Day 16 - 25th January 2015 - Tilehurst to Sonning

Photographically speaking, some days are easier than others. Today was hard. I just couldn't find much to inspire me! Perhaps it was the fact that I'd returned to Reading for the first time since I worked there about 14 years ago! However, I did take lots of photographs of the water, and that's been the saving grace for this stretch of The Thames Path. At the time of taking I wasn't to sure they'd amount to much but, after Lightrooming and Photoshopping, a few pass muster. And I resorted to someone else's work - a piece of glowing graffiti.

Click on any image to see full size views of the day's set of images.

Surface Trees

Caversham Weir

Mallard

Weir Footbridge

Glowing Graffiti

Day 15 - 19th January 2015 - Goring to Tilehurst

My first hike of 2015. I'd anticipated a very heavy frost to start followed by a blue sky day with clouds building from early afternoon. So much for the forecast - a cold day but no frost and no clouds. But another great hiking day and a few good photographs. The only negative thing about the hike was the path in parts was exceptionally muddy so care was needed not to slip over in the sticky mess. The Thames was very high after several days of rain and was roaring over the weirs at Goring and Mapledurham. I reached Tilehurst today - the half way point - 92 miles down and 92 miles to go. Or more correctly for me and my two-way hiking - 184 and 184.

Click on any image to see full size views of the day's set of images.

Riverbank Trees

Mapledurham Weir

Church at Whitchurch Bridge

Private Garden

Kelvin Wake

WWII Pillbox

Day 14 - 30th December 2014 - Wallingford to Goring

Today’s hike was superb in every way - I hiked from just before sunrise to just after sunset - and the -7˚C temperature prior to sunrise was a perfect start. The heavy frost was a gift for photography and the crisp clear air was invigorating, to say the least. And a beneficial byproduct of the heavy frost was that the mud on the path was frozen for most of the day. The sky was clear early and late with cloud throughout the middle of the day. Although I saw a few images in black and white, most of today’s needed colour. I have selected about 10 for this entry though the day was altogether even more productive. They are presented chronologically. At the end of today’s hike I’ve completed 84 of the 184 miles of the Thames Path - just 100 more to the end … or 200 as I’m hiking in both directions. I’m now aiming to complete the project by 31st December 2015; maybe 16 more days.

Click on any image to see full size views of each image in the day's set of images.

Before Sunrise from Wallingford Bridge

Sunrise

Frosted Grass

Brickwork - Isambard Kingdom Brunel Railway Bridge

Icicle - Isambard Kingdom Brunel Railway Bridge

Goring Weir

Bubblebergs

Manor House Chimneys - Moulsford Church

Three Poplars and Moon

Cirrus Moon

Day 13 - 15th December 2014 - Near Dorchester to Wallingford

The excellent and varied sky throughout today's hike was a welcome change from the last couple of days hiking on The Thames Path. I haven't encountered anyone for my last several outings who is 'doing' the path. Indeed I only saw about 4 or 5 people throughout my six hours. On reviewing my photo-files once back at home I realised the sky was in most of my photographs - nor surprising after the grey days of my previous few hikes.

Click on any image to see full size views of each image in the day's set of images.

Spread Con Trail

Almost Sunset

Day's Lock

The Thame meets The Thames

Sunset at Benson Lock

Day 12 - 29th November 2014 - Culham to Near Dorchester

Another very dull day - not even a momentary shaft of sunlight. Whilst that doesn't help raise the spirits whilst hiking, it certainly helps all situations where flat lighting is positively beneficial for photography. This selection of photographs is less monochrome and more colour.

Click on any image to see full size views of each image in the day's set of images.

Hawthorn

Weir at Clifton Lock

Clifton Hampden Bridge - I

Clifton Hampden Bridge - II

Low Railway Bridge - Appleford

Day 11 - 4th November 2014 - Near Abingdon to Culham

Today's hike started in the chilly autumn morning river mist. It cleared by late morning leaving me to anticipate the (forecast) bright afternoon. Rain arrived less than an hour after the mist cleared defying the confident sunny forecast! So a diversion in to the George & Dragon in Sutton Courtney for lunch was timely. I came across several interesting image making possibilities and was pleased to find when I got the files onto my computer at home that I could make something of a few of them. One or two were where the scene itself did all of the work leaving me with not much to do after having pressed the shutter. A few others required the application of my own creative interpretation - these are always far more more personally satisfying. I took several pictures in the mist but none of them survived critical assessment in Lightroom.

White Hole

Victim of the Storm

Abingdon Weir - I

Cottages - Abingdon

Abingdon Weir - II

Day 10 - 27th October 2014 - Oxford to Near Abingdon

It surprised me how little of this fine university city is visible from the river. Other then the line of boat sheds for the university rowing teams there's little else to hint that it's Oxford. Perhaps the proliferation of high speed (dangerous) cyclists on part of the path were also a giveaway? It's been a few weeks since I hiked in to Oxford, an excellent trip to Namibia intervened - photographs linked here. Whilst I found a few things to try photographing on this stretch I seem to have only a couple that make it.

Railway Bridge Reflections

White Bridge