We congratulated David and Renate (in her absence) for qualifying as new walk leaders and welcomed back Ian Wilson who, on his brief return from Portugal, backed up today. Ten of us set off down the Portway path in overcast but quite warm weather. At last the wind had dropped. We continued towards Souldern but branched off up the hill to cross the B4100 and enter the drive of Upper Aynho Grounds. Now that the various competition events have moved to the field beyond the Great Barn, the adjacent track has been improved but we were soon in muddier wheel tracks as we descended into the woods. Beyond the end of the lakes where the path starts to climb again the woods have undergone a big change.Felling, replanting and fencing have transformed the look of the area, and the new drainage ditches have almost sorted out the boggy ground that was always there whatever the weather. The track out to the field was also flattened and almost free of mud compared with our last visit. We crossed the field and entered Croughton Churchyard, checking the TV is still embedded in the hollow yew trunk. Once across the road by the school we continued up Wheelers Rise and passed the farm house into the fields. The track led us steeply down to a footbridge and up the other side out to the back lane. The bridleway off from there took us to the permissive path up to Camp Farm. Manure was being spread and shifted to other fields as we smelled, before and after we saw the trucks and diggers at work. We continued through Camp Farm and the Iron Age fort before reaching the path along the ridge to Green Lane and back to the pavilion. 6.8 miles in a minute over two hours, we felt, entitled us to the coffee and carrot cake Anita had waiting.
