The Thames Path between Chertsy, Laleham and Staines

[Melinda]

Had a lovely ride out from Woking yesterday- well it started well; it ended up as a cycle crashing, dirt eating, skin tearing, knee mincing semi catastrophe.

But before I almost became an organ donor, I had a fabulous time cycling down to the Thames, and checking out the incredible houses and views along The Thames Path. Fishermen were out, families on bikes and folk on horseback- it was a privellege to be there- everything looked sensational in the sunshine.

Those houses though- gave me serious house envy! They were a mish mash of styles and periods, some wooden New England shaker, with others more cottage or Mews-like. There were not many houses over 2 storeys.

How wonderful to have a house RIGHT on the river with boats sailing by and narrowboats navigating the locks. It mostly seemed to be retired couples neighbourhood though. They were mostly engaged in hedge clipping, lawn mowing and holding hands on benches in their front gardens, watching the world go by.

Anyone live there or familiar with this area? Or have decent photos? I googled and couldnt see any decent ones? I only had my camera phone with me, next time, Im taking a camera?

[butterfly child]

That's my patch, so I know what you mean.

There's a FABULOUS house on the river at Shepperton, MASSIVE windows, and a rather impressive boat moored in front of it!

I'm getting house envy about Virginia Water, more precisely where I go for my physio - it's like walking into "Out of Africa" and has the most beautiful garden! If I ever find myself with a £35m lottery win, I'll definitely make them an offer they couldn't refuse.

[Melinda]

Wow, lucky, lucky you- its so beautiful there. How close are you to the river?
Ive spent the weekend raving about the place. Im already planning to ride back next weekend, Im going to try to get out to Virginia Water too. Im also going to plan a trip down the Thames Path to Hampton Court.

Its only my crappy camera phone, you cant see how sunny and ot it was, but it was truly lovely.
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2015/image075ue2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8178/image076hw8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8223/image078bl8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I bet you would actually have to have a silly money lottery win to afford anything down there. It made me want to paint and be very creative!

[sherriff rosco]

I was bought up right by the river betweeen Staines and Laleham.

Had a great big field to play in where the river takes a big bend at Silvery sands. Used to paddle in the weir at Penton Hook Island in the summer , which my mum would`ve had kittens about if she knew! I became a lock keepers assistant at Penton Hook for a while ( well hanging about kid given something to do more like!).
Also did my paper round along the towpath for 3 years , never forget the cold , frosty winter mornings with the sun low and mist everywhere.

I went back there with the wife a few years ago , thankfully no hideous new developments and the same willow tree I used to climb was there for me to have a nostalgic attempt at getting up in full motorbike kit...doh!

.p.

[Melinda]

Sherriff Rosco that is just magic! It sounds idyllic:) :)

Fields and the river? It must have been Swallows and Amazons all summer for you! Tell me you had siblings and friends and had Famous Five type adventures with picnics and ginger beer!

I take it you no longer live in the area? What happened to the house? Penton Hook was rammed with boats at the weekend! And the Kingfisher pub was doing fierce business too.

[/being nosey for now!]

[sherriff rosco]

Wasn`t quite Swallows material in the 70`s! More bad haircuts and flares getting caught in your Chipper chain!

I was banned from playing near the river until I could swim at least 25m with my cloths on ( v.sensible move by my parents looking back now?) BUT you wouldn`t want to swim in the river too often anyway, it was rank back then and is so much cleaner these days. I remember the oil slicks around the weir from all the pleasure boat engines , which today thankfully are a lot cleaner.

One memory coming back was cutting my foot on some glass on the weir at Penton Hook and having to have a tetanus booster which made my arse so sore I couldn`t sit down for a week!

Did you go onto Penton Hook Island...now that is where TREASURE is...you know...ahhh me hearties ;)

.p.


edit...oh and we didn`t live next to the river just a few roads back.... still enough to hear the pleasure boats charging along in packs every weekend!