Dunnings Mill - East Grinstead

Tuesday 9 August

Sue's Birthday Boulevarde

Walkers: Farty, T.B. 6 legs, Windy, Registrara - joined, later, by Lil and Clat, and then Chris joined us for lunch.
Distance: 61/3 miles

Find of the Walk: Underpants (no relation to the ones living near Reigate Hill), a tree t-shirt, an air-sock, and an old boot (not the human variety)

This first bit is 'remotely' written by Clat, as she has had both hips injected with cortisone, in another attempt to alleviate the problem, and has been told to build up the walking - soooooooooooooooooooo she did! (as they say in The Little Red Hen)

Lovely weather, and off they went, a little later than planned, but they still went off. It's believed there was a bit of an upper, followed by a bit of a downer, and eventually arriving at the Weir Wood Reservoir. The floral landscapes of grasses and wild flowers looked really pretty, especially with the backdrop of puffy white clouds in the blue blue skies.

Timing was perfect as they reached the Bluebell Railway Line, and the birthday girl's sensitive ears picked up a train coming along (they were strong as well, ha ha ha ha ha). The steam engine arrived, they waved, and the moment passed, so it was back to the route.
Coming out of a little bit of woodland, the group found Clat and Lil, who had headed off to start the walk at the end, so to speak, and thus meeting up - it worked this time. Greetings were exchanged, happy to yous were sung, and the expected 'Dr Livingstone I presume' was spoken.

So, back along the track, and up through some woods, before eventually arriving at the Saints Hill playing grounds. Across the road, beyond the Scientology place - which is guarded - and on to another find.

This was, in fact, a rather old white Mitsubishi car - called Wendy!!! We had no idea she had contacts in the Motorshow arena, and she graced us with a pose across the bonnet, of her latest racy model.

Further along, we came to a house with the most magnificent backdrop (literally), view. The garden at the rear, fell away, within yards of the building, to reveal the vista which would be welcome at any time. However, knowing there wasn't much space at the back, led us to think that there might not be much more time to enjoy the scenery.

We travelled on and back on the High Weald Landscape Trail, where we found the old boot, and eventually to Dunnings Mill to disrobe. Reg left us at this point, after dispensations of damson jelly and the like. Clat has been straining in the kitchen again, and thought she might write a book about her jam-making activities. Titles such as 'The Pot, Thickens' and 'Have I lost the Pot?' - probably.............................

Lunch was consumed with the sounds of the gentle jogging of the water-wheel, and the bruising noises of diggers and sweepers trucks, as Dunnings Mill Squash Courts have been demolished, and a new housing development, plus a care home, are in the process of construction. Poor T.B. got most annoyed, but it was rather an intrusion.

After this , a lemon drizzle cake, complete with candle, emerged from a carrier bag, and we sang our happy to yous to our victim, who had to prepare for the inevitable blow job to come (oh dear, that sounds a bit rude). A few quizzes followed: Farty had provided a general knowledge one, followed by an 'August Teaser' - anyone remember 'Titbits'? Clat provided one of hers, and it all went downhill from there really. Bengal is not the first name of Tiger Woods, and Hinge and Bracket is not the name for a diptych. Hey ho, time for home methinks.

Some of the party are meeting later in the week to go dogging. The National Dog Trials are on near Boxhill, and worth a visit. On from 11-13th so have a look on the web, if you are interested. I would advise against googling 'dogging' and be a bit more specific in your request.

Otherwise, it's next Tuesday as usual - texts will arrive eventually. xxxx

The Oak,Warnham

A stile-ish walk!

Venue: The Oak, Warnham

Walkers: Farty, TB, 12 legs and Mrs Provincial. Our two invalids, Sally and Clatters joined us for lunch afterwards. Windy at the hospital with Ma, Lil somewhere in the Channel in a boat, Registrara on her 'on' week and Hootsmon probably aviating.
Distance: 10.6k/6 1/2 miles
Time taken: 3 hours, not including a coffee/tea stop at a pub and another for a quick rehydrate
Weather: HOT! very muggy with no air, so we felt the distance and time taken quite an achievement!

Find of the walk: Nothing I'm afraid

We set off just a tad late due to yours truly hitting roadworks on the A272 - well, it's the summer holidays so of course the councils decide what better time to dig up the roads! Today's walk was to be a 'lollipop' walk, and we headed out of the village and into a field full of linseeds. We also passed through a wooded area where some very exotic (and alien) plants were growing - Himalayan balsam, giant hogweed and a plant which I tried to identify from my book and think is some type of vetch - it had very pretty blue flowers.

We soon came across the first of what was going to prove to be an awful lot of stiles - some wonky, some high but all a real obstacle on such a hot day. Soon the title of the walk was decided upon!

The path took us directly east and towards Rowhook where we stopped at the Chequers pub for a very welcome stop and refreshments. ( http://www.thechequersrowhook.com/). It's a gastro pub and looking at the menu we could see why - lovely menu, not perhaps the cheapest but we felt it could be a possibility for a future walking venue. We sat outside on the terrace and soon a very large group of walkers came into view . . phew, fortunately not heading the same way as us!

We set off again and the next part of the walk took us down part of the old Roman road, Stane Street. No chariot tracks to be found I'm afraid!

We had a slight hiccup when we found a signpost in the middle of a field lying down on its side - Chris very kindly obliged and posed with it for a photo but I'm sorry, for some reason the photo I took didn't come out! No David Bailey this girl, TB does a far more professional job! Anyway, we twirled the sign and took an (un)educated guess as to which way to head and were soon back on track.

Some lovely houses en route so a fair bit of gawping went on. We passed through a field chock full of sheep and their lambs who are growing apace, and then came to a large farmyard with a number of empty sheds - well, empty apart from two small bulls looking very lonely in the corner of one of the barns. We reckon the rest of the herd must have just been sent to become part of the menu at the pub . . . just as well none of us are veggie then!

We also came to a field with these two gorgeous gals Mum and her very pretty foal. Aaahhs all round!

We decided to stop again for a water break - it was such a hot, humid day so our water levels needed topping up. We also decided that the RARAS need a flag so tour leader can lead the way! Much discussion ensued and we thought that our Clat, being somewhat indisposed at the moment, might be able to knit us a cupcake to sit on top of the flagpole! . . . no pressure there of course Clat!

We rejoined the path across the field of linseeds and 20 minutes later arrived back at the pub where our two invalids, Sal and Clat, hobbled over to greet us, both sporting matching fitflops - very snazzy! We settled inside and ordered our food - TB had been positively salivating most of the walk about his giant steak pie and it certainly didn't disappoint today! Such a magnificent specimen deserved a photo . . . and happy to report that he did it proud, not a scrap left on the plate! Much catching up to do, Sal and Sue comparing notes on knee ops and Clat telling us that she is going for cortisone injections. Good luck Clat, we all hope that this works and sorts the hips out once and for all. It would be lovely to have you and Sal back walking again soon - we miss you!

We started to leave the pub for home, but not before setting up our own version of a mini market from the boots of our cars - Mon with bags of goodies for Polly Possibly-Non, bad taste cuttings for Mrs P, jam jars galore for Clat, damsons for Clat from Farty, Clats' wonderous damson jelly for all, eggs for Sal, muesli bars for the invalids, a BCal first class silver tray for Clat . . . was there anything not being traded/bartered?!

No plans afoot (sorry, awful pun!) for next week I believe - we did discuss whether to suspend operations during August as people are away and/or busy, but think the jury is still out on that one. So, wait for a text message . . .