Seeing Countryside by Wheels Not Feet

By

Day 17. Saturday, August 2.

5.57 Miles. 13,421 Steps. Sleep Score 94.

Bull Inn, Sonning to Chequers Hotel, Marlow.

Sonning is a real ‘bedroom’ community.

The Bull is Hosting this murder mystery event in their off season. Maybe ‘George’ will participate?

Did find a fancier hotel down on the edge of the river. The man at the bus stop was very critical and said none of the locals go there, only The Bull.

Thames at Sonning

Arrived at bus stop to learn on Saturdays (today) the bus would not arrive for another 1.25 hours. Settled in to wait as I was Not going to do any extra walking.

Shortly a local man came up and started chatting. I thought he was out for a walk. Turned out he was waiting for the bus which arrived in about 5 minutes. The schedule was wrong. I got on.

Learned that George Clooney’s house and the theater were just across the Thames River. I only went to the middle of the bridge. Oh well.

I am beginning to feel like a victim of Polio hobbling about with both knees in braces and depending heavily on the trekking poles.

Also feel like my grandma who live with us for 6 months every year. Aside from going out to church each week she would ride with in the car while my parents did the grocery shopping on Friday nights. Grandma never went into the stores just sat in the car and people watched.

I have begun practicing sitting still and mentally trying to rethink this entire un-adventure. At least people watching here is more interesting than Beloit grocery stores on a winter Friday night.

Elizabeth I came here often as it was on the direct route as royalty parties set out from London to tour their Lands.

People watched for almost 4 hours. Quite the ethnic diversity here!

4 month old Shiba Inu

Low beam but fortunately it was covered with padding.

Spent time in the Reading Museum. It is on the site of a former Abbey that existed for 500 years until the ‘greedy for wives’ Henry VIII destroyed all that sort of stuff.

Reading Museum


Reading Town Hall.

Located new bus line to travel to Marlow where tonight’s pillow is. That trip took over an hour and only cost 3 pounds.

Truly seeing the countryside which mile by mile is becoming more urban.

Marlow is very touristy - quite the change from last night…lots of shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, hair and nail places, private art galleries, PEOPLE!

My room has crooked walls and floors and low ceilings. Been warned there will be live/loud music from 9 onwards. Last night it was noisy at The Bull but ended before midnight.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Mistake - of Many?

By
Yesterday as I was making calendars showing each nights location to leave at home for Gary I suddenly realized I was off a day. A day as in arriving a day too early. Couldn’t figure out how that happened, but things just happen, and with a bit of time the problem was resolved. As the train ticket was already purchased as far as Morton-in-Marsh, I realized I could just look in that location for a hotel for the extra night. Turned out there was one at a little tiny village about halfway between there and the next destination. The plan is if I feel like it, I will walk to the hotel about 4/5 miles from the train. The next morning I will then proceed to walk the 3/4 miles to Chipping Campden. If nothing else, it will give me an extra long block of time to get over the jet lag and give the legs a trial walk in preparation for the real walking. On another note, I realized the pack cover used for the backpack during the plane ride which doesn’t need to be used during the three weeks of w...
Read more

Long Travel Day

By
Image
Day minus 00 Before the Main Event Tuesday, July 15 Chicago to Blockley, Morton-In-Marsh 24 Hours straight traveling. Knee voiced its own opinion of being inactive. British Airways flight delayed a number of times. Flight was completely full with many families, many tiny babies, many tiny humans crying and mothers saying “shush”. Watched ‘Wicked’ between trying to nap. Arrive at Heathrow. Immigration and Customs went quickly. Collected bag and began to disassemble the packed towels and shift stuff around to be carried. It appeared that one section of a trekking pole was absent, and I worried the pack had opened and it was lost in transit. Annoyed! Caught the Heathrow Express train directly to London Paddington only to be told it was incorrect, I needed to be on the Elizabeth Line so was sent back to Heathrow. 50 minutes wasted. Located correct platform to wait at. There an elderly well dressed gentleman with 2 pieces of luggage was also waiting for the train to Reading, along with me w...
Read more

Rest Day in Painswick

By
Image
Day 3 Hiking. Saturday, July 19. Steps 11,682 Tibbiwell Lodge, Painswick. “It’s your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.” Rumi I want to walk this road!! Decision was made yesterday that even though it is early on, I must rest in hopes of completing as much as possible of the journey. No trail hiking physically and mentally as I am finding all aspects more challenging than expected. Also due to all the various physical issues of the past few months I had not done the preparation/training that typically should have happened. Never got the mileage above 6 miles in the past 8 months, or carried the backpack more than a few times with only about 10 pounds. Now to do 12-16 mile days with serious Hills is difficult and what seems to me, a heavy pack. And, sadly have to admit I am not a Spring Chicken anymore. Still this will be attempted, as much as possible. Along with the naughty knee, and now loss of brace, hurt the left foot on the first day...
Read more