We welcomed a visitor, Jo Pearson, today bringing us up to fifteen walkers. Was there anywhere relatively free of mud? we wondered after yesterday’s rain. We set off through the village, down Station Road and into Millers Lane. We skirted round the ford and crossed the fields to the motorway tunnel. So far the path had been surprisingly free of water and mud. Once we had passed under the motorway that changed and as we passed the viaduct the water lay everywhere as the picture shows. In the next field the sheep did not need the electric fence to keep them in. They were all grazing at the top of the hill. When we reached the canal the outflow was very vigorous. WE continued along the towpath noting that the meadows on either side were flooded. beyond the moorings the canal poured over the towpath for some fifty yards. We stopped and considered. Wellington boots would have allowed us to continue, but many had walking boots. We agreed to turn back. We retraced our steps beyond the viaduct and took the steep path up to Wharf Lane. Across the skyline a deer ran, paused and ran on. We followed Wharf Lane into Souldern before returning to the pavilion via Millers lane. After seven and a half miles we gathered round convivial tables to enjoy Kay’s lunches, cakes and coffee.
