Gweld ti yno. the forecast is much better than the last one (which we survived with a smile).
Cheers J.P.
As it happens, when i checked the train times i would arrive in Goring fifty minutes early which didnât matter at all, i was quite happy along the station road looking in the hedge for critters which i found in abundance.
I took a guess that J.W. would arrive on the 11;45, and he did, i obviously blend into the background as he walked past me towards the station exit, but when he heard âbora da mr Williams, tiân iawn heddiwâ he stopped and turned, yes we had met and were soon on our way into the village, across the long wooden bridge over the Thames and into a cafe.
Sandwich and tea is just the perfect way to start any meeting, then it was the climb uphill onto the downs, this was a fairly long uphill, luckily not to steep as the day was definitely hot. At the top we turned right and were soon in some lovely woodland, the shade and solitude were splendid, why are so few people on these paths.
Oh, well we will have to take our chance, didnât see anyone and i guess itâs part of some game, when we emerged from the woodland it was into great parkland over looking a valley of varied trees.
Here we took a break and sat to enjoy the view, while amongst other things i wondered what the welsh for cumulus is (i know cloud) as maybe introducing some weather terminology would be good on the whats outside thread. So if anyone knows a source of welsh weather terminology i would be grateful.
When we moved on it was gradually downhill , so easy, i tried to photograph some Red kites high in the sky which of course look like spots on the photoâs (little did we know what would appear later).
I can only assure people it was as pretty as any painting as down and down we went until eventually reaching a river side pub, more drinks (of the cold variety) sitting beside the Thames, this welsh practice sure is pleasant, when we set of the path was right beside the river so a few boats, fishermen and no doubt because it was hot, swimmers were to be seen.
Including great crested grebe.
After a while iâm not sure if J.W. noticed my head tilting with straining ears but it became obvious he was hearing the same as me, the (cyw) chick of something big calling. It took a while of staring at a distant row of trees before i spotted the source. There was a ditch in the way preventing me getting any closer but luckily the zoom on the camera served me well.
Yes the chick of a red kite (barcud goch), looking big enough to soon be taking itâs first flight.
So already itâs about as good as a day can get, we carry on along the river bank seeing some damsel flies (mursenod) and so kept finding new things to talk about, when we reappeared beside streetly church we new the circuit was complete.
All that remained to do was walk back across the long bridge to Goring and, ooh another cafe, better stop for a pot of tea each. (well, itâs thirsty work this walking and talking), we eventually headed for the station, some people donât like long waits for a train but such events happen, but not today, when we reached the station a train going in J.Wâs direction pulled in and he had to sprint so as not to miss it, while i had a whole six minutes to wait.
It just remains to thank J.W. for planning and leading the route faultlessly and for his company, i think we agree we need more vocabulary to keep conversation going but the only way forward is to keep going, tan tro nesaf.
Cheers J.P.
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And many thanks to you JP for so much interesting and useful information in both Welsh and Saesneg about whatâs outside!
Hwyl fawr, John
PS And apologies for walking straight past when I got off the train!
Well, after last weekendâs ramble very nicely chronicled by JP above, time to start thinking about possibilities for the next one. Would any of you like to suggest a date? Being the holiday season, people are likely to be away at different tines (including me), so finding a convenient date might be a problem, but we can give it a try. Iâve got a few ideas about where we might go, but other suggestions would be very welcome.
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As alternative suggestions for the next ramble have been a bit slow in coming so far, here some of mine -
With public transport to starting point
- Starting from The Trout Inn at Wolvercote (bus from central Oxford) â Thames path to Eynsham and back via Wytham Wood
- Starting from Oxfordâs Thornhill Park & Ride - Shotover Country Park
- Starting from Tackley Station (Oxford-Banbury line) â canal towpath to Kidlington (frequent buses to Oxford)
- Starting from Islip Station (Oxford-Bicester line â rail replacement bus) â along River Cherwell back to Oxford
Car-sharing etc probably needed - Beckley to Otmoor RSPB reserve
- Circular walk Burford to Swinbrook & return to Burford alongside River Evenlode
- A visit to a BBOWT nature reserve
For dates, Saturday 18th or 25th July would be OK for me or, depending on the day, possibly even a weekday in the next couple of weeks but if I couldnât make it on a day when there are enough other people to chat to each other in Cymraeg (i.e. more than one!), Iâd be happy give more details about the suggestions above if needed
Hwyl fawr, John
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Thanks for the time you are putting into this J.W.
This first four suggestions sound like a good list to work through.
a BBOWT nature reserve i could do if people were happy to get train to Thatcham station,
Canal path, around the reed beds to lake and cafe, then different route back to canal path for
return to station.
I wonât be available on the two July dates.
Cheers J.P.
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As we still have to settle on a date for the next Oxford group ramble would anybody like to suggest possible dates later this month and/or early September? As to where, there are a few suggestions in my previous post but more suggestions are always useful
What about either 22nd or 29th August for the Thames Path to Eynsham route??
Yes, 22nd or 29th would be good for me as well
sounds good to me, that is i should be able to make those dates.
Cheers J.P.
Have you settled on a date? I could pop it in this weekâs email - Dee
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Diolch Dee - Iâm away at the moment,so sorry I wasnât quick enough responding to make it into this weekâs email.
