It was on a dull and misty morning in Wendover, that 12 brave souls, true with stout hearts set off to complete the great Ring. The route out was along the fine throughfare of the North Bucks Way and the lesser of the rings of Aylesbury.

Before too long, the mists had lifted and the good folk were bathed in warm sunshine. Not everyone had had the forethought to bring their chapeaux and were starting to regret this oversight.

 

After a few miles we came across the mighty stallions of Ellesborough, sturdy and colossal. And then some fearsome bullocks possessed with the zoomies which stirred fear in some of the group and amusement in others.

 

Onward we trod, across the parched landscape of Aylesbury Vale until we came to the Hermit of Dinton. Travellers on Day 5 will recall that this was our lunch stop and so it was today. But the repast was all too brief as our leader urged us on.

 

At last, we came upon the green circle bearing the legend, OAR. We had found it and to all it seemed pleasant and comely. But many miles lay ahead of us before we could claim the victory. By this time, the sun had been hidden behind banks of clouds providing some relief although the day remained exceedingly warm.

 

And so we continued, across field and pasture until we reached the captivating charm of the hamlet of Princes Risborough, where we again able to briefly rest our weary bodies and take some sustenance. “Onward, onward!” called our leader.

 

And then, we were dismayed as rising high before us, we saw the precipitous ascent of Brush Hill. “Upward, upward” came the call. And the gods were favourable to us, for a gentle rain came to sooth our fevered brows. We conquered the mountain and descended into the vale only to see ahead of us the prominence of Coombe Hill atopped by the great monument to the Boer War. One final vertiginous ascent. From the peak, our final destination could be spied in the valley below, the view only marred by that great scar in the landscape called by some HS2. Not far now, lads.

 

With heads bowed and knees bent, we make grateful thanks to the Sir Trevor for safely leading us through 6 days of challenges.

 

The Ring had been wrung.