March 2016 – Neil Baldwin's blog : Warning contains walking, technology, photography, holidays.

Thames Path – Staines-upon-Thames to Windsor

I was hoping to get in a couple of stretches of the Thames Path over Easter but due to various commitments I did not get a chance until the Sunday, and Easter Monday looked like it might be a wash out due to the remains of hurricane Kate passing through. The clocks went forward so I lost an hour, but I was still in Windsor by 09:45, to catch the 10:12 train to Staines. The car park at Windsor station is a bit of a ball ache after I had rustled up enough change for the meter after poking around under the car seats, I fond out that the reason there was a queue at the machine was because it was credit card only and the slowest machine in the world.

Finally when I got to the station and had purchased my ticket (£4.40) I found out the train was cancelled, luckily the next train at 10:23 was fast one so little time was lost. The weather was clear and great for taking photos, but there was a brisk breeze and a chill in the air, so I was happy to sit on the train for 20 minutes before it left the station. The forecast was for heavy showers so I had my poncho with me as well as my camera bag to keep things dry.

Today’s walk would be less than the usual 10 mile minimum, but the next convenient stage would be Maidenhead, but that would be a 15 miler, tempting but the boat race was on and with the prospect of a choppy river due to the wind I wanted to watch it on TV. It was ironic that the race was on and I would be walking a different direction, with a bit of planning it might have been an experience to walk the race section with all the crowds about.

The day would be a mix of sun and rain, which I was soon reminded of when a downpour had me sheltering with some team supporters of people doing the Devises to Westminster canoe race. The sun soon came out and dried my poncho. On the way I saw some parakeets and a kingfisher flying away, then amazingly I saw an eagle owl in a cage in someone’s back garden.

I was caught out again after a bridge crossing at Windsor great park. It really lashed down with hail and everything, the poncho provided little protection and neither was there any around, so I plodded on until Datchet where it stopped and I popped in for a coffee and sandwich at the Costa coffee. It was 14:00 so time was a bit tight for the boat race, I had an hour to get to Windsor, so I did not linger too long at the coffee shop. Despite more rain I would have to walk through it.

It was not far to the station and my parked car. The traffic on the way home was quite busy so rather than M25 I peeled off onto the M40 and went via Beaconsfield. I was back in good time for the boat race but I missed the women’s race which was the one to watch as one of the crews nearly sank.

Eastbridge but not at the Eelsfoot

It has been some time since we have been to Eastbridge near Leiston in Suffolk. Helen got a weekend off and so a plan was set to meet up with H&N and rent a property in the small village on the edge of RSPB Minsmere. All of us had the Friday off too so we agree to meet in Southwold for a late lunch. Helen and I set off at about 09:30, and managed to make good progress so an out away from Colchester we gave my aunt a call and stopped by for some coffee and cake.

It was only another hour to Southwold and we made short shrift of it. To our surprise H&N arrived within 10 minutes of us, traditionally they are late. We had a bite to eat at the Sole Bay Inn, then the girls went shopping and N and I walked down to the harbour where the river hits the coast and gave Wilco the hound a leg stretch on the beach.

The weather was cold and when the sun went down it got even colder, we headed off to the rented hut at about 16:30. It was not that easy to find, but we found it eventually on the edge of the common land on the edge of the marsh. The property afforded a lake side view as the middle of the common land was a massive puddle. The accommodation was plain and looked lived in, I like holiday cottages like that they have a bit a character, the owners had not touched it much but it was clean and well maintained, which was perfect for us.

I made pasta for dinner then we headed down the road, 100 yards, to the Eels Foot. Julian the landlord welcomed us back after a long absence, and we found out that they do now allow dogs in a couple of the rooms, which was good to know for future trips. We had a few pints of the fantastic Adnams ales then retired back to the hut and went to bed.

The next morning we woke up to a bright but misty morning. N made a cooked breakfast for us all then we headed off for a day walking. We did our traditional route straight out to the Minsmere sluice, then along the coast to Lifeguard Cottages on the edge of Dunwich Heath but not before a quick look from the East hide. The was not a lot about just a few Godwit and Dunlin as well as the usual gulls and ducks. At the Coastguard cottages we had a beverage and N had a large slab of lemon flapjack, which we all agreed lemon was not right. We took the path on to Dunwich where we had a beer but none of us were hungry after our big breakfast. We took a different path back walking up the main street of Dunwich to the church then taking the foot path at the junction, then we headed parallel to the sea in a straight line roughly in the direction of Eastbridge which took us through the Heath and woods adjacent to Minsmere.

I thought I would miss the England Wales Six Nations match which was a deciding match, but when we got back at 1700 they were about to kick off. The program had started at 4 but the match 5. England had the better of the Welsh for most of the match but it was a nail biting finish when Wales rallied and were within a try of taking the lead. We went to the Eels Foot for some food and beer which was very tasty. We left when the band started which was fronted by Doc Cox of 80’s tv program That’s Life fame.

