Day 4: Farnham Common to Shiplake
This is a beautiful day's walk, beginning with a climb to the ancient Burnham Beeches and then following Beeches Walk towards Cookham where we will join the Thames Path for a particularly attractive section. This day is quite long, but the route is easy walking and, for the most part, fairly fast. Lunch will be reasonably late as many hostelries are rather too posh to entertain us, but there are additional watering holes and some timely church stops to refresh us on our journey.
Loading the van outside Farnham Common Village Hall.
Our Eucharist at St John's.
Leaving the church.
The young pilgrims express concern over the McCabe's navigation - are we really near Egypt?
The back markers set off.
Through the woods.
Melvina strides ahead.
Bridges over streams.
At Cookham, a man was repairing the angel's broken wing.
Cookham Church.
Marie approaches the church.
Cookham was the home of artist Stanley Spencer, and a copy of his Last Supper hangs in the church.
The side chapel, with a hanging pyx above the altar to hold the reserved sacrament.
David, shown here, welcomed us on behalf of the parish, before Gill (also pictured) gave an immensely moving reflection on her experiences after World War 2 in Italy, despite which she was still able to give thanks for blessings received.
Mike looked back to see Gina pursuing him.
We followed the Thames Path upstream to Marlow, passing this church where we would reconvene after lunch.
Lunch outside the pub.
Not quite sure what Chris did to offend Sue...
A sundial in Marlow "Time has no number or certainty"
The altar in Marlow Church.
Looking back to Marlow Bridge and Church.
Rose Bay Willow Herb using a scaffold pole driven into the river bed as a plant pot.
A fine footbridge took us from one bank to another.
Rosemary, Clare and David approach us at one of the locks on the river.
A swan family.
A grebe with a fish dinner.
The path became more and more rural.
Roger and Anne on the river bank.
Red kites.
Coot family
Theresa and James approach Remenham.
St Nicholas, Remenham, was sadly locked.
John and Louise have just passed a film set (making a film about the 1948 Olympics and the first rowing champions).
At Henley we were welcomed with tea.
John led a reflection in the church room.
Inside the church.
Henley bridge.
Helen and Ceri leave Henley.
Cormorant on fish lookout.
Another fine footbridge - this one crossed the river and then crossed straight back again.
Posing duck.
Grebe take off.
Station of a garden railway.
Simon thinks he's there when we reach Shiplake Station - but there's 2 miles more to go!
The sun setting over the river.
And later, over the hall.
