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I know many of you have donated to ZANE via the Old Legs Tour rides and I thought you would like to see this report out of Zim to show how well the two charities work together: I received an urgent call on Saturday morning from Felicity, the administrator of one of the care homes,…

Two recent reports from Zimbabwe highlight again the desperate plight of the elderly folk who have worked hard all their lives, saved for their old age but lost everything. If it were not for the wonderful ZANE teams on the ground there to intervene and look after them, their final days would be full of…

Day 15: Tiddington to Oxford – The Final Day The final day. Perfect weather and good company. We met the food bank contingent for lunch, and then we marched up Shotover Hill and down the other side into Oxford. For the last couple of weeks, as we have tottered from theatre to theatre in a…

Day 13: Whitchurch to Upton – Ailing Aylesbury Six walkers today, all friends. We talked endlessly as we walked; it was fun. We trailed through poor old, down-at-heel, litter-strewn Aylesbury, a once beautiful and elegant town. Its graceful Georgian centre was gutted by 1950/60s so-called “planners” and greedy developers. When next you visit Aylesbury, recall…

Day 11: Hanslope to Westcroft – Gone with the Wind A better day with warm mist and easy to discern walks. We walk through the old Whaddon Chase hunting grounds: all the old bittersweet memories flood back. Too many hunting ghosts and memories soar over fences in my mind’s eye to relate here, but… it…

Day 9: Weedon Bec to Northampton – A better day. Moses’ Crossing We nearly faced a disaster. Moses faced a major road: just before I grabbed him, he darted across the road towards our excellent driver, Richard. A lorry flashed by…it missed him by an inch. Benyon’s law of pain It’s simple: unless you have…

Day 7: Rest Day – Counting Blessings A day away from roads, brambles, plough and paths that lead nowhere. A day to sort out the car, get clothes cleaned and have a good night’s rest. Breakfast with younger daughter – always a joy – and lunch with her beloved sister so our cup of happiness…

Day 5: Hampton Lucy to Harbury – Relationships Used to Involve Relations I think we all regard mobile phones as an unalloyed blessing. However, I think these phones have a serious kickback from the law of unintended consequences. When I met Jane, I determined to marry her as soon as possible. I suffered what the…

Day 3 – Lenchwick to Welford-on-Avon – Tub-thumping Pub Hooray… a great pub at last. Just as well after yesterday’s ill-tempered rant at down at heel pubs with which the UK is infested. We lunched at “The Bridge” at Bidford-on-Avon. This pub is excellent. The staff seem genuinely pleased to see us. It’s clear someone…

Day 1 – Cheltenham to Beckford – Going Round in Circles Once again, Jane and I – and of course, Moses the dog – are setting off on a “circular” walk. And as was the case last year, rather than staying in the homes of kind ZANE supporters, we will be sleeping in our own…