The Three Horse Shoes

Tuesday 15th July: This local pub in Benson serves good food and great ales! We were introduced to this pub, and have been here a few times during this trip for group meals. We are led there along the historic Littleworth path, so no driving is required! The gourmet bangers and mash are well worth it, and the scampi is also very popular. Friendly company, a few pints of Loddon, and a long summer twilight, and what else do you need? This pub has many seats and tables, inside and in the walled garden outside, despite its small appearance at the front. As you enter the pub, just about everyone needs to duck until you pass the bar, then you can stand up properly. Thanks to Jon, Sheila, Katie, Luke and Chris for making our stay very welcoming and comfortable, and making these evenings such good fun!

Oxford County

Tuesday 15th July: The abundant wheat and barley was being harvested this week around Oxfordshire. On the way back from Reading, the car radios here broadcast road reports which automatically interrupt your CD or other radio station so you can avoid any impending problems, which are fairly frequent, especially on the major roads. Tomorrow we will drive around the M25 to Brighton, and this facility is very useful.

Reading and Goring

Tuesday 15th July: Our last day in Oxfordshire started with a trip to Reading town and some shopping in preparation for our return to France and Australia at the modernised mall 'The Oracle'. We took the scenic route along the Thames via Goring and Pangbourne, through the many avenues of trees shading the roadways. Goring lock is often used as a postcard image of England, very pretty location on the Thames. Water is very turbulent over the Weir due to the recent precipitation!

Turville and Chilterns

Sunday 13th July: One place we had to visit locally was Turville, a beautiful part of the Chilterns, well known as the location for the 'Vicar of Dibley' and the film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. The church in the village, and the windmill on the hill are recognisable as they were both used on the screen. We visited the very welcoming small church and had a local Brakspear ale at the 'Bull and Butcher' after walking around the valley and up and down the hill for some magnificent views of the surrounding countryside on a perfect English day.

Checkendon Black Horse

Sunday 13th July: This wondeful pub is in the heart of the Chilterns countryside, and only a very short drive, healthy cycle ride, or even a pleasant morning walk away from Benson. You can hit your head in this pub, but the atmosphere, country air, the baguettes and the ale is really worth the visit. We could easily come here every Sunday lunchtime! The rural setting is reinforced from the horses opposite over the fence greeting you as you arrive. Eight of us enjoyed lunch here in the English sun! Thank you, Jon and Sheila for taking us here!

Benson Lock

Friday 11th July: A late night back from Wales meant a rest day around Benson. This one at Benson is a typical lock house on the Thames, which is also along a pleasant English walk across the river from Benson to Wallingford. We watched a narrow boat and pleasure craft go up and down the river, at the maximum speed of 5-9 miles an hour. The weir at Benson is almost overflowing due to the amount of rain that has fallen this summer.

Holly Cottage

Sunday 6th July: Getting back to Benson after a 1:30 am night in London, meant that today was recovery and also packing for our Liverpool and Wales journey. Pictured is Holly Cottage, which was where we stayed in 1994 when living in Oxfordshire. It was built in 1799, renovated, it was very comfortable, but typical of the flint and brick houses in this area. There was still a reasonable cottage garden, with screening hedges, but some of the local shops, including the post office had gone :-( ***** We left Benson at 5pm and arrived at a little town near Chester called Tarporely for a B&B at a cute hotel.

Oxford Colleges

Friday 4th July: Part of our walk, we encountered this very well known building in Oxford. We are amazed by the history and familiarity of all the places in Oxford. On a sunny English day, such as today, we enjoyed the serenity of the surroundings, such as the shining golden stone, the beautiful cloisters arches and the immaculate green lawns. We continued our walk around another college, Exeter, where Inspector Morse collapsed in his last episode. The chapel had just been restored, with magnificent stained glass windows.

Christ Church Dining Hall

Friday 4th July: We got back to Oxford to stroll around the famous college of Christ Church, one of the oldest University establishments. The most impressive experience is in the Dining Hall, which is familiar to the world due to Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland stories. It was set-up ready for a special dinner with the lights illuminated and places and menus prepared. There are also many famous portraits of former students to be found, including Lewis Carrol and John Wesley. A magnificent place!

Radcliffe Camera

Wednesday 2nd July: The unique views of Oxford spires and the high views of the colleges, such as the Radcliffe Camera, are really worth the wait and the climb up what started out as the sole University building and the library. Other libraries and reading rooms, such as this building now replace this function of St Mary the Virgin University and parish church. The church has been in use at the University since the 1300s, and is still used for formal University religious functions.

University Church Tower

Wednesday 2nd July: We had a nice day in Oxford, which is only 20 minutes drive from our friends' house in Benson. It was a bit wet on and off, but not enough to stop us from visiting St Mary the Virgin University Church and scaling the steps to the top of the bell tower to get the bets view of Oxford and the University from above. Its a bit tight at the top, there is no space to pass another on the balcony, except at certain places, and you have to wait for others to finish before you are allowed up the 124 steps.

Wallingford and the Thames

Tuesday 1st July: A bit of a rest day for us all. Washing, banking, shopping, postcards, etc. But even then there is plenty to see just walking around the local areas in Benson and Wallingford. Negotiating the small streets in the car is a necessity and this includes threading the needle between parked cars and passing buses, as well as finding the signs to the town centre car park and driving on the wrong side of the road. Everything is very green here. There has been a lot of rain, and the hedgerows and fields around have had incredible growth. The rivers and canals are all fairly swollen. The Thames weir at Benson is overflowing and bubbling, and looking very healthy. Worlds apart from the current Australian weather.

Benson on the Thames

Sunday 29th June: Benson is a quaint little village on the Thames, right next to Wallingford and halfway between Oxford and Reading. A lot of houses are made from brick and flint, some even have thatched rooves. Once a major coach stop between London and Oxford, now its just off the Oxford road. There is also a large RAF base here, which was the home of the Queen's flight, but is now the centre of the RAF Helicopter fleet.

St Pancras to Euston

Saturday 28th June: Arrived at St Pancras, walked along Euston Road with all of our bags to pick up our hire car. Sunny again in London! Many red buses everywhere as usual, so you know where you are when emerging from the depths of the train stations. Almost a straight drive along the A40 and M40, to Benson in Oxfordshire, where we are staying with our very good friends for most of the week.