30/6/21: out of isolation!

Pleased to say I’ve now completed my 10 days isolation, have the negative COVID test so I’m out and about! Which is great. So, first thing on the agenda – walk into Oxford along the Thames:

starting from the Swinford Toll bridge towards the left of the map above:

Number of reasons for this, it’s close to here, easy to do without a car – so take one bus to the starting point and another from the finish – very nice walking:

Was also wanting to do a bit of shopping in Oxford, also there’s the tourist trail which I may well return to in a later blog.

The other reason for choosing this walk as the first out of isolation is because even somebody as clueless as me can follow the towpath of a river without getting lost. So long, of course, as I’m facing in the right direction in the first place. Occasionally you see a sign which helps here:

But the general rule seems to be signs which helpfully tell you, just in case it isn’t obvious that this is a footpath:

This is a river:

But then give identical signs pointing left / right / forwards / backwards:

I’d love to understand why it is considered a good use of money to put up signs which state the obvious but leave out the one thing which might actually be helpful. Possibly there are other walkers out there who understand left and right better than I do but appreciate being told that they’re on a footpath next to a river? I feel a sermon illustration coming on – these signs seem to be a metaphor for life – but very aware that it is bad practice to find your illustration first and then work out the point the illustration is illustrating. Nevertheless…..

Anyway, I did manage to get myself pointed in the correct direction and much enjoyed the exercise, slightly suffering for it today but that’s fine, no problem! Looking forward to being back in touch soon, meanwhile, any insights into the mystery which is footpath signage gratefully received.