April 11 Christmas Common

Another nasty morning	Damp at John Lewis'

Another dull grey morning and another photo out of the bathroom window. After breakfast we joined the crowds at the traditional Easter Saturday game of shopping at John Lewis'.

Mission accomplished, we drove through the drizzle about 10 miles to Hambleden, parked up in a muddy car park and walked to the mill on the banks of the Thames.

Mud at Hambleden	Historic buildings

Over the weir is a lengthy walkway, which zig zags its way across the Thames. It was very busy so that stopping to take photos wasn't easy.

Hambleden Mill	Hambleden Lock
Hambleden Weir

When I reached the other side, I found a large group of people watching something. This turned out to be competitors in the annual Devizes to Westminster canoe race. They travel along the Kennet and Avon canal and join the Thames at Hambleden Lock.

Here, they climb out of the canal, carry their canoes around the lock and climb into the Thames.

There was a considerable diversity of canoes, involving both sitting down and standing up. The latter must be an exhausting way of travelling such a long distance.

After a walk of about a mile along a footpath, passing lots of hawthorn (unless it was may) along the way, we arrived at the Flowerpot, an old, pretty and expensive pub. The notice on the door would be unthinkable in New Zealand. We had a drink and some crisps and then left the crowded pub to return whence we had come.

Along the towpath	Past the blossom
The Flowerpot

We re-joined the car and drove a short distance to Hambleden village, an exceedingly picturesque spot.

	Cider and scratchings
The Stag & Huntsman, Hambleden	Hambleden

The Stag & Huntsman provided another drink - cider this time. My first (& possibly my last) of this trip. It too was busy but friendly enough.

We then wandered around the village, bought some postcards in the village shop, looked at the Church, the village football team & some of the posh houses & drove away again.

Midsomer Murders country	Village football

The plan had been to stop at the Luxters Brewery & vineyard a short distance up the lanes. Unfortunately, when we got inside, we found that it was already busy and several more people arrived whilst we were there. I decided that it was too full to be pleasant so we went away without tasting anything.

We finally arrived home at about 4 and had a rather late lunch followed by a late dinner.