Stage 21: Bablock Hythe to Tadpole

Dear Bertie,

It's back to Oxfordshire to complete stage 21, with Papa this time! We left home the night before, you wore your jim jams in the car and had a picnic dinner of cheese sandwich and big pear slices. 

                                          Then we tucked you into another big boy bed in our big shared room in the

                                          Trout Inn at Tadpole Bridge.                            

                                          In the morning, we drove to our starting point, Bablock Hythe - 

And headed on to the path in the drizzle. 

                                           We watched a big white dog chasing a stick into the river - 

We passed under some enormous pylons with electricity buzzing and you told 

 me how you would like to build a pylon when we get home and we talked about what you would need for that 

Our first lock was Lockmoor with pretty tall flowers but no boats going through for your strong arms unfortunately. 

We passed a big field of cows and you were so brave and said 'morning vache' as we tip-toed around their giant poos, but Papa managed to get some poo all the way up his leg and was rather grumpy about it. 

On a narrow path we met a big brown Mummy horse and her baby and you bravely stroked them. 

We had a lovely snack stop at Newbridge on a small pontoon on the river.  You met a giant St Bernard dog, found some funny pedaloes and had a wee, then we headed back on the walk. 

We passed some very tall silver trees with bird boxes on them. 

And we crossed a big, rickety, old wooden bridge - 

We passed the enormous Chimney Meadow Nature Reserve; an ancient landscape and vital refuge for wading birds, and popped to the bird hide overlooking the wetlands. 

Then walked through a beautiful tunnel of pink flowers which smelt very sweet, 

before arriving back at The Trout Inn at Tadpole Bridge for macaroni cheese on the lawn  

and your favourite strawberry ice cream. 

While waiting for Papa to collect the car you ran around the garden with a giant stick. 

And you sat by the river watching a big family and their brave yellow dog swim  

and we talked about going river swimming together 'when my bigger'  

Then you played in the summer house 'train station' before we hopped in the car and drove home. What a great day and long walk again.  Well done Bertie!

TOTAL DISTANCE: 15 KM

GPS route: https://www.strava.com/activities/6016399603

Feeding stop:
Picnic on the river then pub at the end.

Travel:

We drove. In the morning we all drove to Bablock Hythe and parked at the Ferryman Inn, walked back to The Trout. Nico then got a taxi back to Bablock Hythe to collect the car and then us!

Travel from London possible via train - Paddington to Oxford, or CLJ - Reading-Oxford, then using the S1 bus from along the route back to Oxford stn

Accomodation: The Trout Inn, Tadpole had lovely, smart and comfy bedrooms, spacious too for toddler and baby cots, and amazing food too.

You can also stay at the start at The Ferryman, Bablock Hythe.