January in Henley on Thames and Reading

A leaf illuminated by the sun on the pavement

These penny farthing bikes have been appearing all over Henley, and Liz Beth seemed to be the first to capture a picture of them on Facebook, Henley Past and Present Group. This weekend I walked through the shops from Greys Road and noticed the bikes propped against a sign post.

I spoke briefly to the owners who reappeared suddenly, and noted that they were dressed in appropriate contemporary clothes and footwear, for the era when bikes were in their infancy!

Here we see them walking off with their bikes! I admire them for getting on top of the saddle! Mind you they were walking with the bikes – maybe they need a ladder or wall to climb onto the Penny Farthing?

http://www.bicyclehistory.net/bicycle-history/penny-farthing/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny-farthing (explains about current clubs that still ride replicas

On the 12th I visited the excellent Cole Zoological Exhibition at Reading University

I took a number 10 bus from Friar Street, but entered the University the long way round, past buildings, then through some woods, across the river then found the Museum. On the way out I found that I should have got the 21 bus there, as it was close to a road.

Above are pictures of the divide between one area of the University where the Museum is. I was fortunate to be the only visitor there on the day, and had plenty of time to take photos of the Museum, then walk round and view the exhibits as well. It was a small but interesting Museum to visit. https://collections.reading.ac.uk/cole-museum/