A lovely day for a walk today: warm and sunny but not too hot. Fourteen long walkers set off along the Black Path, through the village and down Millers Lane to the ford. The leading group crossed the footbridge and walked through the fields, under the motorway and out to the Great Western Pub. From there we continued onto the towpath and walked to the swing bridge. The other group did not cross the footbridge but continued up into Souldern village and then down Wharf lane to Souldern Wharf. we all passed a number of long boats cruising the canal. Dragon flies flew along the reeds and gunnera and ducks panicked at our approach and swam noisily across to the far bank. At the swing bridge Marion and her dogs had waited to make sure we unchained it to allow boats to pass safely. We caught the other group as we followed the track past the long viaduct and up into Souldern Village. We all crossed the fields together and came up the Portway path, past the collapsed wall and onto the pavilion where Kay was back for one week only with fabulous cakes and lunches. Seven and a half miles in two and a half hours and still in lovely sunshine.
