East Grinstead, Dunnings Mill

No words today!!

Handcross, The Red Lion/Staplefield The Victory

Bletchingley - The Prince Albert

Mud is Thicker Than Water

Tuesday 21 February - Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Day

Walkers: Farty, T.B., 8 Legs, Windy, Lil and Clat. Mrs P has gorn orf to s.a. to watch the beginning of an erection.

Find of the Walk: A beautiful double-headed snowdrop

Distance: 7 miles (just under)

Parked and assembled promptly, so we were off by 1035 - a record for us. We started at the churchyard, noting clumps of snowdrops and crocus, and along then down towards the old manor house that we know , in Brewer Street.

We are trekking on old and new paths today so, much map-managing was required. This meant some un-predicted hazards, mainly mud and lots of it. Any clean boots were soon ruined, as we hung on to bits of fence, bush , or people, to get across some very squidgy areas. We found quite a few bunches of ponies, looking bedraggled and fed-up in their wintry ( I wonder?) land. At one point, some very nifty double-stileing was performed as we hopped from one set to the other, without touching the ground, although Clat was having a little trouble with her trailing leg, which kept doing just that at important moments, resulting in much smearing of muck on top rails - apologies, will get my boots spring-loaded for the next walk.

The countryside round here is similar to Leigh in that you have wide open vistas the whole time, with the gentle? rumblings on the M23 in the distance - charming. We had our first break, and then set off towards some old quarry pits, and an alarming smell of gas - who ate all the beans then? Luckily, none of us, and we soon spotted day-glowed workmen and a van, from the gas board, so all is well in the world - boooooooooooooooooooom!

Up then, through Mercers Park and to the Merstham Road which was all new territory. We had to fight our way through some very odd and overgrown areas, but by keeping rigidly to the map, it does eventually make sense. One area of very tufty grass got our boots clean again, and this also housed derelict caravans, trampolenes, and dog kennels , plus the remains of a parakeet - keep moving.

Eventually we were back at Brewer Street, to complete the circle , and noting an Everton mint house on the way. Some of our group were trailing behind, and we discovered, that left to their own devices, they'd found a tree full of holes, which is now to be called the sphincter tree - you can't leave them 5 minutes can you? Oh, and they also found the beautiful snowdrop, so a bit of redeemage here.

So, time to de-boot and re-group at the pub. A very warm and friendly welcome from the landlady, and we were accommodated, and 'served' really well. The prices were low and the food was high in marks. (nearly got you there). Windy's wonderful remark re loss of ketchup was that she was out-sauced -gettit? we all did . In fact this venue is great for all of us to get to, and the walks are multiple.

 Next week Lil and Clat are by the seaside and the conducting will be performed by Farty, who was concerned she sounded a bit draconian last week re farmers. Not at all, we all don't like the ones who hide the footpath signs, and grow their crops right across our passsages -time for an oooo matron here. Our right to roam is important, but I think I've roamed on enough for one week. See you soon.xxxxxx

Betchworth - The Dolphin

Tuesday 14th February - Valentine's Day

A Bootifull Walk

Walkers: Farty, T.B., 6 Legs, Windy, Mrs Provincial, Lil and Clat

Distance: 7 miles

Find of the Walk: - Boots of course!

Well, how good was this to be assembled once again. last week's snow/ice prevented ramblings, so we were raring to go. Farty, has marked her new map, and so we followed the shape drawn on it. We set off through the churchyard where big clumps of Galanthus (snowdrops to you and me) were pushing through and braving the weather.

We traversed through some fields and then upwards past Betchworth P.O. and over the very busy A25. On t'other side we ascended towards the railway line with the odd worker dotted about, and after skirting a bit, we came to a pair of boots, plonked firmly in the middle of the road. It looked as if the owner had been rocketed out of them - but where was he? The boots were full of water, size 10, so a perfect fit for T.B. - we re-located them for his collection later on.

If we had been a bit later we would have seen this steam train making plenty of whistling and smoke as it went across our route. it was really traveling at quite a pace! (photo taken 3 days later by TB)

Clan Line steaming out of Betchworth

Another upward hill to follow, and then a few more ups and downs as we did some more skirting along the bottom (now there's a play on words) of Box Hill. We had a break overlooking the old kiln works, where a raptor or albatross (later properly identified by Mrs P as a Peregrine Falcon) was spotted wheeling around. Mrs P provided more fabulous fare - we shall miss her when she's being erected in S.A. We proceeded. The track was very slippery and snowy in parts, with trees being cleared at various intervals. We also came across another boot - this time, a child's size, 'off the peg', as it was attached to a tree - co-incidence or what?

At the next junction, we decided to 'road it' back to the A25 once more. Our intended route through a field was changed due to it looking like a lake - we haven't learned how to walk on water thus far. Next minute an ambulance came by, followed by a local farmer's wife in her 4 x 4. She stopped to tell us a walker had fallen and broken her ankle. Her kind husband had taken the ambulance crew + equipment in his equipment, and gotten them to their patient. He sounds like a very nice man. We had quite a chat - Farty told her about in-considerate farmers, so I think she got her message across.

On her advice, we took another route - found loads of gigantic dog poo, and a yellow portaloo (another bit of wordage for you) and successfully, arrived back to our pub. We realised that the place was busy due to excess of children - it's half-term - you have been told!!

A table was found - the menu was limited but we ordered. T.B. had trouble with his organiser trousers which became rather dis-organised, as he had lost 'the' voucher for this pub. He disappeared to the loo, and re-organised himself, and found his chitty - one free bottle of wine then. Being the incurable romantic that he is , he bought us all a drink - thank you T.B. we love you too.

Food was ok - nothing to write home about which is exactly what I am doing.

The pork came from dingley dell though - none of us had it.

Time for the bill, to drink up and then proceed on our merry way.

See you next week - love is in the air - don't catch cold !