Pretty as a picture - 18 May 2008

The focus of the day was the Chiltern Hills Vintage Vehicle Rally at a little place called Weston Turville, some 33 miles northwest of home.

Having had a look at the huge range of vintage and classic cars, military vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, tractors and a few traction engines, we left the hustle and bustle of the show and set out for a quiet walk in the countryside.

The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal was only a mile or so due north of the place where the Show was held but we had to walk away from it for about a mile before we could pick up a footpath heading north.

We have often been amused by the fact that footpaths go right through farmyards but today’s footpath took us through the rear section of a private garden. It was clearly marked but, neverthless, one felt quite odd wandering through.

Just before the canal we passed through a Rare Breeds Park and then finally arrived on the towpath. There were 6 brick arch bridges over the canal along the 2 mile stretch, only one of them with a road over it, the rest, presumably, were just farm access points.

Leaving the canal, we headed south back to the Show area, having completed just over 7 miles past hedgerows and through fields ablaze with blossom and wild flowers.