The weather was colder than expected, and overcast, but we had a record number of walkers for the long walk today as well as four dogs. All were well behaved, even the dogs. We took the black path and Little Lane, crossed the B4100 and carried on down Station Road, remarking on the stone wall collapses on each side. We turned down Millers Lane and could have walked through the ford as it was almost dry, but we took the route round it and crossed the footbridge back onto the lane. We stopped for everyone to catch their breath at the top of the lane. Next we turned right along wharf lane and then left across two fields and a copse to the back of Souldern Village. Then it was up to Nancy Bowles Wood and across to the Fritwell road junction, with still no sign of the Llamas grazing. back in Souldern we walked down past the church and through to the sewage works where there was some pumping activity in progress with a large truck and stretches of heavy plastic piping being arranged by workmen. We were soon on the Portway path and back at the pavilion for drinks and a chat after five and a half miles at 3.5mph.
