When my alarm went off at 5am, I could already feel that we were gradually edging out of summer. It wasn’t quite light enough to get ready without switching the light on. A small thing, but it brought a bit of heaviness, the sense that this might be the last early start where I’m not fumbling around in the dark. It’s hard enough getting up at that time when it’s bright outside, darker mornings will make it even more of a challenge.

The journey down to Dorchester on Thames was smooth, and I arrived with plenty of time, which meant I could have a slow walk around the beautiful gardens of Dorchester Abbey before meeting Ann and Jonathan and travelling together to the start point in Abingdon.

There were eight of us on this leg - three new faces joining a few familiar ones who’ve each done at least one previous walk. It’s always lovely to welcome new people into the rhythm of the journey.

Our check-in question for this one was:
“We’ve got a quieter, more open stretch ahead today. What kind of headspace are you starting with, and what might you want to give some space to on this walk?”

After the busyness of Oxford, it felt good to be back on more peaceful, rural paths. The river was wider than in some of the smaller towns we’ve passed through, but still and calm and with a cooler temperature than we've become accustomed to, it was ideal walking weather.

The blackberries had come on since the last walk, and a few people stopped to sample them. The river’s edge had bursts of growth - long grass, water plants, and brambles, that occasionally opened up to give us a glimpse of the water, quietly travelling alongside us.

We crossed the river a few times, taking in the changing view from both sides. During one coaching conversation, we passed a patch of thick water reeds - tall and green with brown tops, almost cartoon-like in their perfection. The path lifted us just above them, giving a beautiful elevated view. We both paused mid-conversation, drawn in by the stillness of the scene.

We spotted a couple of lone herons on the route, standing like sentinels, and so many butterflies, one friendly Red Admiral even landed on my hand while I was trying to take a photo.

We stopped for lunch at the beautiful Day’s Lock, where wheelbarrows full of flowers lined the lockside and the friendly lock keepers gave us a warm welcome. A perfect spot to pause for a spot of lunch and some casual conversations. Jonathan and I took the opportunity to record a video of our reflections of the journey so far.

After lunch, we moved into a stretch of silent walking. I invited everyone to find something in nature that caught their attention or felt like it was drawing them in - something to photograph or pick up. When we came back together, we paired up and shared:
“What drew you to that object and what might it be reflecting back to you?”

With our volunteer crew now up and running, the lovely Ruth took the lead on navigation, which was a real gift, especially as we veered off track a couple of times. On one of those occasions, we ended up catching a magical moment: a family of swans with their cygnets gliding down the river beneath a bridge, surrounded by lily pads, as a classic wooden boat full of passengers cruised past. One of the participants had brought along his SLR camera and captured some beautiful images of the day, giving us a beautifully captured reminder of these walks.

As we walked into Dorchester, we passed a beautiful allotment with a tiny honesty stall selling homemade preserves, veg and flowers - tempting, but none of us had any cash!

Just as we reached the cars, the sky turned heavy and grey, and the rumble of thunder rolled in the distance. We did our closing reflections and check-outs as the first heavy drops of rain began to fall and by the time we were back in Abingdon, the heavens had properly opened. I was relieved we’d timed it just right!

As we wrapped up the day, there was a shared sense of appreciation for nature. It’s always with us, offering moments of beauty and surprise, and how often it feels like it’s quietly looking out for us.

If you'd like to join us on our Source to Sea journey, you can find the latest schedule and link to book here.