Most commented posts
- Day 2 – Gone with the Wind — 7 comments
- Day 15 – Blenheim — 6 comments
- Day 6 – Rollright Stones — 5 comments
- Day 23 – Walking with the End in Sight — 5 comments
- Day 3: Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst — 4 comments
Author's posts
Aug 30
Day 1 – Cheltenham to Beckford
Going Round in Circles Once again, Jane and I – and of course, Moses the dog – are setting off on a “circular” walk. And as was the case last year, rather than staying in the homes of kind ZANE supporters, we will be sleeping in our own bed at home for much of the …
Aug 29
The Day Before
Everyone is being suspiciously kind to me (and Jane and Moses) as we set off. I see them staring with a look tinged with disapproval as they wonder: “why isn’t he an exhibit on the Antiques Roadshow rather than tottering out like Captain Tom on yet another trek, at his age? They can think what …
Sep 23
A Couple of Days After
Now the walk of 143 miles is over, our 11th walk! – the weather was kind to us – In fact it was perfect. A couple of last thoughts. If I am denounced for expressing my views, I shall of course demand ”counselling”: apparently it’s all the fashion these days. I was told that my …
Sep 21
Day 15 – Blenheim
The last leg had us chasing around Stonesfield, through Blenheim and what a beautiful estate it is, particularly in September sunshine. We talked about “racism”. What, we wondered, is a fair definition as the word is so often hurled about in argument as a terminal insult? I like Martin Luther King’s hope that people should …
Sep 20
Day 14 – Cornbury Park (Charlbury)
Off we start. The penultimate day and with a delightful new group of walkers including one couple who have walked with us – and map read with great accuracy – nine times. Two dogs with us again, so Moses runs at least twice the stated distance. More glorious weather. The lunch at a middling pub: …
Sep 20
Day 13 – Stonesfield and Finstock
Happy Shambling I shamble up to Stonesfield, as old as sin and not two pounds of me hanging straight. Then the day looked up as the group gathered together some of my favourite people in my world, Darling Jane and beloved daughter Rev Clare Hayns; son in law, and ZANE close chum, John Hayns. I …
Sep 18
Day 12 – Chadlington
A great day for walking and our company was blessed by some old friends and new. We booked in to “The Chequers” in Churchill and what an excellent choice it turned out to be. Fresh, and an interesting menu of food. As we walked, inevitably, we talked about Brexit. Sound and Fury Are you still …
Sep 17
Day 11 – Leafield
Slightly less humid and thank goodness for that. Three delightful walkers – two young women and their Mum. The last mile was a chore for the greedy toad of a farmer had ploughed up the path, and you know how hard that can make walking. Our friend David Cook turned up, which was a real …
Sep 16
Day 10 – Noke
Anatomy of a tiff! Last night I told General Jane that she couldn’t map read for toffee. She told me that I was less than supportive – in fact, what she said was rather less ladylike than that. She referred to my ancestry and she listed some of my less than savoury habits. She then …
Sep 15
Day 9 – Bourton on the Water
ZANE and the Art of Motorcycle… Another red hot day: we were met by four delightful ZANE supporters who walked the entire route with us. At lunch, we were greeted by Ralph Fergusson Kelly, who motor biked from Monmouth to meet us, bless him. Hume Truths Some of our walkers are Catholic. I reminded them …