Earlswood - The Joshua Tree

Pike, what pike

Don't Tell Them Your Name Pike

Tuesday 21st June - the longest day - nights will be drawing-in again from tomorrow, so it's time to think about the Christmas shopping.

Walkers: Farty, T.B. (resplendent in vet's badge once more), 12 legs, Windy Senorita, Lil and Clat. No-one else could make it.

Distance: 6 miles

Find of the walk: some 18,0000000 carat earrings.

Well, this is a lovely spot, in and amongst the urbanisations of Redhill. Not many of us knew it was here - what a find, and on our own doorstep too. Thanks to Farty and her 'I want to do new walks' campaign, we have discovered some rather lovely areas.

On time and off we went, the weather blustery, sunny and a bit wet at times. Our heading, south-westerly, across a golfing green, over a road and into the woods, where we came to poooh corner - dog walkers PLEASE pick up your pooch's droppings - it's hideous to find.

Through the woods, and over another bit of golf-courseness and eventually out at Earlswood Lakes. Lovely vistas of water, ducks and swans galore, and the odd fisherman with his rods hanging out. It looks as if the ducklings have been got at, as we only saw one, with Mum, and we wonder how long that will last.

Across Woodhatch Road and straight into a field with cart-horse types, and a little foal with a pink bottom. Chris coped well and we got to the other side, where Windy the gazelle, went into pointer mode as she was convinced there was a pike in the river there. The vet crept up to take a better and longer look, and then confirmed said fish was, in fact, a piece of weed. Oh well, better luck next time, and maybe a piranha ? We then bumped into a dog-walker and her posse of about 7 dogs, all friendly and bouncy, but Minnie didn't seem to like the bottom attention she was receiving. The walker was friendly and chatty, but unfortunately she trod in a big pile of dog pooh - and also complained about the dog-owners who don't pick it up. Mind you, with that lot in tow, she would need a wheelbarrow to clean up afterwards. Oh well, moving on.

Farty quickly got us onto the right track, and we followed the river Mole to the junction of footpath signs, and stopped for a break. Several pillboxes were nearby, so we can only assume that this was a serious look-out post in the war - watching out for floating nazis then?

Into Benting Wood and on towards the railway line, which we crossed, with not much time to spare. This is a frantically busy place - very hazardous for the workers, as a train seemed to appear every 5 minutes, and this is where Windy kindly modelled the earring find.

Then it was our 'lost in time' moment, as the signs dis-appeared, and cows appeared on the horizon, but we were safe, because there was a ditch between them and us. We didn't get the right path, and found ourselves on Bridge Road, at the wrong point so had to walk alongside for a while - no pavements. This is where Lil had her splendid Dawn French Vicar of Dibley moment, as, stepping into a puddle, she came up to nearly her knees - how we laughed. Sorry Lil.

Eventually back,in urbanization once more, and the East Surrey Hospital on our right. Further along is the Royal Earlswood Park, and a building which was once a 'loony bin' - allegedly, two of the Queen Mother's relatives were there. Time was short because the vet had an appt. with some balls, so we trekked on, underneath the railway line and back to the cars.

Once de-booted and stretched, we got inside the pub. Friendly, un-rushed, clean, and comfortable. We had waitress service, and excellent food, with good prices, so I reckon full marks were well-deserved. Our vet was reading the latest edition of 'Streetwise', and regaled us with snippets from said magazine, which caused him to dissolve into helpless giggling. One, was a story about chocolate bars - 'then he slipped his hand into her Snickers, which made her Ripple. He fondled her Jelly Babies and she rubbed his Tic Tacs. It was a fab moment as she screamed in Turkish Delight. But, 3 days later, his Sherbet Dib Dab started to itch.' - I won't go on, but Minnie didn't find it very funny at all.

We shall be back, as Farty has tapped into a seam worth excavating and enjoying.

Next week's walk is already sorted - Tuesday 28th June it will be The Sussex Oak at Warnham. So, we shall see you then, then.