Walking the River Wey Part 2: Weybridge Locks and Levels Trail

Start / Finish: Weybridge Railway Station, Station Approach, Weybridge, KT13 8UD
Distance: 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 43m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath
Cafe / pub on route: Several in Weybridge Town Centre.
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Explore Surrey - Weybridge Locks and Levels, Weybridge, Weybridge Station, Wey Navigation

This is the second of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

This walk is also part of the the Explore Surrey series whose website is a rich source of information about getting out and about in the county. As with all of their routes, their PDFs have all the details so I won’t cover them again here. The only additional thing to note is that the PDF guide starts and end the walk at Weybridge station. If you’re driving there’s alternative car parking in Weybridge Town Centre or free-on street parking on parts of the route between the station and Church Street.

Previous section (north): Walking the River Wey Part 1: Weybridge and Desborough Island
Next section (south): Walking the River Wey Part 3: New Haw and Byfleet

Back to Surrey Hills Index

Richard gower21 March 2020Trek, Canal, Railway, Surrey, EnglandComment

Completing all Wiltshire parkruns

There are currently 10 parkrun events in present-day Wiltshire of which I have completed 4. The first was Lydiard (formerly Swindon) which started on March 6th 2010 and the newest is Thoulstone which started on February 8th 2025. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is “A Complete Bustard”.

The interactive maps below take you to the approximate location for the course, typically the centre of the park. See the course instructions in the parkrun page for each event for specific directions to the start. Course maps show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then.

Chippenham

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: April 12th 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Lydiard (formerly Swindon)

I completed this event on: January 12th 2019 with a finish time of: 24:38
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: March 6th 2010
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Marlborough Common

I completed this event on: New Year’s Day 2022 with a finish time of: 29:35
Other routes touched: Wessex Ridgeway
Inaugural: September 22nd 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Melksham

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: December 19th 2017
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Quakers Walk

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: September 9th 2023
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Salisbury

I completed this event on: July 6th 2024 with a finish time of: 28:37
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN24
Inaugural: June 6th 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Seven Fields

I completed this event on: March 7th 2020 with a finish time of: 26:59
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: November 16th 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

route-32083407-map-full - Seven Fields.png

Southwick Country

I have not yet completed this event
This event is also part of parkrun Compass Club
Inaugural: September 3rd 2011
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Thoulstone

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: February 8th 2025
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Tidworth

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: June 4th 2022
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Brixworth Country

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: November 30th 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Corby

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: September 21st 2013
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Daventry

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: November 8th 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Irchester Country

I completed this event on: December 21st 2019 with a finish time of: 25:58
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: November 2nd 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

route-31624255-map-full - Irchester Country.png

Kettering

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: September 24th 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Market Harborough

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: April 25th 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Northampton

I completed this event on: Christmas Day 2021 with a finish time of: 26:30
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: May 5th 2012
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page, blog7t write-up

Salcey Forest

I completed this event on: January 25th 2020 with a finish time of: 26:03
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: October 26th 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Sixfields Upton

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: February 24th 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

route-31937711-map-full - Sixfields Upton.png

University of Northampton

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: July 8th 2023
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Watermeadows

I completed this event on: July 31st 2021 with a finish time of: 25:18
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: February 16th 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

route-36984491-map-full - Watermeadows.png

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

Featured and popular parkrun posts:

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Richard gower7 February 2020Run, parkrunComment

Walking The Prospects of Polesden SCC Circular

Start / Finish: Polesden Lacey National Trust Car Park, Great Bookham, Leatherhead, RH5 6BD
Distance: 8.3 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 169m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Ranmore SCC, North Downs Way, Yew Tree Walk,
Other Routes Touched (run): Trust 10 (Running) Route, Surrey Bacchus Wine Half Marathon
Other Routes Touched (cycle): N/A
Cafe on route: The Granary Cafe at Polesden Lacey National Trust
Map: OS Explorer 146 Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate
Links: Explore Surrey - Prospects of Polesden Circular, Polesden Lacey National Trust, Ranmore Common

This was our second of the Surrey County Council (SCC) Walks and a return visit to the Polesden Lacey National Trust Estate. The Explore Surrey leaflet contains all of the directions, so I’ve not included them here. Instead, here’s a few other things to note:

We parked at the National Trust Car-park rather than Denbies Hillside Carpark as mentioned in the leaflet. National Trust parking is free for members or a small charge for non-members. There’s also the Granary Cafe which is a good (and only) place on the route.

