I picked up Sam from his house around 10 and told both him and Norma about Maggi’s illness during June and July. As soon as I had left Norma wrote to Maggi to commiserate.
When we left Sam wanted to know all about the details of Maggi’s stay in hospital as we walked from their house up to Pinner Green and the Pinner Hill Estate. He talked about their recent holidays in Greece and Italy with the family. They have a trip arranged in September to the USA where they will visit Chicago, New Orleans and then drive up to Memphis and Nashville. Here John Green will show them the non-touristy parts of the town.
We climbed up to the top of Pinner Hill Estate and then crossed into Oxhey Woods. I hadn’t walked in these woods for a couple of years so I was unsure of the exact route that would carry us back to Rickmansworth. The path joined the London Loop for a bit and then we descended to South Oxhey.
A surprise awaited Sam as we entered the large open area of South Oxhey Playing Fields.
I remember how astonished I was when I first came across this wide open space that remains hidden from the roads that surround it.
We exited the area opposite Sandy Lodge Road and crossed in front of Hamper Mill. I always think this looks so attractive but Sam seemed totally indifferent.
We wended our way up to The Ebury Way and travelled along back into Rickmansworth. Sam didn’t have any idea where we were for most of the journey once we had left Pinner Hill Estate. He had never seen or heard of Ebury Way. Later he admitted that he had never visited Rickmansworth Station.
We had a relaxing and very cheap lunch at Weatherspoon’s Pennsylvanian. I had ham egg and chips and a pint for £9, which seems incredible. I returned home for 2:30 having walked 10 miles.