L2L Day 18 High Wycombe to Thame - 12 miles

It had rained overnight and the forecast for this morning wasn't too promising. I stepped out into the drizzle of High Wycombe!


This old piano mummy-wrapped in clingfilm  added to the gloomy prospect.



My mood hasn't been helped by my right knee which has been a bit of a nuisance since the start and over the last few miles yesterday it had been quite painful. My concern was I don't want to risk any longer-lasting damage and have been wondering whether I should rest it for a few days. At short notice, I'd managed to arrange a 45 minute consultation with a local physiotherapist.


So before breakfast, I went to see Richard


Richard Sho-Silva has been a professional footballer, and has played basketball until he trained as a physiotherapist.

He's currently up for selection for the UK Beach Korfball squad for the next World Championships. All the best of luck Richard.

After a thorough inspection and being told that my knee was 'unremarkable' - (apparently a technical term) I was giving a number of suggestions, exercises and a thumbs-up to continue on my walk

Having been given a clean bill of health I decided I deserved a good breakfast.


Over coffee I met three students from Wycombe High School who were working on some Chemistry revision - their exams start on 27th April.
All are applying for UCL, Kings and Cambridge.

The walk to Thame was going to be long enough without the schlep out of town so I caught the 300 bus to Saundeton before climbing up on to the Bledlow ridge.


Ah that's better - back in the country.


In his dashing pink shirt, Dobbin was very keen to have a selfie!



Kites flying overhead.

On the steep climb up to Bledlow, I met Sue -  an accountant and Twiggy - a very elegant,  happy cocktail of deerhound, greyhound, saluki and whippet.


Sue is a self professed lover of Bucks,  surrounded by this beautiful countryside it's easy to understand why. She told me of a 'smock' windmill that would become more visible as I walked West.



Just one field later, I met some rather imperious looking alpacas.


What can you say?

Having climbed onto the ridge I deserved to stop off at The Boot for a bite to eat and to recharge my phone.


The Chiltern Way drops steeply off the ridge down towards Chinnor.


Looking back at the Lacey Green windmill now visible on the horizon.


and looking forward to some wattle fencing and beautiful rusty corrugated iron!


The route crossed the Icknield Way - another long distance path that crosses Britain and ends in Norfolk.


 Through the woods I came across this 'installation' with a Spike Milligan poem which I think hits the nail.


I'm not really a 'Ned' (rail enthusiast) but given the opportunity to watch a train at close quarters... I'm as big a kid as the next guy!! I walked up to cross the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway, and heard a train approaching. What a treat to see this  Class 47 - from 1962. I reckon that on seeing me with my camera poised, the driver obligingly gave the engine a bit of a 'thrash' - a fabulous sound!!! 


Meanwhile, a nasty looking cloud was threatening to tip down 


so I (probably mistakenly for my knee) quickened my pace to get to Hinton where - like an oasis - The Peacock hove into to view just in time to provide shelter from the storm and enjoy a bottle of Vale Brewery's Red Kite. Very appropriate and tasty too!


I waited until the deluge of hailstones had passed and then with my grumbling knee, limped the 4 miles across fields and along the brain-numbing Pheonix Way to Thame.

The Phoenix Way is a Sustrans route along a dead-straight, dead-flat disused railway and similar to the approach they use on French motorways to keep drivers interested (awake), a few large installations visible from a distance do help.


Progress was slow and Thame was a welcome sight when I eventually arrived at 7 with time for a quick sketch of the town square before thawing out in a hot bath and then supper.


The excitement didn't end there. Outside the window of The James Figg pub where I had supper, there was a three policecar, arrest of a 'miscreant' before he was taken away in a 'black mariah'
Otherwise, it was a quiet night in Thame. 

Sleep tight! 

Comments

  1. TT12 April 2026 at 06:17

    Oh Dave,what a shame your knee is playing up...maybe a day's rest would be in order???

    Meanwhile I'm thoroughly enjoying the blog..hope those imperious alpacas didn't decide to spit as you encountered them!!!😄XX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David's 2022 Walk13 April 2026 at 01:04

      Absolutely no spitting. I remember between Cardiff and Rhoose airport there used to be The Welsh Hawking Centre, which always tickled me!

      Delete

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