Henley-on-Thames to Marlow

We set out to do Chapter 9 of the 'Thames Path in the Country' guidebook. Unfortunately, while manipulating bag, hat, sunglasses and guidebook right at the start, the book fell in the river! A passing boatman fished it out for us, and it did eventually dry out enough.

The first leg of today's walk took us right past the Henley Regatta course. There were rowers everywhere preparing for next week's event, and others too getting facilities in place. We had to take care not to get in the way of coaches following their crews by cycle along the path, but once we were past the rowing course, things quitened down.

We stopped for lunch at the Flower Pot Inn in Aston. This was a nice break - ploughman's with a pork pie that they had to explain was really a gala pie - which we had outside.

Walking on, we had an ice-cream from the tearoom at Hurley Lock. The path crosses to the north bank at Temple bridge, then passes Bisham Abbey and its ancient church (pictured) on the other bank.

From time to time on today's walk, we were passed by worthy participants in the Thames Ring: runners who had started at Goring on a 250-mile run which they aim to do in just a few days.

From Marlow, we took a train back to our temporary base in Slough.