Stage 17: Shillingford to Culham

Dear Bertie,

Today we had our second stage with Grandpa! As usual, he picked us up from the station and we went for your lunch in the Shillingford hotel. All the staff thought you were very cute. Grandpa fed you chicken risotto and you made a royal mess on their bar carpet.

We rejoined the path at Shillingford Bridge, a beautiful old stone bridge with boathouses lining the river



Unfortunately the heavens opened as we crossed a barley field and it got very wet.  I covered you with the hood and then we hid under a tree waiting for the rain to pass.  Unfortunately it didn't so we ploughed on through the fields alongside the river.



We crossed the Days Lock - The World Poohsticks Championships were held each year on the Little Wittenham and Dorchester footbridges next to Day's Lock for 35 years until 2015. The game is described in A.A. Milne's book, The House at Pooh Corner.  I'll read this book to you one day!
















After meeting Grandpa on the path near Culham, the rain got much heavier so we had to rush through a field of angry cows 

And take shelter in a pub where we had average burgers, you drank your milk and played with Grandpa.

Before catching the commuter train back into London before your dinner!

TOTAL DISTANCE: 10 KM

Feeding stops: 2

Nappy changes: 4

Crying episodes: 0 yah!

Feeding stop:

Shillingford Hotel: Very old school, open for drinks/ your early lunch. Baby change and comfy sofas in the bar area.

The Barley Mow, Clifton Hampden nr Culham: high chair, baby change, no comfy sofas, food average.

Travel:
Outbound, 3 changes: Clapham Junction - Reading - lift from Grandpa! You can take a bus from Didcot to near Shillingford though.
Inbound, 3 changes : Culham - Didcot - Reading - Clapham Junction

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29505599