We were up fairly early to leave the hut by 10, and headed to the Minsmere visitor centre, where we parked and headed through the woods to Dunwich Heath and Coastguard cottages. After coffee we headed to the beach and Helen and I headed onto the reserve and H&N headed back to the woods via public footpaths with Wilco. All in all it was a great weekend with excellent company even if it was overdue.

Thames Path – Sheperton ferry to Staines-on-Thames

Unusual house on the Thames with unusual ornaments.

The weather was sunny and Helen fancied a quiet day pottering around the house, I um’d and ah’d about a local walk but settled on another section of the Thames. You can get a bus from Staines-on-Thames to Sheperton and it takes 20 minutes. The walk would be less than 10 miles but would get me almost to the M25 which would be a milestone and Staines would be easy to get to for the next leg which would take me to beyond Windsor and Eton.

I arrived in Staines-on-Thames at 10:25 and parked up at a car park opposite the bus station, but the next 458 was due to leave at 10:59, so I had a mediocre coffee at Coffee Corner at the entrance to the shopping centre. The 458 was on time and I was soon back at Sheperton train station, and walked down to the ferry where I had finished the day before.

Polar bear on a balcony at a house on the Thames

Guessing that the path would be muddy I wore my walking boots it was a good choice as the path was muddy at times. At Laleham I took a slight detour in land in search of a coffee shop, but found nothing, I had to settle for an oyster from and ice cream van at Penton lock. I had spotted a few strange fibre glass objects on houses since the start of the walk, some sun having shop mannequins, a Stan Laurel, and finally just before Penton lock a polar bear. Whilst eating my ice cream quite a few two man canoes were portaged round the lock it appeared to be a race as they were mainly jogging and support crews were on hand with energy drink and treats.

It was less than two miles to Staines-on-Thames and was done quite swiftly. I toyed with the idea if walking a bit further but saw a sign that said 10 miles to Eton, which was perfect, I’m sure I saw a bus service to Eaton from Staines. Just as I got back to hr cat it started raining as promised by the BBC weather service.

Thames Path – Teddington to Sheperton Weybridge ferry

It started out a cold day, when I got up at 7:30 it was snowing, however this just mean that the promised frost did not appear so the car windows did not need scraping. The plan was to attempt to walk from Teddignton and to use the ferry at Sheperton. I parked up near the ferry on the Weybridge side, the rules of the ferry are that you should ring a bell changed to the jetty, but only on the quarter hour. I arrived at 5 past 9 so had a 10 minute wait. I rang the bell a few times s but no one came so I rang the number on the sign, a polite man answered and apologised for not hearing the bell, because the chandlers shop door had been closed. The £2 one way fee was swift due to the two outboard motors. He had to dodge a few rowers and canoeists who were holding some sort of slalom event in the weir.

The walk to the station was 20 minutes and I found a handy Costa coffee just before arriving. The ticket to Teddington was £4.40, not bad I suppose compared to previous Thames sections. The journey took 20 minutes, and I was soon back at the footbridge at Teddington where I had started a few weeks back.

I crossed the river again at Kingston. Parakeets were everywhere, and I heard a loud woodpecker a clear sign that spring is imminent. The path splits into two a high road and a low road, I took the high road because it was not muddy. Both followed the Thames around Hampton park in a big curve making it a sort of peninsula.

I took a wrong turning using a gaye into the Hampton park and had to retrace 300m, then I found the right gate and was happy to see that the cafe was available in the non-ticket area. I had egg and cress with crisps and a coffee. They had free water either iced or lemon sliced. I welcomed the rest I was 6 miles out and not quite half way. I visited Hampton court some years ago and can’t remember too much of it, but from the outside it looks grand, I made a mental note (and clearly a typed one too) to take the time to visit again.

I crossed the river river at Hampton not far from the entrance to the court,I would stay on the southern bank AL the way back to the car. At Molesey there was a lot going on, a relay running race and lots of rowing. There were a lot of house boats and water from chalet type residences as well as high end mansions on the Northern bank.

I had a plan to stop at the only possible stop on the path back to the ferry, a pub at Sunbury locks. I reached the locks but there was no pub, there were buildings that could have been pubs but no pub. You can imagine my joy when just after the locks there was the pub, called The Weir, a freehouse to boot, I had a half of Twyford Tipple and a packet of Jalapeño crisps. A chance to test my feet was very welcome and I only had about 20% of the distance left to walk. It was starting to look a bit greyer outside which reminded me that rain was due early afternoon, the time was 14:00.

The final stretch was not to bad and the rain held off. The path was really in the country side now. I got back to the car and thought I would take a look at the chandlers over the other side of the ferry they had a sale on. I had to go back to the bridge and down ferry road to get there. It turns out it was not a chandlers but was full of cheap clothes and nautical related tat. There were a couple of weather stations going cheap at £25. I moved on then stopped at a Snow and Rock shop outside which cars were hunting for parking spaces. I had a look round but even the stuff on sale seemed expensive.

The walks are becoming easier my feet do not ache as much and I think I can easily do a 15 miler if I needed to, but I will keep the stretched to 10-12 miles but push out longer if it seems appropriate.