Thames Path Ramble 13: Friday 31st July 2015 Tilehurst to Sonning, which is about 6 miles.

Thames Path Ramble 13: Friday 31st July 2015 Tilehurst to Sonning, which is about 6 miles.

Sue and Jem, Ann, Janet, John, Julie, Ian and I re-joined the Thames Path and crossed the Great Western Railway line beside The Roebuck near Tilehurst Station. This section of path was quiet and shady beside the river and the mainline railway was close too, but up at a higher level.  The weather was fine and we made good progress going along Thameside Promenade into Reading centre. We saw preparations being made for the Reading Rock Festival, which is held here in August and gradually the busyness increased with people camping, dog walking, keeping fit, boating etc.

We passed a boatyard where swans and ducks appeared to be imprisoned. 

Caversham is on the opposite bank, which is steeper and woodier. 

We stopped for our picnic lunch near to Caversham Bridge from where tour boats depart and close to where the grass had been chomped low by a large flock of geese (Greylag, Canada and Egyptian). Just along here we spotted the African Queen hotel boat again (familiar from previous Thames Path walks closer to Oxford). 

We went past Fry’s Island and high rise blocks of flats and offices seemed closer and closer as we walked towards the centre of Reading. Then, our way was barred as building work was being carried out on Reading Bridge. Many signs were up that seemed to confuse us and the ‘Diversion’ route wasn’t obvious. We asked locals and workers and found our way round to Caversham Lock where we watched the African Queen negotiate its way through. There were just a few inches to spare all around, but all seemed to go well and passengers were not disturbed from their comfortable seats on the top bow deck.

 For a while from here, on the opposite side of the Thames, there are many lakes and marinas (resulting from gravel workings?). At one point, moored to the opposite bank we saw another interesting boat; one not going anywhere, just seeming to be a hanging garden.

Then it was over the River Kennet/Kennet and Avon canal via the Horseshoe Bridge. It is very close to the Great Western Railway Line and about 20 years ago, plans to build a road along here were shelved. 

 We passed a canoe shop and went through another riverside park. Gradually, the path once again became quieter and the countryside returned. The wooded acres of Reading Blue Coat School grounds, with several Private signs, were to our right and then, after walking around a bend in the river, we could see Sonning Lock. We knew that there was a café here and our planned finish not far beyond. 

We sat for a while at the lock, watching boats go through, and resisted the café temptation as Janet had offered rock buns, a sweet pie and mugs of tea round at her house. Sonning -on-Thames Bridge was the official end of our walk, to where we will return to, tomorrow.