Unlike its sister route, the Ranmore Circular, the Prospects of Poleden is not signposted so you’ll need a map or GPS route. The Yew Tree Walk follows much of the same route, but not all of it so don’t strictly follow the blue Yew Tree roundels.

Back to Surrey Hills Index

Richard gower1 February 2020Trek, Surrey, National Trust, Surrey Hills, EnglandComment

Trust 10 Morden Hall Park

When: January 26th 2020
Where: Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Rd, London, SM4 5JD
Course: 3 laps of a figure of 8 (ish) course in Morden Hall Park. Flat / mix of grass and paths.
Other routes touched (walk): Wandle Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 20
Finish time: 53 minutes

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Richard gower26 January 2020Run, 10k, National Trust, London, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Great Missenden and Ballinger

Descent to Great Missenden from The Hyde

Start / Finish: Great Missenden Station, HP16 9WH
Alternative Start / Finish: Link Road Car Park, Great Missenden, HP16 9AE
Distance: 9.8 km (6 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 113m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Buryfield Car Park to Ballinger Common: 3 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail, South Bucks Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Hampden Route, NCN 57
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Great Missenden
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Great Missenden, Great Missenden Station, Ballinger

This is a ~10k circuit of farmland and small villages to the North East of Great Missenden. The steep sections are confined to the start and end with a relatively flat middle section. We had lovely classic Chilterns views even on an overcast January day. We’ll likely be back in the Spring for another go too. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

The route is also part of a series of 17 walks that, between them, cover the 83 km of the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Created as a Millennium project, this trail links the towns and parishes within the district, offering stunning scenery, charming villages, and points of historical interest.

** Note that when we did this walk the HS2 works were getting ready to be built on the eastern side of the A413. We noticed some footpath diversion signs and it’s likely that the first section of this walk will be slightly different until the works are complete. Check current maps when you plan your version of this walk **

The Link Road Car Park is an obvious place to start and it’s also a very short walk from the train station. Although most of the walk is the other side of the busy A413, you don’t need to dodge the cars. There’s an underpass on the outward stretch and a bridge next to St Peter and Paul’s Church on the return.

Much of the first 3 km is a steady climb north-east, passing Potter Row to Ballinger Common. At the War Memorial Hall on the East side of the Common you’ll head south along Ballinger Road. It's fairly quiet and you can walk on the grass verge on the left hand side of the road. When you see Ballinger Bottom take a footpath heading South diagonally across a field, bypassing the village. This will take you to the junction of Ballinger Road and Marriott’s Avenue. Take the footpath to the left of Marriott’s Avenue, heading south-east to a small wooded area at South Heath. On reaching the woodland, turn right and follow the footpath for approx 1 km to the B485 Frith Hill Road.

Watch out for traffic here. The B485 is busy but there’s a pavement on the south side for the very short section that you’ll follow it (heading West). Take Hyde Heath Road heading south-east for about 250m then take the first footpath on the right, heading south-west. Hyde Heath Road isn’t busy but there’s no pavement so be careful and watch out for cars. Once on the footpath, you’re back in pleasant Chilterns territory, crossing rolling hills, quaint farms and a lovely old manor house on Hyde Lane.

The final section is a steep descent to St Peter and Paul’s Church. Cross the bridge and you’ve got 3 options for the final stretch back to the car park. The quickest way back is to turn right and follow Church Lane, Buryfield Lane and the South Bucks Way to the car park. Alternatively, turn right for the longer route following the South Bucks Way along the perimeter of Missenden Abbey to London Road, then follow the High Street in a northerly direction. We took the 3rd option which was through a small gate into the grounds of the Abbey, across the River Misbourne and out the North exit of the property.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Lee Common and Ballinger
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Great Missenden and Little Kingshill

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower25 January 2020Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, England Comments

