Valiantly thwarting the concerted efforts of the railway and underground systems to prevent Ibex from having a walk at all, ten of us finally met up only half an hour late but perfectly timed to coincide with the cessation of rain for the whole day. Mud was a frequent challenge to our speed but we made good time to ‘The Cheese Shed’ where cheese toasties and other goodies were consumed outdoors in dry and even somewhat sunny weather, greatly entertained by the red kite who managed to swoop in between the fairy lights and nab his lunch from another table. After lunch a brief cultural moment was enjoyed admiring the neighbouring church’s stained glass windows designed by John Piper. Then off heading down back through muddy tracks relieved by occasional tiny lanes we made it back to Henley just in time for tea, beer and other vital nourishment.
