Long Walk 21st November led by Sheila Lane
8 of us met at the Spade Oak; the weather kept dry but there was a freezing cold wind! The walk was new to several, and the Spade Oak served up a very good meal. – I’ve had two E Mails from walkers saying what a great day it was. High praise indeed !!!
Strollers 11th November –led by Jill & Richard Jones
Unfortunately it had rained a lot previously and the weather forecast was for showers so there were only 6 of us for the stroll at Hampden Woods. In fact it turned out to be a lovely sunny morning and everyone enjoyed themselves and the meal afterwards.
Medium Walk 15th November led by David & Jenny Brown
This walk began at an old favourite pub, The Valiant Trooper at Aldbury, where we can park and always receive a warm welcome. Fourteen of us set off at 9.45 am on a disappointingly grey and drizzly morning in the direction of Cow Roast on the Grand Union Canal. However the light rain soon cleared as we made our way over fields and through woodland to arrive at Norcott Farm where we were charmed by the inquisitive alpaca herd. Interestingly we heard, at a recent U3A science group talk, that alpacas are special in that they produce antibodies used to fight some cancers.
From here we walked down to the Grand Union Canal and enjoyed the colourful canal boats lined up alongside Cow Roast basin. Heading north along the canal towpath , which was fringed with bright autumn colour, we turned off after a couple of miles up to Marsh Croft Farm. Our route then led up to the Pitstone Hill Ridgeway Trail which we followed before turning onto the scenic path over the golf course and back to Aldbury, arriving at 1.30 pm.
Having pre-ordered lunch we were quickly served and enjoyed our lunch by the cosy fire.
Shakespeare Way November 6th
Fifteen of us met at Gt Missenden station on a bright sunny morning for our final leg. After arriving in Marylebone we had an easy underground transfer to Victoria station where we boarded a South West train to Battersea Park, arriving just before 11am.We set off, initially along a busy main road skirting the new development at Battersea Power station, later reaching the river where we walked along a riverside path with lovely views opening up all the time of the various buildings along the way and in the distance. We paused for a coffee break on some strategically placed seats just before Vauxhall bridge before continuing on passing Lambeth bridge and on towards Westminster bridge with good views of the Houses of Parliament. Then on along the South Bank, we passed the London Eye and other tourist attractions, then Waterloo bridge and on round the final bend to go under Blackfriars bridges, then the Millenium bridge to finally reach the Globe – our goal!
After taking a few photos we continued on for a short distance to Zizzi, our lunch time restaurant, arriving at 1pm. We had a large table reserved with good views of the river, or the kitchen, depending upon which side of the table you were sitting and were served by very friendly staff. The food was good and plentiful and we all enjoyed a very happy couple of hours reminiscing over our long walk – only 4 of the group had actually walked all 17 legs – Sheila, John, Peter – and Doretta who walked 2 legs twice! Leaving the restaurant at 3.15 John presented us all with momentos of the walk that he had managed to procure from the Shakespeare’s Way Association. Then we walked the short distance to Bankside Pier to take the Thames Clipper upstream to Embankment, then the Bakerloo line to Marylebone, where we soon caught a train back to Gt Missenden. A very successful day and conclusion of a lovely walk
Short Walk 22nd November – led by Angela Wall
The forecast was for rain by midday but that didn’t deter nine intrepid walkers and two dogs from gathering in the car park in Wendover Woods. We set off in high spirits along the main track to Boddington Fort in misty drizzly weather and followed easy-to-walk tracks within the woods through mud, puddles and soggy leaves. Both cream-coloured dogs very soon became brown and wet but they chased around the virtually empty woods in great excitement. The walk took us along forest tracks overlooking Wendover and Halton Camp and eventually we headed uphill in the direction of the café. By this time the weather had inevitably turned to rain and nine rather bedraggled walkers and dogs arrived at noon in the car park thankful that we had managed the 4 mile walk in good time. Seven of us stayed for lunch in the new café and were very impressed with the service and reasonably- priced, wholesome food. A lovely walk but the weather could have been kinder!