tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post6804709817913402035..comments2024-03-28T11:16:38.801+00:00Comments on SWC - This Week's Walks: The Chilterns and the Thames Valley: Goring Circular (via Hill Bottom) or to PangbourneAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11395064086819994526noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-59926715063646895812018-04-18T21:37:38.464+01:002018-04-18T21:37:38.464+01:00... and ladybirds, how could I forget them? ... and ladybirds, how could I forget them? Thomas Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01298846868417688062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-46296887614656495752018-04-18T20:44:53.124+01:002018-04-18T20:44:53.124+01:00It's been a long winter. And March and April h...It's been a long winter. And March and April have also been really wet. And then, within a few days, we get to this: w=warm-but-not-hot-and-with-a-breeze, the blackthorn blooming, the rape oil seed fields starting to turn yellow, some butterflies about (yellow ones and some brown ones) and lots of flowers in the woods (yellow, white and blue ones, which means Celandines, Wood Anemones and Bluebells, I'm reliably told). 'tis the best time of the year for walking, in my book.<br />In light of the temperatures we walked at medium pace and almost all arrived at the lunch pub, the much maligned Sun Inn, before 13.00 hours. After a recent particularly negative experience on the Pangbourne Circ walk, one walker had insisted calling them ahead to make sure they had ample food available this time. So we were a little apprehensive, but without any reason: the service was quick and friendly, the food arrived reasonably quickly and was of good quality, so much so that even some of the more gastro-critical Wednesday regulars confessed to be happy with it all. New staff maybe?<br />The sandwichers, who had rested patiently outside in the sun, moved on when they saw some lunchers ordering desserts or coffee and most were never seen again. At Goring, of my sub-group of 6 people, 3 opted for the extension to Pangbourne along one of the better stretches of the Thames Path (with hills!), and rounded off the day at The Swan's terrace by the river weir with a refreshing drink.<br />A varied route with some fine views, a nice mix of woods and fields. And the woods were not too densely canopied, so the sun broke through all the time. A very fine day.<br />Bluebell Index: early on about 1 out of 20 out and about half of those with bells open, later hardly any out, then towards the end (High Wood especially) almost all out and almost all bells open, so there it is only a few days to 'Peak Bluebell'. n=17Thomas Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01298846868417688062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-24126091994760678822018-04-17T22:07:50.424+01:002018-04-17T22:07:50.424+01:00Hi
is there anyone going?Hi<br />is there anyone going?cinziahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11631196986810740857noreply@blogger.com