Skip to main content

A Thames River Walk Through Time: Repurposing Tow Paths

I love it when old technologies are repurposed to solve entirely different problems. A perfect example is the extensive system of canals and tow paths throughout England. Before the Industrial Revolution and the advent of railways, these canals were built to transport goods between cities and towns. Narrow boats pulled by horses or mules along tow paths were a common sight.

Today, however, these tow paths have found a new purpose: recreational walking. They offer picturesque routes through the English countryside, allowing people to explore the beauty of the canals and rivers. The commerce that once flowed along these waterways may have shifted to railways, but the paths themselves continue to serve a valuable function.

This year, I had the privilege of joining three other hikers on a journey along the River Thames tow path, from the city of Oxford to its source, a distance of about 50 miles. Farther upstream, the river gradually narrowed, eventually transforming into a swollen creek before disappearing into a spring.

River lock and dam near Oxford, the river is wide enough for barge traffic, tow path on the right bank

Google My Maps was helpful to summarize the route (courtesy of Tom Wilson)

Several barges near Oxford, now repurposed as homes or vacation rentals, tow path on the left through the gap in the hedge (photo courtesy of Tom Wilson)

While our trip had been carefully planned for nearly a year, the weather gods had other ideas. A month's worth of rain fell a few days before we started walking, submerging large portions of the tow path. Perhaps unwisely, we pressed on, wading through waterlogged sections and even resorting to a barefoot crossing at one point. At times, we were forced to deviate from the trail - by cab to be honest - and continue our walk from higher ground.

As the saying goes, "It's called travel." These unexpected challenges added an extra layer of adventure. Sometimes the most memorable experiences are unplanned.

Start of the hike, with a light mist, and threat of flooding (photo courtesy of Tom Wilson)

Photo courtesy of John Morrissey

I was thankful for a fan heater and our hiking poles (photo courtesy of Tom Wilson)

Despite the flooding, much of the tow path was still walkable
 
What must have been a mill is now a home, with a stream running beneath it

Lovely garden topiary: tea pot, sugar bowl, and cup

At the trail's end a country hotel served up a fine breakfast, next to the river rendered in print (photo courtesy of John Morrissey)

Old print hanging in my hotel room on the Thames





Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Sensitive Plant and Common Weed

Mimosa pudica, also commonly called the sensitive plant  was a popular houseplant when I was growing up in the 1970s. It was popular for its ability to quicky change shape by folding up its leaves to protect them from herbivore predators. At the slightest touch the plant is able to expell water from special cells in the leaves, changing the shape from frond-like to a stick-form. The plant creeps along the ground, never for than a foot or so in height. In tropical parts of the world this plant is considered and invasive weed. Today, as I was treating plants to remove pests I happened to touch the leaves of a Mimosa pudica , one with a pretty puff-like flower. Sure enough, the leaves all folded up to almost nothing. Mimosa pudica , the sensitive plant Other more routine chores during my four-hour shift at the U of M Conservatory included cleaning three plants of Hibiscus clayi, native to Hawaii. These three plants in particular have suffered repeated infestations with a variety of in...
Post a Comment
Read more

Plantulary: Botanical Dance

The title of the dance performance was Plantulary. The theme, botanical. On a whim, my partner suggested we attend a performance of a new dance work by a small immersive arts collaborative, Aniccha Arts. Through the arc of a single year—from growth through to dormancy—the dancers describe the story of plant life using percussive dance rhythms, music, literary, and various vegetable props. For me, this dance performance was a challenge to appreciate; it was no Swan Lake. I didn’t fully understand the connection between many of the sound and dance elements. But, curiously, the memory of it has stuck with me for the past few days. To set the scene, the stage consisted of a simple dark room lit by spotlights and early evening sunlight coming in through large windows. Along the baseboard of the stage were narrow trays of green seedlings lit by fluorescent grow-lights, forming the outer limit of the performance space. To further imbue the stage with plant life, several moss balls (kokedama-l...
Post a Comment
Read more