Following from last week’s blog where I took the name of a well known popular song, I thought I’d carry along with the theme again today.
I was surprised how clear and sunny it was and not something that I was expecting so the headline for this blog is apt. A few of us who decided to arrive by train met up either at Reading or Twyford stations. For most of us Reading based, Wargrave is slightly awkward place to get to as although only two stops on the train, it does require a change at Twyford. Anyway, it was nice that a number of us took this option which also helps us to reduce our carbon footprint as well as provide an opportunity to catch up with one and other. Short train journey completed, we jumped out and met up with the others who had congregated at Wargrave station via other transportation methods.
We made the mile or so walk on hard surfaces through the centre of Wargrave and up a small incline to the east of the village. In passing my eagle eyes noticed an old Austin Allegro Police Car that probably dated back to the 1970’s parked up. Very odd and certainly not something I’d ever seen on a walk before.
It wasn’t long after we passed the outside of Wargrave Manor, a late 18th century country house now listed as a grade II listed property, that we greeted with lovely open fields. The Autumn colours were still out for us to enjoy as we tried to navigate our way through some rather muddy footpaths.
Today was slightly unusual for me in that I knew the route that we would be taking as I had helped assist today’s walk leader, Clare, with the reccy. Mind you, on one or two occasions I pointed out that I thought we had taken a wrong turning when infact we hadn’t! I should have paid more attention on the reccy.
Ninety minutes or so into the walk we took lunch overlooking the views towards Henley. Many of us at this point were walking in t-shirts although the rest meant we soon took to our fleeces and jackets again. The footpaths are generally well marked in this area and we were kept on well defined routes separated by fences by the horses that surrounded us. As you can see from the picture I took, a few horses decided to line one behind each other.
It wasn’t that long from our lunch stop that we arrived at the pub for liquid refreshment. I think Clare was trying to catch me out by going a slightly different route in reaching the pub from what we did on our reccy! However, it made sense as it meant we avoided a small road section. We arrived at the pub in good spirits, all nineteen of us. As per most of our walks, we kept out of peoples way and sat and chatted outside on rather damp chairs. It was a nice pint though. It was at this point that Tim decided to make a sudden unexpected announcement about a weekend away to Shropshire that he is planning. I for one am looking forward to it. Weekends away are part of the fabric of our group and long may they continue.
The return journey took us through much woodland – as did our outward journey- and again we were greeted with a lot of mud. I was on back mark duty today but from where I could see everyone seemed to avoid slipping and so we had no casualties. We arrived back in Wargrave too late for the 3.15pm train so while the others made there way back to their cars, a few of us took advantage of a second visit to a nearby hostelry.
Thanks to Clare who was leading her first walk with the group today. It was another day well spent in good company as always.