I decided to take today as a shorter day. I’ve had some long days recently, and I wanted to give my body a chance to recover. I still managed to rack up some progress, but I suspect that I had an easier day than these two, who were heading against the flow of the river.
One thing that this walk has taught me is how lucky I am to live where I do, in the Yorkshire Dales with the South Pennines, Forest of Bowland, and the Lake District all within a short drive from my doorstep. I’ve only spent two days walking alongside the Thames, and have a few days more to go, but the sameness is starting to wear on me. The Thames Valley is rich farmland with pretty villages and a long history, but the opportunities for walking are quite limited and there isn’t a lot of variety in the landscape. At home there are attractive villages and farms, but also high fells, wild moors, lush valleys, limestone, gritstone and volcanic rock, and a seemingly endless range of opportunities to enjoy it all.
“The North” is often characterized as a disadvantaged part of England. Economically that may be true, but not when it comes to spending active time outdoors. I’m glad I’ve now walked in this part of England, but I won’t rush back.
Route: Dorchester to Streatley via Thames Path. Terrain: riverside paths, meadows. Weather: warm, partly cloudy. Daily distance: 17.3 km/10.7 miles. Cumulative distance: 511.0 km/316.8 miles. Accommodation: The Bull, Streatley.
Come Wind, Come Weather 