Coombe Hill and the Chequers trail.

CV 19 The Daily record.

Wednesday may 27^th.

Another gorgeous sunny day, a bit of cloud around but a good day for a long walk. We pack a picnic and head out into the Chilterns, Butlers Cross to start the walk. Horror upon horror the car park is full by the time we get there, we new it would be busy but not like this. Cars are also lined all down the sides of the road, we hum and haw what to doubt having driven this far we decide to go ahead. Parking about ½ mile away from the start of the walk we head back in that direction.

Coombe Hill is quite busy with families and people lying in the sun but not too bad, I wonder where all the owners of the cars are. We don’t stay too long on the top, but do take a minute to marvel at the wonder view across the vale of Aylesbury, Apparently you can see Waddesdon Manor from here about 15 miles away, We don’t!

Down a very steep narrow chalk track we end going through some woods, which is nice as it is cool although again very steep and end up coming out into the field with the NHS sign in it. (see photo) Following a chalk track through this field we come out at the pretty village of Ellesborough. We then find ourselves challenged with Beacon Hill, with much puffing, resting and giggling we make it to the top. It is the steepest thing I have climbed for years and its so steep you have a fear of falling backwards. At the top we rest and eat our picnic whilst admiring the fantastic view. We have met a couple of walkers out along the way but that’s all.

We then have to descend the hill by another sheep track which is dodgy as a sheer drop down to the left, we take our time and arrive with no incidents safely at the bottom. We then wend our way through fields and woodland, it is extremely pretty, very quiet, very hot and just like being on holiday. We decide that we need to have a day out like this every week.

We are now entering the Chequers Estate and signs warning us of police, security and some security act are posted along the fence line, you can see security cameras dotted along through the fields too. The house sits half hidden in some trees. We actually cross the drive up to the house from inside the front gates, with big brother watching us all the time. After that we join the Ridgeway and our now weary legs take us back to the car. We did about 7 miles all told and that was taking a couple of short cuts too. It was a great walk and a lovely day out away from all the current nonsense.

Sorry I have forgotten to say what we have been eating over the last few days.

We’ve had Salmon new potatoes and salad. Ian slow roasted a shoulder of pork in a pulled pork sauce, which was absolutely delicious. We ate that with vegetables and potatoes. The 2^nd night we ate it with rainbow slaw. One night it was too hot and we were not hungry so we had beans on toast with a poached egg.

 

NHS Sign

Beacon Hill

Looking back to Coombe Hill from Beacon Hill

Ellesborough from Beacon Hill

Chequers

Inside the main gates.

Other points.

Plans to scrap the 14 day quarantine upon arriving from abroad are underway, as Tories say it is unworkable. (Oh dear)

UK Announces 412 covid deaths in the last 24 hours taking the official number to 37,3460. NHS figures show more than half  of English hospital trusts have reported no new fatalities in the last 48hrs.

The social bubbles has been parked for the time being as they fear it may cause a spike, but people are still able to meet up outdoors but only 2 households.

Pubs and restaurants may now open in June. This all seems to be going a bit fast, I thought this was supposed to be a staged easing not a throwing open of the doors.

The track & Trace system kicks off on Thursday. If a person tests positive they are asked who they have been in contact with. The tracers then call or text these contacts and they are told to self-isolate for 14 days. After that they can go back to normal, if they get ill they have to have a test and so the process starts again with the tracers calling any one they have been in contact with. (which should be no one as they have been self isolating)

United States deaths exceed 100,000.

Easyjet plan to cut 30% of staff.

Scotland ready to start easing lockdown.

Last night it was so hot we had to have all the windows open and the noise of the planes and cars which seemed to be all night, well at least from the very early hours kept waking me up. NOT HAPPY.