Last Ditch Attempt!

Tuesday: 2 March

Venue: The Jolly Farmer at Whitewood

Walkers: Farty, T.B., Windy (the water feature), 12 legs, Clat

Weather: absolutely fabulous - clear blue skies, warm sunshine - Spring could be springing, folks. Today's Fashionista certainly thinks so! Anyone for polo or where's the hare or grouse?

Find of the walk : Cinderella's? shoe

Lovely location, just off the A22 , south of Godstone - a farm shop is nearby too. The kindly landlord supplied Clat with a free coffee before we set out. He also gave us a menu, paper and pen, so we could order our food in advance, and give an e.t.a. for lunch - now that is what I call service.

We set off on what was a clearly marked walk (see further), mainly bridleway, so we did meet quite an abundance of horses and dogs. The recent heavy rainfall meant muddy parts were encountered, but mainly easily navigable. A lovely variety of terrain - hills, dales, woods, fields, farms, and up to St Mark's chapel , where air shafts were marked on the map - but we didn't feel a thing. Some gorgeous Spring flowers were in evidence - the colours were amazing. Good views and vistas, and some lovely homes to live in.

We covered the first half of the walk in record time, and even debated doing an add-on. Good job we didn't , as the return journey was much muddier, and the farmer had kindly removed the way signs at a crucial point on our route. This meant that a bearing to the left was missed, and we ended up going round the edge of several fields.

At the final field (before the road), we found ourselves hedged in - literally, and wide, deep, and water-filled ditches prevented our escape. However, this brave group decided to attempt a ditch-crossing , where it all went a bit wrong. We carefully navigated the steep banks, and had to make a jump for it to get to the other side. The dogs were launched successfully, and nearly everyone else got across. However, poor Windy didn't quite make it, and although she hit the opposite bank running, one of her feet went into the ditch - quite deeply, and she sort of spun off afterwards, heading for terra firma, but luckily she stayed upright. A spectacular manoeuvre !!!! We shall have to give her some ditching drills to practice, and she was worried about trench foot setting in to her now sodden area - quite a tidemark on the trousers, Wend. T.B. got several hand thorns/splinters on some brambles and explained the relationship between taking aspirin, and bloodflow.

So whilst we were milling about looking for exit routes, one of the hedges suddenly spoke and said 'i think you are lost, everyone else gets lost here'. We were then invited to cross the ditch at another point and enter the garden alongside, where we found the owner of the voice. A very friendly and helpful man, who was quite happy to let us cross his garden. We passed two hens and a bedraggled cock (ooo matron) on our exit route. More road walking than planned had to be navigated, but we did get back to the pub at 1400 as planned.

Lunch was fine - prices very low, and staff friendly. Toilets were spotless.

The next walk is planned for WEDNESDAY 10 March, at the Barley Mow, at Tandridge - will text later.

NOTABLE DATES FOR THE FUTURE:

Tues 27th April - Pashley Manor and Gardens, for the tulip festival.. It is near Ticehurst, E Sussex.

Nymans Gardens - tbc as there are thousands of buds there at the moment.