It's Speen a Long Day!

The first of March started grey as we commenced a walk that was to take us in a rough figure-of-eight through the Chiltern Hills, starting and finishing at Great Missenden.



The walk was led by Jerry O'Connor, left.

We were able to get some lovely views of Red Kites (the Bird!), though yet again my camera finger was not fast enough to capture one.

Badger trails were evident, and so well defined they have been fooling people into following them...



Badgers are obviously encouraged in this area. We spotted this carefully made Badger-gate in a wire fence next to a sett...



This boggy area was an exception, and conditions underfoot were good.


(Photo: Jane Rosoux, with thanks)

The Chiltern Hills in all their glory...



We were eight in total, six Hampstead Ramblers, Joyce from Croydon and Bill from the Aylesbury group. Our combined experience still didn't prevent us from going "Off Route"...



Lots of Trees, No Path...

We actually ended up off the map at one point (But don't tell anyone).



(Left to Right, Joyce,Bill, Jerry and Jane.)

Lunch was taken in the beer garden of the Pink and Lily Pub in Parslow's Hillock.



According to locals, the pub name has nothing to do with flowers. Many years ago Mr Pink was a butler at nearby Hampden House. Lily was a chambermaid there. After Lily fell pregnant out of wedlock they were dismissed from the big house and opened a pub to earn a living. The pub flourished , and they lived happy ever after! The person pictured on the sign isn't Mr Pink though. It is Rupert Brooke, first world war poet, who used to frequent the pub. There is a Rupert Brooke snug inside.

We went through the village of Speen a couple of times.
Some of the old Chiltern crafts were celebrated on the village crest in Speen...





And some crafts were still being kept alive...

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The sun came out in the afternoon, and in total we managed 17 miles, (including diversions!).

In Rare Bird Corner, we had a sighting of the Lesser Spotted Plastic Heron. Unlike the Red Kites at least it stayed still long enough to photograph!