Wild weather with sunshine and showers interchanging every few minutes as fourteen of use set off through the village and down Station Road to Millers Lane. No sign of the deer as we walked down the lane to the ford. The stream was still well below the track in spite of the recent rain. The track up to Souldern has been relaid in uneven concrete strips and work is still going on. We turned along Wharf Lane and crossed the stile round the back of Souldern Manor. The horses in the field were wearing their raincoats and were eager to greet us in the vain hope of treats. There was sunshine at this point but once we had taken the path between the houses and started up the track to Nancy Bowles Wood it was overcast and spitting with rain again. We had to cut and slash the nettles as we passed through the copse to the path alongside the alpacas. They raced forward towards us today with their horse companion close behind. The heavy old sheep grazed on regardless. We walked back through the village and down past the church, pleased that the stile there had been strengthened. From there we followed the Portway route back to Aynho and the pavilion; glad of the refreshments as the rain was starting again. 5.4 miles.
