Marlow...Enjoying the River

Higginson Park borders the Thames. It's 23 acres of lawns, flower beds and river views includes a huge playground where most of the town's children spend time each week.
Strolling by the river is one of Marlow's greatest pleasures... The Thames Path National Trail passes through Marlow en-route from the Cotswalds to London. I started my hike heading away from the bridge, through the meadows across from the 12th century Bisham Abbey on the opposite bank, now the home of the National Sports Centre..the training centre for England's elite athletes. I get to see it twice this day on each side of the river...on my walk I see other hikers, fishermen casting lines, boaters and kayakers along the way. My first stop is at Temple Lock, just in time to see a boat passing through. My intention was to stop there, then return to Marlow; however, the sun was shining, the walking easy albeit muddy and the sights refreshing, with the river on one side,
fields of sheep, cattle and various and sundry animals gently grazing on the other.
Beyond the lock and over a footbridge, through another meadow to another footbridge, I reached Hurley Lock, a busy marina area where dozens of boats were moored, awaiting weekend visitors. Beyond the lock I returned to the river, crossed yet another footbridge, along a narrow lane, I arrived at the pretty little village of Hurley. I had visited this area once before and was happy to return. By tiny village, I mean 1 little store... and two pubs, the Risin' Sun and Ye Olde Bell Inn. Not wanting to be disrespectful, I chose to visit both pubs! Ye Olde Bell Inn dates back to the 1100s. During WW II, American troops were stationed nearby. Winston Churchill and General Dwight Eisenhower met at this very inn. I felt an immense sense of history as I enjoyed this particular pub, with its low, dark beams, beautiful gardens and surroundings. It is a destination pub for weekend escapes for thousands each year. On this particular day, I was one of four enjoying its hospitality.
As I departed, I somehow missed the intended footpath, proceeded as if I knew what I was doing and never did find the appropriate footbridge. Before I knew it, I was hiking parallel to but not alongside the Thames. I walked passed through a kissing gate, a caravan park and farmers fields, always believing that the river was just out of view. Passing alongside farmers' fields, I eventually came to the village of  Temple. Knowing that I was trudging along in the right direction I eventually passed
Bisham Abbey once again, only this time up close. It always amazes me to see these structures not only still standing but still being used as they were originally intended. Once past the Abbey, I knew that heading home was a matter of passing by the training centre, passing over the famous Marlow bridge and picking the correct pathway to get me back to my daughter's house.
That same footpath shows another possibility for another day... Marlow to Bourne End...a 6 mile walk which starts near the Two Brewers Pub (under renovation due to a fire), one of my favourite pubs! The Thames Path offers wonderful walks which are loaded with history...to follow that path is to pass by Quarry Wood, said to be Kenneth Grahame's inspiration for The Wild Wood in, "Wind in
the Willows".
Home tired and muddy from my excursion, I wonder if traipsing through NCC paths in the Greater Ottawa region will ever provide such historical significance... That's where I'll be wandering soon!