After only 3km of walking it started to rain. I was already wearing my fleece for the first time, so this was bad. There were lots of sheep today and bedraggled lambs. At least two sorts - black face or not - I'm no expert! Plenty of cows too. The first bunch I had to get past were dark brown and busy eating but one of them had horns so I was cautious. He ignored me and so did the rest of them, phew.
Walking along, especially when it's on uneven ground, you can find yourself staring intently at the floor and forgetting to look up. Up is where the birds are and while I've commented on low-lying birds I think I've also seen kestrels and kites up above, hovering and swooping. Along with swifts or swallows, I never remember the difference. One female mallard seemed to be heading straight for me until she did an undignified late change of direction. They really are much more graceful on the water.
There was almost a repeat of the over-friendly cow problem except that this time I was on my own. Walking through a field, there were about 20 youngish cows, brown/black colour. I put my head down and walked on, sticking to the path. First of all some of them moved out of the way, but then they seemed to re-group in a chorus line, watching me while continuing to chew the cud. Undaunted, I carried on and was quietly glad to reach the gate. I turned to close it and they were all there on the other side. They'd followed me! It would have made a funny picture :-)
The river made a point of living the word 'meander' today. If it could go round a bend, it did. Scenic but a bit tiresome when you'd rather walk a straight line while you're being rained on. There were a lot of long boats and river cruisers parked up. I wondered how many were being lived on rather than saved for high (and dry) days and holidays. It was a quiet day as you might imagine - not too many people out walking so no chatting at all although I did wave at some lock-keepers in their little offices. The scenery was greener than usual, probably because all the daisies and buttercups were closed up waiting for the sun to show.
Approaching Oxford, there were more geese along the river, as well as the swans and mallards. The geese seem to group together with several adults and seeming dozens of goslings between them. Perhaps they're sharing the childcare. On the footpath I spotted something. On closer inspection it was a duckling, mallard I think. It wasn't well. I suppose it had been left behind somehow. Sniff.
Dripping, and following some very helpful directions from a lady cyclist, I found my way to the Crisis Skylight Cafe in George Street, Oxford. I think the last time I'd been there, the place was still a building site. I persuaded the lady at the counter that I was indeed a staff and could have a discount coffee to go with my lunch. With little breakfast to speak of, I went for veg chilli nachos and a piece of cake, all of which was fantastic. It's a lovely cafe. And if anyone is reading this, the wooden chairs and tables are great, please don't change them. I had a little char with our local fundraiser who helpfully pointed the way to the YHA. I did listen to what she said about all the local eateries but I couldn't face going out again, so pizza and chips it was 😀
Tomorrow, Abingdon.
Walking along, especially when it's on uneven ground, you can find yourself staring intently at the floor and forgetting to look up. Up is where the birds are and while I've commented on low-lying birds I think I've also seen kestrels and kites up above, hovering and swooping. Along with swifts or swallows, I never remember the difference. One female mallard seemed to be heading straight for me until she did an undignified late change of direction. They really are much more graceful on the water.
There was almost a repeat of the over-friendly cow problem except that this time I was on my own. Walking through a field, there were about 20 youngish cows, brown/black colour. I put my head down and walked on, sticking to the path. First of all some of them moved out of the way, but then they seemed to re-group in a chorus line, watching me while continuing to chew the cud. Undaunted, I carried on and was quietly glad to reach the gate. I turned to close it and they were all there on the other side. They'd followed me! It would have made a funny picture :-)
The river made a point of living the word 'meander' today. If it could go round a bend, it did. Scenic but a bit tiresome when you'd rather walk a straight line while you're being rained on. There were a lot of long boats and river cruisers parked up. I wondered how many were being lived on rather than saved for high (and dry) days and holidays. It was a quiet day as you might imagine - not too many people out walking so no chatting at all although I did wave at some lock-keepers in their little offices. The scenery was greener than usual, probably because all the daisies and buttercups were closed up waiting for the sun to show.
Approaching Oxford, there were more geese along the river, as well as the swans and mallards. The geese seem to group together with several adults and seeming dozens of goslings between them. Perhaps they're sharing the childcare. On the footpath I spotted something. On closer inspection it was a duckling, mallard I think. It wasn't well. I suppose it had been left behind somehow. Sniff.
Dripping, and following some very helpful directions from a lady cyclist, I found my way to the Crisis Skylight Cafe in George Street, Oxford. I think the last time I'd been there, the place was still a building site. I persuaded the lady at the counter that I was indeed a staff and could have a discount coffee to go with my lunch. With little breakfast to speak of, I went for veg chilli nachos and a piece of cake, all of which was fantastic. It's a lovely cafe. And if anyone is reading this, the wooden chairs and tables are great, please don't change them. I had a little char with our local fundraiser who helpfully pointed the way to the YHA. I did listen to what she said about all the local eateries but I couldn't face going out again, so pizza and chips it was 😀
Tomorrow, Abingdon.
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