July 24, Pangbourne to Henley

 I was anxious about today's walk because it was supposedly 16 miles, which means 18 (I walked over 20) and heavy rain was predicted.  What does worry do? It keeps you from sleeping is what it does just what you don't need as a primer.  Out the door at 5:20 and for the first two hours it did not rain; I was feeling lucky under a very grey sky.  But, at 6:40, my phone rang.  It was the taxi driver to whom I had given d e t a i l e d instructions, which he claimed to have read and approved, and who, being a friend of the owner, was, apparently, familiar with the property, asking if I was still there.  When I told him that no, I was not there—he already knew I would not be— he seemed mildly miffed.  It all went well, though, and my suitcase was waiting for me at Henley even though he had taken Rojita and her sidekick, the red backpack, to Heathrow for a spell.  (Probably had another booking.) The tracker is great!

Hanging out in the rain:

This one was a real honker:

Also hanging out in the rain:

Biding their time in the rain:

But Big Mary here is coming through!

I don't think trees can get arthritis, but if they can, this one has a terrible case:

I arrived in Henley at about 2:15, after almost nine hours or walking.  Part of that was my fault:  I missed a bridge crossing and was walking on the wrong side of the river for about a mile before my favorite adage, "If it doesn't make sense, it is probably wrong" kicked in.  How do you know you are on the wrong side of the river other than by looking at your app...which had gone silent, by the way, so no help there? Because the grass is long and thick, overgrown big time, which was not characteristic of the walking heretofore. Then when I gave the app a nudge and got it going again, my hunch was confirmed.  Two extra miles.  Could I not just have crossed over farther down?  No, desafortunadamente.

Then there was a bridge that was out.  That always requires a detour, but that added only about 1/2 a mile  Henley is just as one would expect, preppy to the max!  This has to be the birthplace of prep!  The hotel is lovely....very old building; the beams and such have been preserved, but painted over:

—looks great that way— and there are elegant touches such as warm, wool carpeting:

 and handsome decor:  a desk chair with an upholstered velvet seat, e.g.  My room is small, the descriptor was "snug," but it was expensive so I did not feel justified springing for anything more grand.  Fortunately it is 55 degrees or else one could suffocate in here.  No fan, no mini frig, but close to two grocery stores.  There are always +s and -s

Walked over 20 miles today, but was not especially tired at the end.