Change of mind from Penn Street

Having decided to start our walk from Penn Street, we had discussed a couple of routes and decided to head North East towards Amersham then West towards Mop End. Having set out on this route, we realised that the only route across A413 was via the embankments. Thankfully, this at Woodrow - before making too much progress in that direction. So we reverted to our other option towards Coleshill.

The weather forecast had indicated a chance of 'light rain showers'. However, the heavens opened when we were half way around. We donned all our wet weather clothes and even sheltered behind a hedge to avoid walking directly into the rain. This didn't last long, and we were soon back to T-shirts.

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Ibstone and Northend in the September sunshine

It's hard to find new routes and new paths when you've been walking in the same area for 25 years, but Rosie managed it. This was a lovely Chilterns route with several ascent and descents, made better by the sunshine and there being hardly anyone about. We passed St Nicholas Church at Ibstone (yellow marker on the map), which is tiny and a hotch-potch of styles - including pebble-dash. It dates from the early 12th century but had 'restoration' in 1870. Read more about it here.
Having parked outside The Fox, it was only natural to pop in for a light lunch of well-kept Rebellion beer  and decent home-made soup (but not as good as Rosie's).

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