Today is my activity day so I diligently headed off on the next part of my Thames Path adventure from Culham to Oxford. Culham, if you remember, was where I had to be evacuated from by taxi after the unexpected coming of darkness a few weeks ago. It turns out Culham is the site of the UK’s two fusion experiments – MAST and JET – which I missed before, on account of it being dark.

It was a fairly short section of path – around 12 miles – which is just as well as it was cold and grey and intermittently wet. After a few miles I came to Abingdon.

Because I don’t have much to talk about this week, I’m going to insert a topical factoid: the building you can see above is the County Hall. Why is this topical? Well, it’s tradition that on important royal occasions such as coronations or the upcoming wedding the local dignitaries climb onto the roof and hurl buns at the crowd below. The local museum apparently has preserved examples of buns that were thrown as long ago as the 19th century. Unfortunately it was closed today so I’ll have to go back again.

After several more hours of walking I arrived in Oxford. Beyond Oxford is a great unknown, as I don’t believe I’ve ever been to Wiltshire before. But that will have to wait for another day. I’m sure you’re all as excited as I am.