The Friday morning country hikes just get better each time. Our latest trek was a climb up Box Hill. This was the area where the Olympic Cycling event was held this summer. The Olympic men cyclists rode around the trail 9 times but the women were smart enough to get the job done in just two loops. :-)
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| Carefully going down a hill |
We were warned that this hike would be a challenge as it had a lot of ups and downs and slippery steps. I was almost scared away especially as Friday morning started out bleak and rainy. But the weather cleared up and I found my courage and decided to go for it. It was just under 6 miles and we completed it in about two hours. That makes it sound like we crawled along at a snail's pace of just 3 miles an hour. It sure seemed like we were going faster than that. We had several breaks to take in the scenery and let people catch up and most importantly to catch our breath!
The leaders of the hikes do a great job in planning out the paths and pre-walking them earlier in the week. They point out interesting sights as we go along which is good. Otherwise I would spend the entire time looking down watching my step.
There was a flock of sheep grazing in this meadow beside us. The sign says "Public Bridleway".
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| Grazing sheep |
I wish my pictures had come out better. I traveled light and didn't bring my camera so these photos were taken on my small cell phone.
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| Huge yew tree |
Apparently, I only snapped pictures on the paths where we were heading downwards. I guess I was too out of breath to consider taking pictures as we climbed upwards.
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| Coming down slippery steps |
Our climbing was rewarded with a magnificent view at the top.
At one junction we were given a choice of an easier path taking a bridge over a creek or the more adventurous path of stepping stones right through the creek. Before I could change my mind I opted for adventure and was so happy I did.
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| Proud to say I crossed the creek on these step stones |
We ended the walk with a delightful lunch at The Running Horses Pub.
Across the street from the pub is this lovely old church which can trace its history to at least the year 1180:
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| St. Michael's Church, Mickleham |
At lunch I found out that the wife of Mohamed Al-Fayed had been on the hike with us. He is the father of Dodi Al-Fayed who was killed in the car crash with Princess Diana. He used to own Harrods department store in London. He now owns the Fulham Football (soccer) club. My husband is a fan of Fulham and received an Al-Fayed gnome for his birthday. His wife is from Finland and is a former model and Miss Viking pageant winner. I didn't even realize I was so close to a celebrity. Her driver brings her to the walks and then picks her up afterwards. I wonder what she would think if she knew I have a gnome figure of her husband in my house?
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| Al-Fayed Fulham gnome |
And on that strange note I will end this posting....
