A&A_S_Africa_UK

We took 14 seater local bus from Goring Station to Wallingford and picked up our walk where we left off the day before. Today’s target is Dorchester. As we are relocating digs we are carrying more weight, ie toothbrushes, clothes, iPads and the like. Crossing at Benson Lock weir. Great photo opportunities abound, but we have to press on. First sheep seen since starting the Thames Path last year. Dorchester has many sites featuring in «  Midsomer Murders ».  Good to be in this seat of intellectual rigour and higher learning. Friday- rest day. We did a bit of sight seeing of the Oxford monuments. Bridge of Sighs. The Radcliffe Camera, here seen without Inspecor Lewis chasing his suspects.

We now relocate to Streatley for 3 nights. Using public transport to get from Henley to Reading picking up where we left off the day before. A train strike messed us sa round a bit, but we were able to partake of a full breakfast at the Catherine Wheel whilst waiting for bus to Reading. We walked to Pangbourne for light lunch and then onto Goring (Streatley). The plan was to treat ourselves to a day off on Sunday for our 40th wedding anniversary. This more or less went to plan. Our hotel was having renovations and hence ne evening meals. I dozed off after days long walk and we went out a bit lateish looking for dinner. We eventually found  a place still open and were wowed by the quality. The Mill of Mansfield is to be congratulated for its high quality fare. Although a day early we deemed this to be our anniversary dinner. Goring, across the river from Streatley is quite a special archetypal English village. Thisn skew brick arch bridge has a very skill full alignment of brick courses

Despite the big clue that we were following a river upstream, it was wise to check the map now and again. She was in the graveyard near our hotel at Henley - the Red Lion. Our room is just behind the statue of the lion. The plumbing in this place was probably better at the time Charles the 1st stayed here. Another big span. This footbridge has the longest hardwood span in the UK. Alison’s niece and friend came out from the big smoke to join us for a meal at Cafe Rouge. Great evening, bit worried about the hiking ahead of us in the morning.

We returned by train to Windsor and did the castle tour. initially, because of massive queues and security checks I was a bit suspicious that it was going to be a bad experience. However this was not so and even a staunch republican like myself  was most impressed with the State Apartments. No photos allowed of these areas.

Left Cape Town for London Heathrow via Johannesburg. Our flight from Cape Town was delayed and we had to run to make the connection. Our suitcases didn’t make it on to the overnight flight to London and we had to wait till Monday evening to greet them at our accommodation in Maidenhead. So as not to delay start of  our walk along the Thames Path from Staines (where we left off last year). I opted to walk in my shiny new Florsheims. It was ok, the walking is easy and flat. We got as far as Windsor by lunchtime intending to do a tour of the castle. No jet lag after the long flight as only 1 hr time difference. We passed through Runnymede. A castle tour was not possible because of some fancy Knights of the Garter ceremony. We then continued to our abode at Maidenhead pleased to see Alison’s suitcase had arrive. Mine was about to be driven off by delivery guy who had dropped off wrong case, but we managed to get it sorted out before he shot off. On Tuesday we walked to Marlow wearing the p

We had 3 days to wander around Cape Town. Trip up Table Mountain, ferry to Robben Island prison, Red Bus tour,and sightseeing around our waterfront area. Thèse little creatures (Dassies) are related to the elephant. Mandela’s cell, Robben Island. Former inmate acts as guide. The Lions Head is a popular spot for fit Capetonians to partake of a sundowner after work, just a short jog to the top.

Our driver arrived after breakfast to take us to the Blue Train at Pretoria Station. A group of baboons on the road delayed our exit from the National Park. It was a long journey and should have taken less than 6 hours. Things started looking tight when we were in central Pretoria with heavy traffic and driver did not seem to know where to go. We finally arrived at reception area just as the greeting lady was packing up, just 10 mins before 4:00 pm departure. We were too late for our pre-departure briefing and champagne. No problem checking in as they knew who we were, everyone else was on the train. We were introduced to our butler and found our way to the bar to calm our nerves. We wallowed in luxury for the next two nights, even sampling the post dinner cognac in the Club Lounge, but declining the cigars. We had a brief stopover at Kimberley and learnt a bit of the history of the diamond industry and the price-fixing near monopoly. It is a long way from our cabin near the back of t

View from our breakfast place. Despite its northerly latitude (similar to Brisbane) it gets cold here. A big fire pit made sitting outside quite pleasant. We had to be escorted to and from our room when it was dark for fear that a leopard may be lurking. We ate in style, varied menu. The carpaccio of warthog followed by roast ostrich went down well. Baboon by our room. Another sundowner. Hundreds of these impala, basically at bottom of food chain. We followed this pack of wild dogs for about an hour. Guide was very excited as they are considered rare.