Thirteen of us set off in warm sunshine on a new route. Thanks to David and Sheila Belcher we had permission to walk up from Station Road to Nell Bridge Farm, cross the Canal and walk back to the Wharf. We took Station Road and Millers Lane, the ford at Souldern Mill was dry, and continued on under the M40 to the railway bridge over Station Road. From there our new section began as we walked up the long track to the farm. On the way we saw countless rabbits and a flock of ducklings. The latter rushed headlong into the nearby lake. In woodland near the farm buildings a deer fled out of sight among the trees. We gathered in the farmyard so that we could all pass through the gated field together and were soon standing on a bridge overlooking the railway. We had a perfect view of the junction where the two routes separated. One via Oxford and the other to Thame and on to Marylebone. We soon crossed the canal and were impressed by the construction where the River Cherwell crossed the canal, feeding it or draining it depending on the water level. There was a minor problem here. The gate onto the towpath was very securely fixed. However we all managed to climb over it. One member slipped on the dry dusty slope and strained a leg muscle. She managed to walk as as far as the wharf but was in too much pain to continue. She sat and had a coffee at the cafe while her husband went back for the car. The canal was very busy with longboats motoring in both directions. Once back on the return route we saw a heron take off by the M40 and fly the length of the tunnel before rising above the trees. Back at the Pavilion we were glad of the usual refreshments after what finished as an eight mile walk.
