Thursday 21st November Willen walk led by Penny

12 walkers started this 3.5 mile walk from outside the Ship Ashore pub in Milton Keynes.
We walked to the Grand Union canal which we followed south. After a short while we came to a frog carving which Beryl had to kiss.

Beryl kissing the frog.

Shortly afterwards we passed a playground where Cathy & Beryl practised on the see-saw

Cathy & Beryl on the see-saw

We left the canal & walked past Camphill, then some climbed the steps whilst others walked up the zigzag path. At the top we stopped for a breather before descending to the Peace Pagoda. We sat on the wall here for our coffee break & almost immediately we joined by Sandra & Paul who had gone to a different car park. After leaving the Pagoda we walked along the lake stopping at the Japanese building before going under the A509, turning left & walking along the lake dividing strip to the little footbridge.
We missed the path past the birdhide which had been unfortunately closed. We climbed onto the embankment on the east side of Willen Lake which we followed to "The Hooke" where Penny gave us a talk about Robert Hooke. Famous to me as an engineer because of Hooke's Law & the invention of the universal joint without which modern cars could not work. Apparently he was also an architect & designed Willen church where we stopped for a photo.

The walkers in front of Willen church.

We left the church & walked past a large school playing field to arrive back to our cars. All who had parked there decided to visit the Ship Ashore pub where most people had the Set Menu of 1 or 2 courses, which was excellent value. Thanks to Penny for another excellent interesting walk.

Track of the walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction.