Day 17

The first day when we had to stay in our rain gear from start to finish. The drizzle continued from the time we woke up (late - 7.50 am) till the end of the walk just after 3.00 pm after 15.8 km. Luckily, tomorrow there is no walking (not on the Thames Path, anyway).

Learning from yesterday's experience, we didn't wait for the sun to appear before taking pictures (would have been a very short  blog had we done so!). The place we stayed in (Bridge Hotel in Chertsey), and the bridge (there's always one, isn't there?) looked OK in the gloom.

Dumsey Meadow just outside Chertsey is the last meadow on the Thames we will see - no more meadows (unless we turn back - which I had to do for a short while when I dropped my glasses).

There was to be a ferry crossing at Shepperton (and I expected a big vessel crowded with travelers). This was not to be - the ferryman saw us, loaded us and took us across (just us chickens)

Being Saturday, the river is full of canoes and other nautical things - I think mainly school/club teams practicing. There was also a foot race on the foot path (sweaty bodies huffing and puffing - sillier than us you think?).

Despite the gloomy sky, some pictures turned out OK. The first here shows Marg in her rain gear. The last is some permanent houses built on the river - never seen it before in the UK.

Have a free day tomorrow (which we had forgotten!). So we will spend it in Hampton Court. Off to Richmond on Monday.

Despite aches and pains, we feel good - we are nearly there!

Cheers