Walking The Turner and Dickens Trail

Start: Dickens House Museum 2 Victoria Parade Broadstairs CT10 1QS
Finish: Turner Contemporary, Margate, CT9 1HG
Distance: 6.2 km (3.9 miles)
Elevation Change: +36m / -54m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Ramsgate to Margate Coastal Walk
Other Routes Touched (cycle): NCN 15
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several. We stopped at the Red Lion in St Peters
Map: OS Explorer Map (150) Canterbury and the Isle of Thanet
Links: Turner Contemporary, Visit Thanet, Broadstairs, St Peter’s, Margate

After loving our previous day's Ramsgate to Margate coastal walk we were keen to do one more trip before heading home. The Turner and Dickens walk , also connecting both towns, walk is a good choice. The walk is well documented in this leaflet so I won't repeat any of it here. My main add is that it's a great companion to the coastal route. Doing both in the same day would make a fantastic 17.5km / 11 mile circular route.

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Richard gower6 January 2020Trek, Coast, Railway, Kent, EnglandComment

Walking The Coastal Route from Ramsgate to Margate

Start: Ramsgate Tunnels, Marina Esplanade, Ramsgate CT11 8FH
Finish: Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG
Distance: 11.3 km (7 miles)
Elevation Change: +129m /- 127m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Broadstairs Town Trail, Turner & Dickens Walk, Sea it All Walk
Other Routes Touched (cycle): NCN 15, Viking Coastal Trail,
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots, especially in Broadstairs and Margate beach-side.
Map: OS Explorer Map (150) Canterbury and the Isle of Thanet
Links: Turner Contemporary, Visit Thanet, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, North Foreland Lighthouse, Margate

Ever since I’d started researching my family history I’ve had a trip to Broadstairs in the back of my mind. My Dad remembered being sent to a convalescence home there when he was a boy. He didn’t remember much of the details or even how long he was there for. His most vivid memory was being taken to a London train station by his parents and being met by some nuns. His only other memory was walking through a tunnel from the home to the beach where they would play in the afternoons.

Having read some of the blog posts from people who also went there it seems that vague memories are a shared experience. Some told of abuse by the nuns but there’s no evidence that it happened to my Dad. One day I’ll do some deeper research, but for now I wanted to visit the area and see where he spent some of his childhood.

This was also our New Years’ planning trip. We do something like this every January to reflect on the year before and decide what’s important for the year ahead. A long walk outside in an inspiring place puts us in the right mental state to work out what’s really important. The coastal walk from Ramsgate to Margate turned out to be a perfect location for such a walk.

Our walk started from a B&B that we rented on Granville Marina in Ramsgate. A visit to the Ramsgate Tunnels seemed very appealing but we had a long day ahead to do so we’ll do those on a return visit. The first section stays close to the beach following the Sea it All route. The painted shelters along the East Cliffs are worth a look but don't go too far as you'll get to a dead end. The best route is to use the stairs to the Winterstoke Gardens (~750m from the Ramgate Tunnels) and follow the cliff-top path through King George VI Memorial Park.

The route has options in several places to stay on the cliff-top path or take the beach-route. A lot of this will depend on tides so keep an eye out and stay to the cliff-top if in doubt. The first of these choices is at Dumpton Gap where there's a path down to the beach next to the old submarine telephone cable hut. From here both the cliff-top and beach walks take you to Viking Bay in Broadstairs.

At Broadstairs we met up with Mark, a new friend that we met on the Camino Portuguese last May. As well as being an all round great guy, his local knowledge made the trip even more special. We walked with Mark along Stone Beach, where the (now filled in) tunnel that my Dad remembers connected to St Mary’s Convalescence Home on the top of the Cliff. The bright sunny day was quite a contrast to the grim black and white image I’d had of my Dad's stay there. I’d always pictured his time there to be a lonely and scary experience but maybe it wasn’t. It made me think about how we often make up stories about other people’s experiences through a lack of information.

After Stone Beach the coastal path diverts off the cliff from behind the expensive houses on North Foreland Road. A highlight is North Foreland Lighthouse which towers over the original site of St Mary’s, now a private estate. After ~1km, you can return to the Beach at Kingsgate Bay. Our timing was great as the tide was out and we were able to walk all the way to Margate on the beach.

There's a lot of choice of things to do and places to eat after the walk. We opted for the quirky Double-Decker Bus cafe in the Old Kent Market for food and a rest before heading back. Regular trains run back to Ramsgate from Margate, making this an easy point-to-point walk.

