Today I finally got back to my Thames River Ramble! It felt good to be back in touch with the river, another “homecoming” of sorts after a week in Europe. Leg 7 began in Maidenhead and concluded at Staines-on-Thames, around 14.5 miles total. Between these two towns lies the historically significant towns of Windsor, Eton, and Runnymede. This leg of my ramble is one I was most looking forward to when planning this adventure. Today did not disappoint. The weather was brisk early; with temperatures in the mid-30s, my hands were numb for the first hour or so of the journey, but things warmed up nicely as the sun emerged over the trees. Note to self: bring gloves for the remaining legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can’t recall if I’ve shared this before, but this semester has stoked a major obsession in me about British boarding schools. The very idea of sending your child out of the home to live in a boarding school is a strange one to me. I don’t think I would have the stomach to send my child away, and I certainly don’t have the money. The annual cost for an education at Eton College<\/a> is over $55,000, and there is a rigorous academic standard that a boy must meet even to be considered for placement. Eton is one of the few schools that has remained stubbornly true to its boys-only tradition. The majority of boarding and day schools in England have transitioned to co-educational offerings. In the past Eton was the aristocratic home of the wealthy and well-connected. These days the school has been more intentional in opening up space for boys from less privileged backgrounds. I would love to learn more about a typical week for an Eton student. The rhythm of life in a setting so foreign to my own secondary school experience intrigues me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My curiosity prompted me to take a side journey off the Thames path into the center of Eton town. Making my way to the school campus I came across several boys dressed in the traditional Eton attire. I avoided taking pictures of students, but I did capture some nice shots of the campus and some of the houses that provide the living quarters for the students. (note: pictures of today’s ramble are available on my Facebook page, here<\/a>). The educational home of many British prime ministers, Nobel prize winners, and British royalty, Eton was most impressive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to indulging my curiosity of the English boarding school system, I enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the pastures of Runnymede. Somewhere in this area King John signed the Magna Carta <\/a>in 1215. The exact spot where John signed is unknown, but the town has several monuments devoted to one of the most historically significant moments in British history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After finishing my leg in Staines-on-Thames, I have now passed the halfway mark of my ramble, covering 95 miles of the 184 mile path. I am approaching the outskirts of London, so my travel plans heading toward the Thames Barrier will be transitioning once I enter the London Zones covered by the Underground. My plan is to take the Oxford Tube bus to Victoria Station for the London Legs, riding the Underground to the stops closest to the start point for each leg. This should allow me to complete the southward portion of the ramble more economically, albeit with a long round-trip bus commute to punctuate both ends of the walk. I remain a bit anxious about my next leg northward, a remote 19-mile stretch from Newbridge to Lechlade-on-Thames. I’m still trying to figure out my public transit options from Lechlade back to Oxford. Stay tuned…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Return home<\/a>…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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