Henley-on-Thames, 17 miles of mud,mud and more mud!

So the car was parked, Theia was content that it would not be later accessorized with a yellow boot, and herself, Prometheus, Mnemosyne ventured on their walk starting at Stoke Row nestled in the heart of the Chilterns.

We were quickly met by vast amounts of woodland with tall and sparse looking trees in which the ground was covered with lots of brown leaves, Autumn had well and truly set in.


We quickly stopped for a photo opportunity in which Prometheus found a novel way of using his walking pole, looked on by a very unimpressed Theia.


As we continued to go forth through further woodland and valleys we quickly realised that the special of the day was mud and lots of it! Not so much of a problem for Prometheus and Mnemosyne who could use their poles to leap frog over it, Theia, however, was not so lucky.
Not ones to look on the negative side we exclaimed our joy and appreciation for the wonderful beauty that is mud.


After stopping at the historic town of Henley-On-Thames for some lunch we continued onto Famous Copse, an area boasting many large and attractive estates. We were greeted by more mud, a fair amount of stiles and, a new novelty, darkness!

The head torches came out and realisation set in that this was something that we were going to have to get used to. Our technique of walking in the dark and finding more stiles was a bit sketchy, however, I'm sure we will get lots more practice!

Hampshire Hills

So on a sunny day in October, Mnemosyne, Theia and Prometheus went for a walk on the Hampshire hills. Starting and ending near watership down. The original plan was to hike along the route from this site but we were delayed leaving; we had finally signed up for the Oxfam trailwalker that morning. So happily and we headed off, throwing the planed walk out the window (the idea that is not the map 1) that would be littering and 2) have you seen the price of os maps?).

Hills were a novel feature to our merry band of titans. They walked to the top of each hill only to come back down the other side. Unlike their last walk there was no cow to gingerly walk around but there were plenty of giggles to break the peace and quiet of the country side. After 8 or so miles lunch became an issue as did a sit so a convinently fallen tree was found.



Then onwards we plodded, the novelty of hills soon wore off. Time was against us, it look like sunset wouldn't be long and what another hill? Leaveing Theia to exclaim 'Oh another hill... I'm so grateful'. This made the hill harder work as breathing had to be fitted around fits of laughter but in next to no time we were at the top and heading down toward the car. Onwards to the pub!

Ripley Walk in the Dark (almost)

As a stop off on our way to London for the weekend, Mnemosyne and Prometheus ventured forth to the town of Ripley.
It was a quiet (excluding our giggling) 6 miles walk called Canons and Cornmills.
Due to delays on our arrival we realised that would be pushing for time.
Nothing that a couple of bars of chocolate wouldn't solve as an energy boost :)

As a stop off on our way to London for the weekend, Mnemosyne and Prometheus ventured forth to the town of Ripley.
It was a quiet (excluding our giggling) 6 miles walk called Canons and Cornmills.
Due to delays on our arrival we realised that would be pushing for time.
Nothing that a couple of bars of chocolate wouldn't solve as an energy boost :)

It was a calm peaceful walk no major gradients or anything to contend with. Just one cow in a field to carefully shuffle by. The walk itself was mainly following the canal with some a large cut across a golf course. Which must of contained the worlds largest bunker!

However as time moved on the light did fade but we managed to finish just as it got to dark. Well timed in my opinion :)

It was worth the stop off and pointed out that as we head in to winter the chance do walks after work will be fading.

Mnemosyne's walk in the countryside

A few weekends ago Mnemosyne took a walk with her dad along the Bure Valley Railway.



It was a lovely 9 mile walk with gentle countryside views. The leaves were just starting to turn but generaly everything was green.

Also where else can you go for a walk where you tower over steam trains (ok so there are a few places...)

The First OUCHers outing

Last Sunday the four Psuedo-titans set off for their first walk together. First thing first they all posed for a picture. The camera survived this ordeal and the result can be seen to the right.

It was a short walk of 10 miles though the slightly hilly Ampthill. It was fairly easy going until the first ploughed field was reached, Prometheus felt chuffed with himself as the only member of this group who had trekking poles with them, allowing him better traction. We that was until the field got it's own back by promptly eating the rubber stopper on one of them. Several fields later they reached the Marston Vale Millennium Country Park and half way round stopped for a sarnie.

After a brief rest, they we back on their quest, to reach the end of the walk and a pub. Again they plodded through fields, one previously burnt (see picture) and a couple of freshly ploughed fields. Then came the section around the outskirts of Millbrook testing ground. Several Kms of walking uphill only to walk back down again. The first couple of hills were attacked with gusto by everyone then Theia took a lead in the hill climbing which was later challenged by Prometheus. The last hill before the pub the stratigic decision to hang behind was taken by Mnemosyne and Medusa allowing the other titans to reach the bar first. Alas this back fired as the pub was shut (what kind of pub doesn't open on sundays! suggestions of smiting did occur) but another 15-20 miunutes saw us back to the start of the walk and a pub was found in town. Result.