We welcomed two new walkers to the long walk today, making fifteen of us setting out in bright sunshine. Fortunately the rain had stopped half an hour before hand and there was another shower a few minutes after we got back. We set off through the village and down Station Road to Millers Lane. Along here we got mixed up with the medium walk but gradually overtook them and turned off before the ford so that we could go round it and cross the footbridge rather than wade through the fast moving stream. We reached the top of the lane on the edge of Souldern and here we should have waited to regroup. We could see several walkers following so we thought all was well. However a number were further behind and lost us at this point. We turned right down Wharf Lane and took the field path round Souldern Manor, came into the village from the track up from the swing bridge, and continued up the lane to Nancy Bowles Wood and Foxhill. No wild life was visible and the Llamas were not out in their field but dead wood was scattered from last night’s storm. We hit the Fritwell Road and were soon back in Souldern from where we walked past the church and through to the Portway track. The bottom of the final field was very thick with mud and water. The final track towards the tunnel was blocked by a fallen tree. We managed to cut and break off enough to enable everyone to either limbo underneath or sit astride and slide over. It was a relief to see the other walkers safely back in the pavilion enjoying their refreshments.
