Round About Route

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Day 14 Hiking. Wednesday, July 30.

9.66 Miles. 21,247 Steps. 5 Hours.

Brewery Tap. Abingdon to George Hotel, Wallingford.

Started day by not going far enough to reach Bridge Street to cross Thames. Turned too soon. Asked 2 kayakers taking a break and eating pastries, who looked up on their phones where I should be. Pointed up River where the bridge was.

New Boots. Not sure how today the first day of trying them out will go. At least the left foot has stopped complaining. Reminds of having a foot strapped into those black boots after breaking a bone. It suddenly felt snuggled up and secure.

Added extra socks (toe) and wadded up tissue paper between sock layers to pad out the ankle area where pressure was felt.

Camping UK style

Cullum Lock. Ate best apple in a long time.

Knees. Braces. Double elastic on left. One on right. Might tape right knee tomorrow.

WWII bunker, there were 2 out in the field close to the Thames.

Lock Keeper and his assistant having a good laugh.

Lunch at the Clifton Lock

Boat entering the lock.

Apple from breakfast eaten at Cullum Lock, probably the most tasty in years.

Yesterday’s lunch at McDonalds in Oxford. A relief to sit down indoors out of elements, take pack off, free and clean restrooms/toilets, even eat American food. Even if it was super crowded so it was necessary to share a table with 3 others. Two of those knew each other, and the other a stranger to all of us.

Freight trains explain why the Thames has lost its use for transporting goods across the country. Bunker below tree.

Laundry done the way Mark Koepke taught us for the university semester abroad program. Shower Stomp. Toss the days clothes in the shower/tub as you are finishing. Wash, rinse, squeeze, hang to dry overnight. Learned the towel roll trick on the West Highland Way from people met on trail. It works great. It also works great to keep up daily with washing that days items. Why do we wait so long at home?

Lay out wet clothes on already used wet towel.

Roll up clothes in towel.

Let rest a few minutes.

Hang up to dry, this place actually had a line to stretch over tub rather than draping all over the room.

Thank you Gary for photographing maps as I was able to figure out where a bus transport might be possible.

Walked 5 hours to accomplish 7 miles. Right knee is raising its voice. Caught a bus back to Abingdon which took 10 minutes. Three different people looked up and pointed where to get new bus to Wallingford. Wait 23 minutes. That ride was 48 minutes of relaxing in a seat with the boot laces untied. Each of those bus rides cost 3 pounds.

Thankful English buses accept cash and give change - unlike Scottish transport where exact amounts are needed. Here most pay with their phones.

I am finding getting out from under the heavy green cover and looking at only fields and occasionally the Thames, the bus gives access to a more interesting view of the local villages and people. People who depend on public transportation to travel maybe only a couple villages away - a life line.

Passed a farmyard packed with mules.

Downtown Wallingford

George Hotel where tonight’s pillow is.

Wallingford. Knees caused looking around impossible.

This town was the location of over 20 filming locations for Midsomer Murders. The town market place was used a lot for the fictional village of Causton. Also the Corn Exchange was often used.

Corn Exchange

Agatha Christie lived with her husband just outside Wallingford.

Waiting for parents.


Dog left waiting just inside entrance to Waitrose the grocery store.

William of Orange Was Here!

I walked the red line, the rest is the bus route.

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