Essendon, Camfield Place (Barbara Cartland's place), Hornbeam Lane and Cucumber Lane (included cos such great sounding Lanes!), Northaw Great Wood, Newgate Street, Ponsbourne Park, Broxbourne Woods, Cowheath Wood, Danemead Wood, Wormley Wood and Little Birkhamstead.
Driving to the start at Essendon in the dark for a 7.30 start brings back memories of London Loop. We set out and I tell Rob to stop while I take a look at him. I tell him I have not seen him like this for so long. Probably not since the first few miles of walking. What, what, what he says. When I see the look on his face when he realises I think maybe I shouldn't have pointed it out.You have no stick today I say. Oh no. The stress, the anguish as he wonders if he can go on. He can't believe he has forgotten it. He coped though and later in the walk picked up a stick with character and attitude along the walk and was comfortable again.
It is a walk of woods, about a dozen of them today, and mushrooms. The woods are stunning in their autumn colours and make me think of Fontainbleu and time at INSEAD and Rob think about the Fall in America. We walk and talk and enter Barbara Cartlands Estate at Camfield Place. 
We meet Les who is the gamekeeper for the estate and his fantastic Black Labs out walking with him. They are called Jess, Bo, True, Phee and Kip and are all from different litters of mum. They enthusiastically surround us and then are obediently by their masters side.
We talk about some stories I am putting together for a book I am writing. They tell stories about some Gestalt idea and then there is a discussion of what is going on in the story in none technical language. Rob has been a great sounding board along the way and takes out his editorial pen to suggest a Sixth Sense moment here or a Shutter Island moment there. A lot of fun through out thousand miles crafting these ideas.
We stop at Ponsbourne Park Hotel and seek out a cup of tea. Their hospitality is great as they welcome us in to use their tea and coffee station and give us complentary tea. After an early start and missing the second cup of tea early morning this one really gets the day going.
We then transport ourselves to the 70's. I am reading Martin Amis' 'The Pregnant Widow' at the moment and thoroughly enjoying it. He is in his mid 50's now like us and experienced the 70's at the same time we did. The book bounces between now and then. I paint a picture of three of the characters in the first part of the book and pose the question what would Rob have done in such situations in the 70's. Our discussion is just for us but what fun and what a time we lived through and are living through now is all I will say.
Rob continues to seek out the perfect mushroom shot. I suggest all that is missing is the bacon and eggs to sit beside them. Or perhaps the pig we meet later and a chicken. 
A pig, a chicken and a mushroom representing a big part of the Great British Breakfast. Rob is now with his 'natural' stick and seems much happier.
Only two more walks to do if we keep this pace. Less than 50 miles to do. Amazing.
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