Cotswold Way and Thames River Path 2025

The River Thames is the longest river that flows entirely within   England, and the second longest in the UK (after the River Severn).   "The source is in Gloucestershire, which is in south-west England. It flows in an easterly direction through Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and into London. The Thames is tidal a few miles upstream from London. Past London it becomes an estuary, and from there into the North Sea.   Quite where the river ends and the estuary begins is a matter of debate. The Thames Path chooses to terminate at Woolwich, a mile past the  Thames Barrier .   At Woolwich the Thames Path meets the  England Coast Path  which crosses the Thames here. The England Coast Path is very much a work in progress. However, it is possible to walk from Woolwich to the Isle of Grain in the Thames estuary. The journey down the Thames Path combined with this section of the England Coast Path is referred to as Source to Sea."...

The Cotswolds are designated ‘An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ - but with a bloody history of Civil War. The English Civil Wars 1642-1645 and 1648-1649. King Charles I - and the Royalists Wars lead to the trial and execution of Charles I, and replaced the English Monarchy with the Commonwealth of England, and later the Protectorate under the personal rule of Oliver Cromwell (Wolf Hall and Mirror and the Light - PBS). The Cotswolds were of great strategic importance in the Civil War.   The King had his headquarters at Oxford and the Parliamentarians had their garrison at Gloucester and Bristol w ith Sympathizers at Malmesburg and Cirenrester. The first battle of the Civil War was at the northern edge of the Cotswolds. King Charles I took refuge at a 17th century coaching inn in Moreton-in-Marsh (where I will get off the train from London and get a bus up to Chipping Campden).

The Shoulder.   May 3.   As if there have not been enough issues/complications leading up to this - during the night there was a mis-fortune/mis-adventure/mis-step that resulted in falling down 10 steps.   End result:   Fractured Clavicle, Fractured Eye Socket, Slices in facial skin that needed two sets of stitches plus Super Glue (kind of look like Zorro) Bruised Ribs.   Along with general body aches/pains.  Back to wearing a sling. So much for setting off on an adventure in the Scottish Highlands with a wounded body … life occasionally tosses us thorns rather than the roses.

Neck - Hip - Knees - Feet - What Else? All the ways a body can speak about what its owner is expecting of its parts, without complaints. The Neck -  Historically the neck has complained from various accidents it has been forced to endure, along with general years of use.   Was all set to get the neck ablutions done a year ago (’24), with the required 2 ‘tests’ before the real thing…but a few days before the first ‘test’ this body slipped on the icy sidewalk next door (students away for the break after Christmas so no shoveling of fresh snow covering an icy walk) and the body slammed to  the ground and the left wrist was fractured in multiple places.   Surgery.     No long walk in '24 for this and other reasons.  Fast forward to 2025, and the neck was thoroughly zapped the 2 ‘tests’ and then the real ablation.   Time for neck to stop complaining, and it has. The Hips.   Varies between left and right.   At times the pain is so st...

This walk was not the ‘adventure/dream’ that had been envisioned for about 3 years.   But as that old phrase goes we ‘need to be flexible and have a sense of humor’ about what life and basic living tosses at us.   I am grateful to be alive! and still able to take on what new things are open to me, make adjustments, and smile at the opportunity to be able to still have choices. The body might have been dealt a blow, but the mind still functions, and is anticipating an altered version of the near future. Great Britain is still on the cards!

 This summer instead of returning to hike the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way round trip as in 2019 - events occurred unexpectedly which altered that much anticipated experience of the Scottish Highlands.  More on that topic at another time.   Sadly also, NO HAIRY COOS  Instead there was a flurry of cancelations, quick research.  Working with Contours Walking Holidays was able to book a new and very different walk for this summer. I shall be attempting to hike in southern England the Cotswold Way and connect to the Thames River Path.  This walk will be slightly shorter than the Scotland route. The Cotswold Way is 102 miles of hiking the rolling hills on the edge of the escarpment of the Cotswold Hills.  The trek begins in Chipping Campden and ends in Bath.   There will be views to the north and west of the Severn Estuary and across to the Black Mountains of Wales where I walked Offa's Dyke Path in 2015. The Thames River Path kno...