

I check in and have a shower, clean myself up before sitting down and gathering my thoughts and notes of the past few days. Since Worcester Park, I have done 117.1km, 73.2 miles, and my feet are shouting at me for being so inconsiderate! If it wasn't for the interviews, I'd have carried on towards Abingdon and Oxford before returning home, but this will have to be arranged for another day.

The other thing on my mind is should I be aiming more north than the meandering course I've taken so far? It's all very well wanting to complete certain trails but really, at the end of the day, I'm supposed to be trying to get to Cape Wrath. I suppose the next section after Oxford will be the Oxford to Coventry Canal Walk...