Bletchingley V - The Whyte Harte

The Possibilities are Endless

Tuesday: 23 November

Walkers: Farty, T.B., 12 Legs, Mrs P, Windy, Lil and Clat. Sally joined us for lunch. Registrara is working, and Hootsmon is in Delhi.

Distance: 71/2 miles

Finds of the Walk: a plastic decoy pigeon, and a colourful ballpoint pen - which worked!

Weather: sunny, chilly wind, grey skies in the background - at least it wasn't raining.

We assembled at the Whyte Harte, for our usual pre-ramble coffees and examined Windy's face. She is healing well, thank goodness, with a few visible remnants from her fall - the song 'two lovely black eyes' no longer applies. Clat's brain, on the other hand, has not improved, as she turned up with her trousers on, inside-out - time for a tablet? Sue is under the doctor (if you'll pardon the expression), with her knee, and we are hoping it will withstand today's walk.

Manly Sherlock Dawg

Heading south, west, then south again, we travelled a little of the Greensand Way, and eventually had the M23 on our right. Quite surreal , as we were in the countryside and the drivers, weren't. Soon we came to a field full of dead wood, and T.B. photographed a log which looked just like a reindeer lying down. T.B./alias Steve Carter, vet. was sporting a very nifty deerstalker, so was quickly re-named Sherlock Holmes. However, when the earflaps went down, the look changed once more, to a Deputy Dawg impression, so we shall call him Sherlock Dawg - piccie attached with him looking manly.

We came to Henhaw Farm, and crossed a field containing Shetland ponies and vertically-challenged donkeys, so we called it Heehaw Farm - haw haw haw. One of them had lovely black rings round his eyes - running with Windy then? He came over for a nuzzle and a cuddle and was given some goodies to nibble on.

Talking of which, we have to mention the weekly delights provided by Mrs P and her Aga - gorgeous concoctions of fruits, nuts and gooey things - always delicious, and very much appreciated - yum yum.

Our next venue was Burstow Park Farm, a lovely Jane Austen type building, offering fresh eggs (laid that morning, no less), and honey, so some of the party did a bit of shopping.

Some lovely open-country walking followed, and we were heading towards Outwood. Thank heavens that Lil did a reverse-look at a stile, and noticed the correct signage to turn left - otherwise we would have been horribly off-track. After many fields , mud, and the odd air shaft or two, we were soon on the final path to the pub. We spotted two fat women with 4 fat pugs - who said dogs look like their owners? Farty also pointed out another dead wood structure which looked like a screaming witch.

Yet again, a positive and warm welcome from the pub staff, who are really getting to know us, and it was all nearly perfect. Marks were lost because the original fab chips are not provided any more, and some of the fish batter wasn't crispy enough. 18/20 - still a good mark, though.

Next walk will be Tuesday 30th November, which is St Andrews Day, and Hootsmon can celebrate. Venue - The Plough at Leigh to do Leigh I - one of our originals. ta ta.