Walk, Thames Path and South Oxfordshire countryside, 11.35 miles

25 March

Another 'training' walk today for the British Heart Foundation trek I’ve signed up for in May. First longer walk with the new Nike Pegasus trainers I bought last weekend, specially recommended by the unfeasibly young lad in The Sweat Shop as extra-cushioned for long-distance road walking. Wore them in the week for a few of my usual circa 3-mile weekday walks and they were wonderfully comfortable and positively springy.

Started out from the house and headed down to the river via the new pedestrian footbridge, now named Christchurch Bridge, apparently. Set off eastwards along the Thames Path, passing Caversham Lock and, a bit further on, Kennet Mouth via the Horseshoe Bridge. Continued on to Sonning Lock where I sat briefly to eat a home-made cacao (get me) and almond energy ball (courtesy of  'Deliciously Ella') and watched a hired cruiser make its way into the lock. Crossed the river at Sonning Bridge where the Thames Path changes sides. Continued on for a couple of miles to the boat house below Shiplake College, where I spent a few minutes scouting around for the footpath up to the church that I could have sworn was there somewhere. Did eventually find it, though it's not well signposted from the river bank - was glad I'd taken my OS Explorer map with me as well as the smartphone.

The Great House with Sonning Bridge to the right	Thames walking northeast (downstream) towards Shiplake
Countryside near Binfield Heath	Footpath across field towards All Saints Dunsden

Crossed the A4155 and popped into The Plowden Arms for a Coke and quick bar snack. Then followed Plough Lane/Shiplake Row (passing a pub I once went to for lunch with Mum some years ago when it was called the White Hart - it's now a posh-looking restaurant called Orwells) turning left at the junction by Binfield Heath Stores. Headed down to Dunsden Green and then turned right to follow the road round past All Saints Church and down to Kiln Road, cutting a couple of corners via footpaths. Walked down into Emmer Green and home via Peppard Road. Feet aching a bit at the end but no blisters or anything unpleasant. Slightly nervous though that the full circa 30-mile walk is only about six weeks away.

Map of the route

Below shows my pace (in blue) and the elevation (in red) across the route. Pace seems to have understandably dropped a bit on the considerably more hilly second half (and dropped off completely at one point, presumably while I was queuing in Budgens).