Cricklade and beyond.

Started out on the second leg of the journey; from Cricklade to Lechlade; following the Thames Path.
 I have to say, if they ever make a television programme of this walk, this first couple of miles, may well be edited out.

Cricklade, itself was looking in fine shape and by coincidence, this was the day (02/08/'10) when the judging for the village " In Bloom " was taking place. Thus the hanging baskets and pavement tubs, were looking, very colourful and weed free.

But, as I headed out of the town, the path showed signed of some urban decay, especially walking under the bypass, where I spied my first sight of Thames-side graffiti.
It was unfortunate, that owing to the lack of rain, the ground was hard and gave,  in some of the fields more of the appearance of scrub land.

This first picture shows an old stone bridge, no longer in use. You will notice how overgrown, the  banks  were and indeed the path itself was almost, in danger, at times of giving ground to the nettles and weeds.

This picture, gives a better sense of the bushy overgrown banks, no doubt teeming with  small animal and insect life.

After this came riverside meadows, until a stile and a length of walk through dense foliage led out to footbridge number two at Water Eaton,

from which this picture was taken.

That finished the walk for the day and upon  reaching Cricklade again, I sampled a restorative glass of Arkells '3BB'.: a refreshing end to the day's walk.

Ciao4now

Ck.

NP - the wondrous  Elgar's 'cello concerto' performed by Jacqueline Du Pre, with the LSO conducted by Sir John Barbirolli; which, guess what, I bought for 75p, at a Cricklade charity shop - another result !