Ardingly - The Gardeners Arms

Thursday 29th December

Blob of Deer, I Think I Can, and Half of Us Will See Something

Walkers: Farty, T.B., 8 Legs, Windy and Clat.

Distance: 7 miles

Find of the Walk: 0

Here we are again, still full of Christmas cheer (and pudding), and we met on a rather grisly and grey day, but never mind, we were up for it.

Farty has carefully engineered this walk to time with two sightings on the Bluebell Railway as today is choo-choo outing day. Off we went into some immediately muddy terrain, but wait, what was this in the woods yonder? Dozens of wonderful deer, all shapes and sizes, and of course their very ownT.B.(token blonde).

What a marvellous thing to witness, as they bounded off into the distance, and we bounded off on our track, and came, very shortly, to another deer. This one, was static and brightly lit - and a bit of posing had to be performed.

We concentrated on our paths - lots of hills and fields, and some very pretty walking - we imagined it in the Spring, and that kept us going. At the refreshment area, our Sue managed to slide into her 'comfort stop' but no accidents to clothing etc. We carried on and upwards once more.

We arrived at the track in time to witness the chuffers going one way then t'other. This is where some of the walk's title comes into play, as we reminisced about train songs from our past, and our Windy reckoning that the way we were dotted about the track, then all aspects of observations were covered.

However the engines were on back-to-front, and were reversing with their carriages. We waved and some passengers waved back. T.B. took some pics and further along, he took some more. Here we found some dedicated train anoraks, complete with their cheese sandwiches, who were there for the day we thought. We weren't - we had a pub to catch. We soldiered on to Horsted Keynes station, nicely bedecked with baubles and garlands, and noticed a garden of remembrance for railway enthusiasts - sleepers surrounded by sleepers. (she should write for the tabloids! Ed.)

A wee bit of roadage followed and Farty did a very good job of re-routing us so that we were not late for the pub. We carried on through private lands , with worryingly early signs of Spring, with things like rhododendrons coming into flower - one lot of frost and they will suffer - such a shame. Onwards and upwards.

The rain never left us alone for long, and with the driving wind, we had to take shelter at one point in a cricket pavilion.

The end came into view in the shape of Ardingly village, and we stayed on the roadway until arrival at the pub.

Inside, it was warm and welcoming, and the waitress found us a lovely cosy area all to ourselves. Food was lovely - it always is here, and the service was excellent. We ate, drank, and had a lousy quiz from Clat - she got it from the Daily Telegraph, so that was soon binned.

Time to go - we shall be walking on Tues 3rd.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL !!!!!!!