Chiddingly check up

Three stalwart members congregated in Chiddingly Village Hall car park and set off as the church bells chimed for 9.30. The usual encounter of styles tested the balance and flexibility of us and nodded politely to stable occupants on the first few fields.
A little muddy underfoot, but manageable as our hiking sticks were used as probes to test out the firmness of the next step. The weather was grey and overcast but with no threat of rain, we soon made progress across towards the spectacle of Old Stream Bridge. A place some of us had visited a few times previously, however looking a little faster flowing on the stepped weir beneath the bridge which we stood and observed for 5 or so minutes.
Greeted at the next stables by a ferocious looking german shepherd dog, we were pleased to see it called away from our path by one of the stable girls providing treats for the dog. Easily distracted, we passed without further hindrance and joined the next lane. It was simplest to stride on towards The Gun Inn and complete the full circuit.
We walked down the lane towards a row of houses and found the next style and walked across some freshly planted fields which would yield its crops (sweetcorn I think?) later in the year.
Another wooded area which was heavy in sprouting bluebells, which would in a month or so time, be ready to display its full bloom. Whilst daffodils were still in abundance, we were distracted by confirming our identification of the small outcrop of garlic besides the path.
It was becoming a walk of dogs... as we encountered 2 more dogs in a large garden enclosure. A chocolate coloured Labrador was escorting us on the other of the fence giving more ferocious barking. We showed no fear all the time he was the other side and hoped there wasn't a gap in the fence further along the enclosure.
There were only a few fields left and had Chiddingly Church spire in out sight for the remaining half mile.
Back to the car park which rounded off our 4.2 mile walk as the church bells chimed for 11.30