A lovely day for a stretch of The Ridgeway, and a view of the future

It was a perfect sunny and warm day for this walk between three of the highlights of The Chilterns, starting from Combe Hill and then taking The Ridgeway to Pulpit Hill and Whiteleaf Hill.

From Combe Hill, Rosie was able to point out the route of HS2, heading west of Wendover, south of Stoke Mandeville and west of Aylesbury. I daresay this will be a subject of some discussion in the Brake/Jackson household in the next few months.

This was yet another walk from our Adventurous Pub Walks in the Chilterns book. It was rated there at 8 miles, and seemed longer. In fact, Rosie said that if it was only 8 miles, then she is a Dutchman. She measured in on the map and will subquently be known as De Heer Brake.

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A non-pub walk from Penn

Another cold and dry day, and another walk from the Adventurous Pub Walks in the Chilterns book  - this time from Penn. We had an appointment to review the plans for our kitchen re-fit in the early afternoon, so had to forgo a pub lunch and pick up a sandwich at M&S. Once again, this book took us on paths we hadn't explored before, including a long Rhododedron-lined  path in Penn Wood. Would be nice to repeat this walk when they're in bloom.

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Cookham and Boulters Lock before the snow

It was cold day, with snow forecast for the evening, so we donned our scarves, silly hats and, in one case, long johns and headed for Cookham for a route we'd walked a few times before. It took us along The Thames to an icy Boulters Lock, and then back along the 'Green Way'. We took a small diversion to Raymill Island to inspect the site of a planned bridge.

We went with Steve and Jennifer to see Three Bonzos and a Piano at Norden Farm on Satuay evening, with Jennifer driving. When we emerged after 10pm, the snow was a few inches deep and driving was difficult. A car had failed to get up the short slope joining to the A4, so we headed the long way around to the A404 in very slippery  conditions with poor visibility. Surprisingly, the A404 was no better and we struggled along at 15mph. After some debate, we decided to brave the Marlow ramp, and got to the top without trouble, and then slithered up to our house in Marlow Bottom. Well done Jennifer! It was clear that trying to get to Wycombe was not a good idea, so Steve and Jennifer stayed over with us.

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