Nuffield to Streatley - 20th July 2003 - 11.5 miles

A changeable day - quite windy, warm then cloudy, it might rain, no it won't, it spots several times but gives up. Lost the trail in the first 60 seconds, thought we were in someone's front garden, but no, then across the middle of a golf course at Nuffield, watching for stray balls. Gloriously soft grass, ideal for walking but we have to leave at the 18th hole. Onto Grims path next to his famous ditch which the local badgers and rabbits seem intent on undermining. Leaving woodland, we cross field after field of cereals, high on the path that Mr Grim made. Lonesome Farm, having decided it won't rain, press on with the baling. Free range pigs lounge in the dust, soaking up the midday sun. A group of teasels, sadly goldfinch free, sway in the wind.. After three long, straight miles we turn south to walk parallel to the Thames down towards Goring. Quickly through North Stoke, the Stoke that's pub free (although it does have a nice village hall) heading for South Stoke, which isn't. Lesley dawdled frequently to photograph the varied vegetation by the Thames and came close to falling in, judging by this shot. Mr Brunel, blessed with bricks and mortar where Mr Grim only had soil, created the wonderful Moulsford Railway bridge (look on it and weep, badgers and rabbits) now used by Mr Branson to propel his new trains across the Thames. Further downstream at Moulsford Prep School half the Canada geese in England settle down for an afternoon's lawn mowing followed by fertilising. Thirsty and then some we pull into the Pike and Perch for a swift half. Michael couldn't resist a bowl of freshly fried, gloriously greasy chips. With the help of such fare empires are made and long walks are completed. Lunch, for the others, mostly lettuce and poppy seeds, is snatched briefly on a footpath through a clover meadow ten minutes later. Over the bridge at Goring, past the church and into Streatley, we force tired legs to take the long road out of the village to the finish point. No walk last weekend and don't we know it.