We welcomed a new walker, Faye to the long walk today so twelve walkers set off down the Portway path. Today both the Park House deer herds were quite close to the fence, although our approach seemed to disturb them. We continued across the fields to Souldern and then down Wharf Lane to the canal. The water was still and calm. Surprisingly no long boats passed the whole time we were walking the towpath. Plenty of ducks and other water birds enjoyed the fishing. At the Great Western we took the road over the canal and the railway and under the next railway and then followed the field edge round to the motorway tunnel. The copses on either side of the tunnel had grown very strongly, making the approaches very dim and dingy. In the field beyond, we saw wild deer rise out of the ripe wheat and go leaping and running away. We continued through the ford, still very low and clear of the track, and walked up Millers Lane back to the village and the refreshments awaiting at the pavilion. 6.2 miles.
