Monday, 28 January 2019

Stage 14: Reading to Pangbourne

Stage 14: Reading to Pangbourne

Dear Bertie,

You are now 5 months and you are a very happy boy! I have sadly lost my photos from this walk so here is a super cute photo of you at home the day before this stage in January 2018...



Today we headed back to Reading, (a fancy modern station), on a lovely quick direct train from our home - Clapham Junction. You had a yummy puree on the train alongside the commuters. At the station, Mummy grabbed a quick snack then we headed out across the busy road past an industrial estate to join the river path. Soon after you dropped off to sleep for your lunchtime nap and we took on Stage 14 of our river mission.












We passed lots of big buildings and hotels and Mummy remembered when she came here as a teenager to go to Reading Festival where she worked as a steward directing people to toilets, got foot rot and came home early. I wonder if you will like festivals when you are bigger? 
















This part of the walk wasn't very pretty, and we walked through some woods underneath Tilehurst station.

Near the end of the walk at Purley on Thames, we left the river path and walked through some residential streets likeHazel Road, with houses and driveways. I hoped we would have a family house of our own one day with a garden for you to play in.

After crossing the railway we were about to take, we joined the river again opposite Mapledurham House, a 12th century family house. The Mill at Mapledurham is the only one still working on the River Thames.


A bit further along the river we approached Pangbourne and the lovely Whitchurch Bridge with clean, white, wrought-iron railings. It is a toll bridge and the original charges ranged from a halfpenny (1480 of a pound) per pedestrian, sheep, lamb, boar or pig. We didn't have to pay anything today!


Then we arrived at our end station for the day - Pangbourne - and Mummy spotted a nice pub for the start on the river - The Swan - of our next stage.

Well done Bertie, we are doing so well!

TOTAL DISTANCE: 11.75km
Feeding stops: 2
Nappy changes: 4
Crying episodes: 0 yah!

Travel:

Outbound, direct NO changes: Clapham Junction - Reading 

Inbound, 2 changes : Pangbourne - Reading - Clapham Junction

GPS link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29106893

Strava link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2109040885


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