Wantage to Ashbury - 20th September 2003 - 10 miles
Back on the Ridgeway for a two day walk (after a long break since early
August) with cloud/mist slow to lift. Pass under a hot
air balloon descending in the haze. Pass by regimental
sheep at Segsbury Castle Fort. Almost pass out with excitement as
the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
passes overhead. Spitfire pilot, unable to maintain close formation, misses
out on wonderful photo opportunity. Lunch
suggested as remedy for energy-draining aviatory excitement. We observe
that Oxfordshire fields resemble
our Chiltern version but seem to contain even more chalk. Two racehorses
emerge from 'gallop' as lunch ends. Lean jockey leans over and comments
on "nice weather" but may have said "nice sandwich".
Pause for water at Peter Wren's
tap. The army is out in Landrovers
today, decked out in red or white bunting, looking mostly lost, mostly
at maps, and coating us in chalk dust each time they pass. Today's pub
detour means a 10% hill down to Kingston Lisle. Gloria is the only one
with enough energy to try the Blowing
Stone and we all feel very tired on arrival at the
pub. But, rejuvenated by his pint, Richard leaps
on a tall wall and snaps the
village stables. After effortlessly puffing back up the hill we return
to the trail and Richard meets
a friend out trail biking. Another WWII veteran, a ghostly Flying
Fortress, appears in the distance, too far away to photograph. Our chalky
walk continues and Lesley pauses constantly to record the local flora
(rosehips and hawksbeard
this time) and fauna (a worn-out
butterfly). Sloe berries hang
heavily in the blackthorn and thoughts of gin- making hang over someone's
head. Waylands Smithy,
an ancient burial place built when men were big and moved big stones,
has been on this spot for fifty five hundred years so we give up five
minutes for a rest and a photo. And, finally, down another hill to the
Rose and Crown in Ashbury
for a bath, a drink, a meal and bed. Tomorrow is another day...of walking!
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