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Richard gower6 January 2020Trek, Coast, Kent, EnglandComment

The Chiltern Rivers

Here’s a Tube-style map of the rivers of the Chiltern Hills AONB and “Greater Chilterns Area”. Let me know if you spot any mistakes and I’ll donate £1 per correction to one of my causes. If you would like a printable PDF version, please Buy Me a Coffee and send me your e-mail via the Contact page. All copies for personal, not commercial use.

It started in 2016 with my Winter Solstice walk along the River Chess. I loved the walk and soon my mind turned to contemplating how many rivers there were in the Chilterns. More importantly, how many of them could be walked, cycled or ran? Over the following few weeks I went on a desk-based adventure researching the source and mouth of every waterway in the area. Unlike the Chess most of them don’t have a well-signed path following them. For these I started planning cycle trips to discover them. These would be circular routes, one section keeping as close as possible to the river, and the other section a return trip along quiet country lanes.

Each trip took me to places I’d not been to before. It also taught me a lot about the geography of an area that I’d grown up near but knew little about. I could see first hand how the rivers formed the valleys that cut through the chalk hills. I also discovered how many of the towns and villages that I knew so well were named after the river that runs through them.

The tricky part what knowing when the adventure would come to an end. Every time I got close I discovered a new stream that I never heard of and had to find that one too. I also had to make a decision about what would classify as a Chiltern River. The main criteria was that either the source had to be in the Chiltern Hills AONB and / or most of the river’s length had to be through the Greater Chilterns area. Some didn’t quite match this but I included them anyway. The Lea, for example, originates North of Luton in the gap between the 2 sections of the AONB. From here it flows away from the Chilterns to meet the Thames on the other side of London. It still felt like a Chiltern River though so I included it. I’m very happy that I did as the cycle trip along it was one of the most enjoyable of the set.

There’s a few that I didn’t include. The Flit and the Hiz both touch the Greater Chilterns area but originate outside of it. I may explore them later but for now I’m happy to give them a miss. I’m sure that there will be other rivers, streams or waterways that I have missed. If you know of any and have a recommendation for an adventure that includes them, post a note in the comments section below.

Scroll down for maps, links to blog posts for each river-based trip and a section on Chilterns towns that take their names from the rivers.

Click on the linked river name below to see the blog post for each river-based trip.

Alderbourne: Source in Fulmer, runs ~5 miles to the Colne Brook at Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire
Ash: Splits from the Colne on Staines Moor, runs ~6.2 miles to meet the Thames at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
Assendon Stream: Source in Stonor, runs ~4 miles to the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Bulbourne: Source at Cow Roast, runs ~7 miles to the River Gade at Two Waters, Apsley, Hertfordshire
Chess: Source in Chesham Vale, Buckinghamshire, runs ~11 miles to the River Colne at Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
Colne: Source near North Mymms, Hertfordshire, runs ~11.2 miles to the the Thames at Staines, Surrey
Colne Brook: Splits from the Colne at Uxbridge Moor, Greater London, runs ~9 miles to the Thames at Hythe End near Staines, Surrey
Ewelme Brook: Source in Ewelme Village, runs ~2 miles to the Thames near Benson Lock, Oxfordshire
Frays River: Splits from the Colne at West Drayton, Greater London, runs ~5.5 miles and rejoins the Colne near Staines, Surrey
Gade: Source at Dagnall, Buckinghamshire, runs ~16 miles to the Colne at Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
Hambleden Brook: Source at Skirmett, runs 4.1 miles to meet the Thames at Mill End, Buckinghamshire
Hugenden Stream: Sourced from springs near Hughenden Village, runs ~2.2 miles to meet the Wye in High Wycombe
Lea: Source in Leagrave, Bedfordshire, runs 42 miles to meet the Thames at Leamouth, Greater London
Mimram: Source near Whitwell, runs 12 miles to the River Lea at Hertford, Hertfordshire
Misbourne: Source at Great Missenden, runs ~17 miles to the Colne at Denham, Buckinghamshire
Ouzel: Source at Dagnall, runs 20 miles to join the River Great Ouse at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire
Pinn: Source at Pinner, runs approx, 11.4 miles joining the Grand Union and the Frays at Yiewsley, Greater London
Wraysbury: Splits from the Colne at West Drayton, runs ~5.5 miles and rejoins the Colne near the confluence with the Thames at Staines, Surrey
Ver: Source at Kensworth, Bedfordshire, runs ~15 miles to the Colne at Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire
Wye: Source at Bradenham, runs 9 miles to the Thames at Bourne End, Buckinghamshire

Canals & other man made waterways

Chilterns Towns Taking Their Name from the Rivers.

