Only the Long Walk took place today. Five of us braved the driving rain which turned to hail at times as we headed off along the Charlton Road. We took the path up to Rainsborough Camp with the wind behind us. It maybe madness, we thought but it is exhilarating. It was also cold and wet. We crossed Camp Farm and took the bridle way up to the lane towards to Croughton. The rain had eased off as we took the path across the fields and emerged by Croughton All Saints School. As we crossed the churchyard our very own vicar, Revd Simon Dommett, emerged from the church and wished us a Happy Christmas. The horse in the next field looked rather forlorn in the rain, as we passed through the gate and over the stile to the wooded path and Mill Lane. Horses in the next field were wearing their rain coats and seemed much less concerned. The path through the woods of Warren Farm and Upper Aynho Grounds were muddy but not swampy as they used to be before the work done last year. As we took the road down to the entrance to Upper Aynho Grounds a line of blue sky appeared and by the time we reached the Portway track we were walking in sunshine. In spite of this we did feel we thoroughly deserved the wonderful spread that Kay had prepared at the Pavilion as we joined the other villagers already enjoying themselves.
