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Autumn Walk, October 2010, Streatly & Ridgeway,
07/10/2010 - 10/10/2010
Thursday 7th October 2010,
We all travelled down after work, meeting in the Black Bull after checking in at the YHA. Paul arrived by train, John was working in west London so drove himself to Streatley, (which was to prove fortunate later). Pete drove down on his own and Dick brought Ian and Richard. All had uneventful journeys though there was some concern over the weather as it rained on the way down. Dick’s car saw a barn owl on the way down.
Friday 8th October - Streatly to Wallingford
After an YHA breakfast, (which was very good) Steve joined us. The weather was damp and misty to start with but as the day went on cleared to bright sunshine, warm and pleasant, a good autumn day.
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Route taken:- from Streatley we took the Thames Path upstream to Wallingford, staying by the river all the way apart from Moulsford where we had to walk along the road for about a mile. A pleasant walk all the way, arriving at Wallingford at 11:45. We found somewhere by the river for refreshment and sustenance but had to wait for it to open at 12:00 so we did a quick tour of the town before we returned to The Boat House for lunch.
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After lunch we returned to Streatley along the Ridgeway Path. All walked apart from Pete who took his cycle. Pete had mechanical problems with his cycle but found a very good cycle repair shop in Wallingford at very reasonable rates, so was able to follow our route to the most part.
Several Red Kites were seen along with a variety of ducks, (one of which was an Egyptian Goose as John was informed by a bargee!), various types of Fungi and a shrew during the mornings walk. Not so much was seen on the way back as not so much time was spent along the river. It was hoped for a tea break on the way back at the Leathern Bottle in South Stoke but were told it was a restaurant only so we carried on to the cars at Streatley YHA. We then moved on to The Court Hill Centre for our next two night’s accommodation.
It was decided to go into Wantage for evening refreshment and sustenance so a taxi was ordered. The driver recommended The Lambs for food which was good but noisy. We then moved onto the Bear where Ian nearly ended up in the pit before moving on to The Royal Oak. This was a very good real ale and cider house. We returned to our accommodation via taxi and a welcome rest.
Saturday 9th October - Ridgeway-Uffington-Court Hill Centre.
We woke up to a very misty start, damp and windy. Although there was wind the mist never fully cleared, remaining damp all day but no rain.
John Stopani joined us for breakfast (the “full English” was not a patch on the previous days), cereals, fruit juice, and toast were limited. We also had to ask for tea and coffee!
Route taken:- We joined the Ridgeway at Manor Road (A338), staying on the Ridgeway to almost White Horse Hill, then down to Uffington via Britchcombe Farm stopping at The Fox and Hounds for lunch. After lunch we went via Kingston Lisle, Westcot, Sparshot, Childrey then across West Challow Field, then past Antwicks Stud to Letcombe Regis stopping at The Greyhound for afternoon “Tea”. After “Tea” back up to the hill to our accommodation. Although there was some road work we endeavoured to keep on footpaths as much as possible.
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John Wooton did not join us on the walk as he had back problems. Hoping to meet us later for lunch, he stayed in the room for a while before calling it a day and returning home.
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Pete again cycled, this time with us along the Ridgeway before returning and getting his car to meet us for lunch.
Whilst resting and refuelling we were discussing our aches and pains. Steve announced he had hard skin on his “Balls”. Dick was struggling with blisters on the ball of his foot. After hearing Dick saying it was the ball of his foot Steve said he meant the balls of his feet also. After dressing his foot Dick put his pack in Pete’s car and walked on to Letcombe Regis where once again meeting Pete took advantage of a lift up the hill as his foot was getting worse.
After a wash and brush up it was again back down to Wantage and the Lamb to start with, although it was busier it was not so loud. Then on to the Shoulder of Mutton and The Royal Oak. Ian had an uneventful evening this time but he had an ongoing problem all weekend. He had been dribbling whenever he let go of his tube. He promised to address this before the next walk by getting a new platypus to replace his leaking valve.
Sunday 10th October
Some of us woke in the early hours to the sound of fireworks presumably for 10-10-10 though not much could be seen through the mist.
Again another misty start though it did just manage to clear for lunch, when it at last became clear and sunny just in time to go home!
After another “Great English“breakfast, where again we had to ask for most things (a shame really as it was an ideal place to stay, the attached tea room seemed fine perhaps they were just not morning people), we then shuffled cars before the mornings walk.
Route taken:- Along the Ridgeway this time towards Streatley until East Ginge Down then through West Ginge to Goldbury Hill, West Hindred ending up at Ardington and the Black Boar.
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Pete went straight home after breakfast, Dick and Richard went to see the White Horse before meeting the others. All the rest walked. The walk had been good but some path’s were indistinct, Ian tried to make his own but ended up getting a wet foot. After all meeting at the Black Boar, it was decided to move on as the pub was very nice but dearer than we wanted for a light snack before going home. We moved on to the Hare at West Hendred, a good choice, both beer and food were very good and we got to sit in the garden in the sun. After lunch we all had uneventful journeys home. All in all another good time.
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