In order to get an early start for my first walk, I drove to the Swindon Central Premier Inn the night before. I'd booked in for 2 nights. I was promised a sunny start to Sunday, so was a little upset to find I woke up to a bit of a pea-souper! Never mind. I had my cooked breakfast, got all my bits together and then drove to Kemble Station where I parked my car for the day. The plan was to walk from the station to the Source and then to Cricklade. I'd then get the bus back to Swindon, the train to Kemble and finally drive back to the hotel in Swindon. Although this sounds rather convoluted, there was thinking behind doing things this way. The first train on a Sunday from Swindon to Kemble isn't until 09:35, whereas doing things this way I was at Kemble station by about 08:00.
I'd been forewarned that there was still significant flooding in the Ewen area and that the path in general was very muddy. I therefore thought that wellies might be a better option than my normal walking shoes and chose to wear these. I walked from Kemble Station to the Source, took loads of photos (as you do) of the fingerpost and stone and I was then on my way in the mist towards Cricklade
Shortly after leaving Ewen it became difficult to distinguish between the river and the path but I was feeling smug as I was wearing my wellies, so no worries about getting wet feet. This smugness was however short lived as I had a 'Vicar of Dibley' moment, taking a step that resulted in flood water spilling over the top of my wellies! Bugger!
John wades the Thames!
After reaching the end of the flooding I emptied my wellies, wrung out my socks and put on a dry pair.
With my tail now between my legs I continued towards Somerford Keynes and then Ashton Keynes. The going was now surprisingly good.
On reaching Ashton Keynes I chose to stop to eat my sandwich and take a bit of a rest. Ashton Keynes is such a pretty village.
Duly refreshed I continued on my way through the Cotswold Water Park - a seemingly endless number of former gravel pits now filled with water. Whilst the path was quite muddy in places it was still easily passable.
The water park always seems to go on forever but eventually I reached the point where the Thames Path takes you through North Meadow in Cricklade. I was now faced with a dilemma; do I follow the path, which by all accounts was still flooded, or do I take the easy option along the disused railway line that brings you out at the top end of Cricklade? I bottled out and chose easy!
At the end of the old railway line in Cricklade I walked through a couple of housing estates and emerged where I would have come out had I risked North Meadow.
Walk complete and 12.2 miles of the Thames Path under my belt. I timed my arrival in Cricklade almost to perfection. Buses back to Swindon run every 2 hours on a Sunday. I reached the bus stop at about 14:40 with 10 minutes to spare.
My bus arrived more or less on time - service 51 - and very soon I was back in Swindon. A 5 minute walk to the railway station and my train to Kemble was waiting for me! Having retrieved my car from the station car park I drove back to Swindon and the delights of the Premier Inn for another night.