Ashford - River Ash
Bricket Wood - Rivers Ver and Colne: "Bright-coloured small island or piece of marshland"
Bourne End (Buckinghamshire) - River Wye
Bourne End (Hertfordshire) - Bourne Gutter, a short stream that flows into the Bulbourne near Hemel Hempstead
Chalfont St. Giles - River Misbourne. Chalfont means "spring frequented by calves"
Chalfont St. Peter - River Misbourne. Chalfont means "spring frequented by calves"
Colnebrook - Colne Brook (obviously)
Colney - River Colne. Also London Colney, Colney Heath
Fordbridge - River Ash
Fulmer - Alderbourne. Means "Mere or lake frequented by birds", possibly due to the small lakes feeding the river at the end of Framewood Road
Gadebridge - River Gade
Great Gaddesden - River Gade
Great Missenden - River Misbourne
Halliford (Upper and Lower) - River Ash. Means “holy ford”
Little Missenden - River Misbourne
Leagrave - River Lee (possibly - alternative meaning exist that are not connected to the river)
Longford - River Colne and Wraysbury: "Long Ford across the river"
Loudwater - River Wye
Luton - River Lee: "Farmstead on the River Lee"
Pinner - River Pinn
Redbourne - River Ver: "reedy stream", reedy could be a derivation of Reade who owned the manor in the 16th century
Ruislip - River Pinn (could also be Yeading Brook): "leaping place across a river where rushes grow"
High Wycombe - River Wye
St Albans (Roman name = Verulamium) - River Ver
Stanwell - River Colne - "Stoney spring or stream"
Two Waters - Rivers Gade and Bulbourne
Watford - River Colne - "Ford used when hunting"
Wooburn Green - River Wye
Wraysbury - Wraysbury River. River could be named after the town. Strangely the river doesn't go through the town, although the Colne Brook Does
Uxbridge - River Colne: "Bridge of the tribe called the Wixan"

Primary sources: A Dictionary of British Place Names (Mills) and Wikipedia

Tube-style Maps

English and Welsh National Trails

Scottish Great Trails

Brecon Beacons Rivers

South Downs Rivers

Colne Valley Trails

Richard gower2 January 2020Cycle, NCN, Canal, Thames, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Middlesex, London, Surrey, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Penn Wood

Start / Finish: Penn St, Penn, Penn Street, Amersham HP7 0PX
Distance: 6.3 km (3.9 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 75m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): N/A
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Squirrel and The Hit or Miss both at the start and end of the route
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Penn

Unlike many of my recent walks this had no geeky excuse to be there. No Trig Pillars, no County Tops, no National Trail to complete. Instead, this was a simple New Year’s Day walk in the heart of the Chilterns. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

The best place to start is at the Squirrel Pub where there’s good free parking on Penn Street. From here cross over the small green, past the cricket pitch and head for one of the openings in the fence. Penn Wood has a lot of paths criss-crossing it so there’s many options for walks there. We chose a diagonal North-East route that heads toward one of the main gates to the A404 at Beamond End. At this point you’ll be 1 km into the walk and you’ll turn right, heading South-West for 1.5 km to the crossing of Gravelly Way.

Continue South-West between Two Sisters Plantation and Gravelly Way Plantation then take a path crossing a field in a roughly Southerly direction. At the end of the field the path re-enters the wood and climbs steeply up to Chalk Track. Chalk Track is a long, straight Bridleway running to the South West. It eventually meets Common Wood Lane but we took a left turn about 300 metres from the end on a path that crosses Gravelly Way again. There’s a final 0.75 km climb up out of the woods, past Grove House and back to Penn Street.

Penn Street is fairly busy and the best place to walk is on the grass verge on the Northern side. It’s a very short walk along here to the first pub, the Hit Or Miss, and and even shorter one from there back to the Squirrel.