Tuesday14th 2026
We set off for our trip mid morning. The trip was, we thought, uneventful but when
we set up and sat our drinking our tea Mike noticed the Morts Angles stickers
he had put on in readiness for our France trip next month had come off - both
sides of the cab! During the trip we did
hear a sound like a stone hitting the windscreen although no chips were
found. Maybe it was these being ripped off. Mike also found that a portion of the
surround of the windscreen he had replaced (he has been doing quite a bit of
maintenance on Daisy) had ripped away too so maybe that was the sound we heard.
We took a walk along the River Thames to one
of two pubs. We have a voucher for a
meal so will take advantage of that while we are here. There is a very old bridge near both pubs
called Radcot Bridge. It was built in
the 11th century, damaged in a skirmish in 1387, repaired and damaged again
during the Wars of the Roses then rebuilt as it is today. On the other side of one of the pubs, the
Swan Inn, there is another bridge called Pidnell Bridge. Along with another
bridge Canal Bridge, they all form the link over the canal and Thames with an
important tolled commercial wharf during the 18th century. History lesson complete!
The site is next to the A4095 and relatively
noisy during the day but you do not hear it at night, thankfully.
Wednesday 15th
After breakfast I took myself out for a
walk. I found a circular route on the
app Footpaths and followed that. What a
lovely walk! Along the river for half of
it, around a herd of cows and over a very steep foot bridge. The second half was over the fields which
wasn’t as picturesque and quite blowy but all in all a great 3.17 mile walk.
Rain in the afternoon so relaxing inside. Off out for our meal at The Rose Revived pub later.
The meal was OK - nothing to write home about just typical pub grub. It is a Greene King pub.
Thursday 16th
Packed up and headed to our next destination, Thame, stopping off at Tesco on the way.
Our site for the next 3 nights is Lashlake Barn off the Aylesbury Road. A lovely field with the river Thame running along the far end. Slightly more expensive than we wanted to pay (£22) but it is so near the centre of town that we were prepared to pay extra. We try to keep it below £20 where we can. It is a gated site that requires a fob to open and close the gate so quite secure.
After we had set up (doesn’t take long these days), we walked into town to have a look around. It is such a lovely town with some old buildings and walkways. It has quite a bit of history too. We had a cup of tea in the Cornfield Bakery café, and of course a cake for me and pasty for Mike. Very pleasant. They also offer bread baking courses.
This evening, we set up the TV to watch Race
Around the World only to find we had got the wrong time and it was just
finishing as we turned it on. Oh well,
we have it recorded at home.
Friday 17th
After a lie in and a late breakfast (the church bells chimed 10), we set off on our bikes for a look around. This time I had set a trail using my Footpaths app. The trouble is I can’t watch where we are going while riding so had to keep stopping to look at the map. We went wrong several times but eventually found the Phoenix Trail which is a trail created from the disused railway so is relatively flat and tarmacked. It goes all the way to Risburgh but as that is 7 miles away we didn’t go that far. Along the trail we saw a sign for cycle repairs and as my bike has been playing up we decided to see if they could help. While Mike was in the shop waiting to be served, and I was holding my bike up (it doesn’t have a stand), I just happened to look down and saw the chain was slightly out of shape and at the point it changes direction the link was bent. When the man came out to take a look I was able to show him that and he immediately said that was the problem. Luckily, he was able to change the chain for a new one while we waited. It made so much difference! We have had the bike serviced a few times and always mentioned that problem but it was never picked up. I’m so glad it has now been sorted.
From there we headed into town and for a cafe
for a drink and lunch. Treacle's Café is
again lovely and very welcoming.
The site has several leaflets about Thame with various walking paths to take and historical facts to note along the way. I would like to return here and perhaps do a few walks or cycle rides (read the directions first to see if there are any gates or stiles to cross).
Well I did take myself off for another cycle ride following one of the trails from a leaflet. I found my way to the Phoenix Trail then followed it to Towersley. Unfortunately the trail didn’t take me into Towersley so I don’t know what the village is like - so maybe we will have to return so I can find out! It was a lovely ride around 5 or 6 miles with a call into Waitrose for some onions.
Dinner and a chilling evening.
Saturday 18th
Off for another cycle ride today, this time
through an estate - yes we did get lost - but eventually found our way to the
Phoenix Trail. We only travelled a short
way along it as by this time we were getting a little weary and wanted a stop
and a drink so took a turn up towards town and parked up in the same place as
yesterday. We also went back to the
Cornfield Bakery café and had a sit down upstairs people watching those going
by below. A quick call into Waitrose
then back to the site. Enroute we saw
not 2 but 5 kites flying around! On
reading the Waitrose paper I saw an advert for the company who made the body
lotion I gave to my Aunt at Christmas so went back to get some but they only
had the hand wash. Oh well, a little more
exercise, especially as I’d forgotten to put the battery on for the hill up to
the Waitrose carpark!
Sunday 19th
We were woken to the peel of bells from the
church. By 9am they had finished but we
were up and drinking tea.
