Up the Lazy River - or Maybe it's Down

 Upon rising this morning, we took a walk - a walk I've been dreaming about taking for months now.  I first went on this walk with Caroline, a cute YSA back in February I think.  It was about 6 miles round trip, and I was amazed that I could actually do it!  Today, we didn't take the full 6-mile walk, but opted instead to go about 3 miles.  We will build up the the 6-mile walk.

A word of warning:  If you plan on coming to visit us, we'll take you on this stroll alongside the Thames River and through a 1,000 year old meadow, past the ruins of a medieval church and to an inn built in the 1700's, where we will eat fish and chips.  Then we will return the way we came.  Three miles to the inn, and three miles back, and heavenly all the way.



















We got back with no hurting feet, legs or backs, and with maybe just a little energy to spare.  We will continue to walk daily if possible.  I know the glorious weather's days are numbered...3 to be exact before rain is expected.  At that point, we will stay with sidewalks and umbrellas.  The pathway through the meadow was muddy when I went with Caroline, and I'm certain that if it was raining, it would be impassable.

We came home to a nap for SK and some cleaning for me.  Then we strolled over to the local grocery store where we got just a few items.  We have invited Veer over for dinner tomorrow.  She just moved to Oxford and is a little bit adrift.  She is very close to her family, none of whom converted.  So we want to give her all the support we can.

It felt as though we had never left!  The charming walk to the store/mall, the gorgeous weather, just chilly enough to wear a jacket, the leafs starting to turn all shades of orange and yellow, the backyard castle, and that walk this morning.  I am loving this!

There were crowds of people milling about the mall, and very few had masks.  Of course, the majority of them were young people in their 20's out for the evening.  We saw them crowded into lines waiting to go into pubs.  We - along with only a few other older people were wearing masks.  If you hear of a spike in COVID cases in Oxford in the next two weeks, you'll know why.  But I suspect this is typical behavior for that age group.  

This evening's zoom conference with special guests Richard and Linda Eyre was great.  They are in Bath (pronounced Bah-th - rhymes with moth) serving our their 2-weeks of isolation, so that they will be able to help their daughter who lives in London when her twins arrive.  She already has a 2-year old and a 4-year old.  He was the mission president of the London South Mission when he was 29 - over 40 years ago.  They are good friends of Dave and Deb, and said some lovely things about them.

Their messages were a great way to end a great day.  It is so good to be back!

Comments

melissa said…
I can’t wait to take that walk...and maybe kayak, too!!
September 22, 2020 at 7:50 AM
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