Letâs settle on Sat 22nd Aug meeting at 1200 at The Trout in Wolvercote - Iâll try and post details later, for those who need it, of how to get there
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Here are details of the planned route etc for the ramble/sgwrs on Sat 22nd Aug - all welcome. 
On the map the dashed red line shows the route. For those needing public transport, take bus route number 6 from Magdalen St (nr Debenhams), Oxford City Centre, which leaves at 10, 25, 40 & 55 mins past the hour arriving at Wolvercote (Home Close - marked A on this map) 15mins later - the Trout Inn is next to the Thames river bridge about a quarter of a mile along Godstow Rd in the direction of Wytham.
If youâre coming by car, be warned that there are likely to be queues at the Wolvercote & Cutteslowe roundabouts because of roadworks, so it may be better to take the route via a turning off the northbound carriageway of the ring road just north of the Botley interchange through the hamlet of Wytham (shown as a dotted blue line on this map).
Hwyl fawr, John
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Thanks John, Iâll bring the bara brith to sustain us!
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Helo!
David in Warwick here. You donât know me, but I like the look of your walk on Saturday. Iâve been learning Cymraeg for about a year and did Iestynâs bootcamp in June. I need plenty of practice!
Could one of you tell me your mobile number in case I get lost? Mine is 07875826361.
Iâll be travelling by train and then the 6 bus from Magdalen St as John advised.
Hwyl fawr,
David
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Hi David, Iâve sent you a text. Iâm not familiar with the area either but could offer moral support!!
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Thank you, Pippa, but unfortunately Iâm not gonna be able to come tomorrow after all.
But I would like to meet the group at the Jericho Cafe one Tuesday. Will people be there this coming Tuesday, the 25th?
Kind regards,
David
Hi David, yes, there should be a few of us on Tuesday 25th. Hope you can come.
Well now, how did the ramble go, to start with the weather forecast was not particularly good.
The weather forecast was very wrong.
Were there any problems with the day, i have one in that i seem to have taken over fifty photoâs so have to select just a few.
I arrived at Oxford station, found a snack and set of to walk alongside the Thames towards the trout pub to meet with fellow learners on time. It was already hotting up which was confirmed when i passed horses standing in the river.
Ceffyl sefyll mewn afon.
Two friends were met with and we soon set of further along the river, lots of conversation was flowing and it seemed like, just maybe i was improving at listening and speaking (thereâs optimism). Itâs not at all easy to remember what we talked about but the subject did roam around freely. At one time there was a discussion about tricky words sounding similar that begin with (ys).
How many have i remembered (let me know folks if any are missing).
Ystlum - Bat. (the flying kind).
Ystlys - Side/flank.
Ysgallen - Thistle.
Ysguthan - Wood pigeon.
The path of life contains many things and one surprise today was that it contained a wasp nest in a hole in the ground.
Chance to put the camera in a wasps nest (nyth picwnen), not a common event.
As luck would have it , about half way in todayâs route a bridge appeared which when crossed led to a pub. Long cool drinks all round were perfect as yes it was rather hot.
Back across the bridge and onto a path towards the woods (witham wood) and we passed an interesting tree (one with the middle rotted away but still alive).
The path continued uphill and we did pass some mushrooms (Madarch y maes) which slugs (Gwlithen) had been enjoying. It was just oh so pleasant walking slowly uphill chatting away and such a thrill for me when people understood what i was trying to say in Welsh.
At the high point of the walk something attractive appeared.
Set in the shade it was perfect for enjoying bara brith which pippa had made (blasus iawn).
Yep, this learning cymraeg involves a lot of tough challenges but the cake was NOT tough.
Itâs always a good question to ask âwhat will we see in the woodsâ, and this one had my colleagues looking a little puzzled for a description.
Sculpture !!!.
We passed through the woods and out onto so grassland where amongst other things grasshoppers were singing and there were some huge thistles.
The path descended into a little village where of all the luck, there was a tea shop open, more drinks, this walking and talking is thirsty work. We left here along a quiet lane passing a wedding party and looking out across harvest fields.
That view gives some idea of just how nice the day had become and prompted a short disscusion about clouds (cymylau).
More fields, people swimming in the river (yes it was that hot) and on returning to our start point something cymru popped up.
Unfortunately, no one appeared to be on board to try and engage yn cymraeg but it was a nice touch to finish the walk.
It only remains for me to thank J.W. and pippa for a great day out, may there be many more.
The walk was about eight and a half miles, so no great stress which was lucky on such a hot day.
Cheers J.P.
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Diolch i ti John am y grynodeb. This was indeed a great day! It is a braint to crwydro with the Johns even when the temperature gauge hits 30 degrees.
I would like to add Ysgawen (Elder) & ysgwydd (something to do with fungi) & ysgyfarnog (hare) to the ys words that we covered today.
For those of us in awe of @ramblingjohnâs photographic skills I can confirm that he did indeed stick his head in a very large waspâs nest for the photo above. Meanwhile @johnwilliams_6 & I maintained a safe distance discussing how to translate âpoco locoâ into y gymraeg.
Tempted to join us next time?? Please do.
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