Fashionistas without the blisters

Tuesday 23 February

Venue: Surrey Oaks at Parkgate, near Newdigate

Walkers: Farty, T.B., Windy, 12 Legs, Clat:

Find of the walk: an old tennis ball - but at least we found something

We assembled under gloomy and forbidding skies, but determined to get a walk done. The 12 Legs contingent, have now gone into amazing headgear, and for the second time, some lovely 'hat- couture ' has been modelled. The rest of us have made a note to park a bonnet on our barnet for the next walk.

An hour into the walk, the rain began and stayed with us until the end and beyond. Not to be deterred, we set off to explore pastures new, or rather, pastures very muddy and new, but this will be a splendid walk in the spring, as bluebell woods galore are in the offing. Extremely muddy in parts, but this type did not stick, or was that just me?

Good views at various locations and really good walking for the dawgies, as not much roadage, and not much livestock to worry about either. A detour had to be made at the railway, as the crossing has now been locked and barred. Saw plenty of horses though, with their coats on, except one rebel, who had deposited his in the field. We spotted a lovely black Shetland, practicing his pulling skills, complete with his shafts, but no carriage as yet.

Very pretty countryside, and not many stiles. We passed a slag heap (not the pile of women sort), and the local sewage centre - effluent in an affluent area ha ha ha.

The signage was pretty good until we neared the end of the walk, and a slight detour had in a trout fishery , and paintball area. We back-tracked, and were soon on course once more. We returned to the Surrey Oaks too late for lunch, as food stops at 2p.m. and they close at 2.30 - who needs indigestion? However, they do accept dogs.

We hastened to the Fox Revived for lunch and a drying-out session . The next walk, we hope, will be Tues 2 March (blimey how time flies) - details will be texted as usual. Hope you like the piccies, and my apologies for not getting things quite right - thanks to T.B for guiding me thus far. xx