Only seven of us braved the cold, wet and windy conditions this week, but once underway we soon warmed up and enjoyed ourselves. A big thank you to David for backing up. We walked the long straight mile of the Charlton Road and took the lane at Cut Throat Corner before branching off across the footpath to Croughton. Passing down through the village, we crossed the road by the school and took the path to the churchyard before turning through the farm yard and facing into the rain. At the stile two ponies sheltered and were not going to move for us. We skirted round them and crossed the stile without them giving us more than a glance. Later as we approached the ford in Mill Lane a heron rose up and flew through the trees to continue fishing undisturbed. The track through the woods of Upper Aynho Grounds was churned up by vehicles engaged in major felling and, we hope, replanting. As we climbed the track beyond the woods towards the Great Barn a small herd of deer raced along the horizon, difficult to see against the hedge behind them. We crossed the B4100 safely and continued up the Portway to the pavilion only to find it all closed up and the usually helpful and welcoming Anita nowhere to be seen. We were greatly saddened to discover that her mother had died that morning and our sincere condolences go out to her at such a sad time.
