Day 6 - 27th August 2014 - Radcot to Chimney Meadow NNR

After a break of almost 9 months I’m back hiking The Thames Path. Not hiking in the winter was a consequence of the severe flooding of the Thames - and many other areas in England. But once spring was here and the river banks had dried out I was distracted by other things. After my first day back it feels almost as if there hasn’t been a break. The stretch I’m on at present isn’t exactly the most inspirational - photographically, or anything else for that matter. It’s mile after mile of wide open fields through which The Thames meanders and whose river banks are overrun by Himalayan Balsam. Add to that the overcast weather made a less than inspiring return. However, I did enjoy the 10 mile hike but struggled to find anything that really grabbed my imagination. Hoping not to draw a blank, I did manage two or three photographs that just about make it.

Thrashing Willows

Rushey Weir

Sycamore Seeds

Still Rained off ...

I crossed the upper Thames in a number of places by car this morning to see whether there's any prospect of my resuming my hike. No chance ... Whilst the river is now flowing in the main within its banks (but only just) there remains extensive flooding of the riverside meadows making the path, at least in places, impossible to hike. With more rain forecast and little prospect of abatement any time soon this looks like a project on hold for weeks (months?) yet. One day ...

I went within half a mile of the source of the Thames today for the first time since I started in September. Then it was dry, as I believe it usually is. But now it's flowing vigorously right from the source across what is usually a gently sloping grassy meadow.

Rained Off ...

The heavy rain of the last few days, and tonight's to come, has scuppered my plans for hiking over the next week at least. The path is inundated making hiking impossible.  It will be some time whilst the flood plain fulfils its role and the waters abate before the hiking the path path becomes a realistic proposition. No doubt there are some amazing images waiting for me but hiking out to them is out of the question. And the mud will be something to contend with long after the waters abate, so, until then ...

Day 5 - 6th December 2013 - Lechlade to Radcot

Starting out from Lechlade at 7am, well before the non existent sunrise, provided the chance of some very low light exposures including an attempt at handheld slow shutter-speed flying geese. The first locks are on this stretch as is the unusual sight of a series of concrete pill boxes erected during WWII as a line of defence along the Thames - in case of a successful German invasion from the south. As I arrived back at my car after about 14 miles hiking the sun shone on me for the first and only time that day - for about 30 seconds.

Nothing Happening at the Pub - 7:15am

Eight Canada Geese

42-Step Bridge

Buscot Poplars

Weir Edge

Coiled

Last Line of Defence

Poplar Zebra

Day 4 - 23rd November 2013 - Castle Eaton to Lechlade

This stretch of The Path is the only one on its whole length that touches the Thames only briefly. Elsewhere there are other short absences but about 5 of this 6 mile stretch are up to half a mile away. And one of the miles is along the verge of a busy main road. I expected all of this would diminish the pleasure of the walk - not so. I found interesting things to photograph, particularly the crab apples in the ditch and the 13th century church at Inglesham. Half a mile east of Lechlade is the Inglesham Roundhouse at the start of the long defunct Thames and Severn canal. From this point onwards the Thames is navigable and after 23 boat free miles from the source it comes as a surprise to see boats galore.

Crab Apple Ditch

Kelvin Wake

Inglesham Church - Box Pews

Inglesham Church - Font and Box Pews

Inglesham Church

Day 3 - 16th November 2013 - North Meadow NNR to Castle Eaton

A very dull grey day with a frosty start made it a challenge to find photographs of merit. The only sight of the sun was a very brief one soon after sunrise as the mist lifted and just before the thick grey cloud arrived. The Thames is now flowing vigorously through the relatively featureless landscape. I suspect more of the same on the next stretch as far as Lechlade.

Misty Pond 

Frosted Stinging Nettle

A Glimpse of the Sun 

Three Teazels 

Weeping Willow 

St Sampson's - Cricklade

Day 2 - 30th October 2013 - Photographs

It seems that I'm taking far more photographs of and about water than I expected. Infinite image possibilities. And the dead fox is a little different from my usual subject matter.

Red Leaf

Superficial

Debris Catcher

Watery Grave

Conker Leaf