This was the biggest group we’ve had for a while, with seven of us in total. It was lovely to see some familiar faces as well as welcome some new ones to the journey.

I opened the walk with the invitation, “What are you walking with today?”  which brought out some beautiful insights into how everyone was arriving. From tiredness to gratitude, burdens to transitions, it offered a lovely way for us to connect before we even took a step.

We picked up the river where we left off last time, just next to Swinford Toll Bridge, and for the first few miles we were met with on-and-off showers - jackets going on, off, on again - punctuated by bursts of warm sunshine. The recent rainfall had deepened the greens of the landscape, and as we neared Oxford, the surroundings began to change.

There were some lovely breaks in the hedgerows where we could catch glimpses of the river, like little windows opening out to new scenes. One revealed a field with Greylag geese, another a group of cows drinking from the water, and further along, a few seemingly wild horses also taking a drink.

The coaching conversations flowed alongside the river as we approached lunchtime - some prompted by coaching cards, others emerging naturally from what we were each “walking with.”

We stopped for lunch in the ruins of Godstow Abbey, right along the Thames. A group of cows greeted us briefly, and just as we were settling in, another shower passed through but luckily moved on quickly, and from that point onwards, the sun stayed with us.

After carefully prepping my salad that morning, I realised as I unpacked it that I’d left my fork in the car! As luck would have it - for me, not for poor David - he had brought a spoon but forgotten his lunch. Very graciously, he let me borrow it.

After lunch, we wandered further into the ruins, where we were captivated by a yellow wagtail fluttering down to its nest, food in its beak. Its graceful movement, especially the way its tail seemed to guide its flight, held us all in a moment of quiet awe.

The rest of the walk unfolded in natural conversations, walking in pairs, shifting into solos, or just enjoying the rhythm of movement as we got closer to Oxford.

We passed more people than usual on this stretch - walkers on the rural parts of the path, dog walkers, cyclists, and even a group of students celebrating their graduation with a swim in the river at Port Meadow.

Navigation had been going so well… until the end! We veered slightly off-course and ended up following a canal path instead of the Thames, passing under a very low swing bridge, low enough that most people (not me, at 5 feet!) had to duck.

Thankfully, Jonathan got us back on track, and we made it to Osney Bridge - or almost. Some building works prevented us from reaching the bridge itself, so we stopped just short of it to close the walk and reflect on how we were feeling now compared to the start.

For me, I’d been walking with tiredness. The meeting points are getting further from home, meaning earlier starts, and I’d definitely felt that at the beginning. But the tiredness lifted as we walked. The company, the landscape, and the familiar rhythm of following the river brought me back to just enjoying the moment.

This was another really special walk. What I’m enjoying most, in addition to the constant presence of the river, is the consistency of the people we’re attracting. People who are generously giving their time, energy, and openness to walk with Jonathan and me as we make our way along this river, one stretch at a time.

The coaching, the conversations, and the mutual love of nature are weaving something really special into this journey. And I’m so grateful to meet everyone who joins us, especially those who return for more. Jonathan and I must be doing something right (though clearly not always with the navigation!).

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