Ashurst Wood - The 3 Crowns

Tuesday 19th February

 A Wander Down Windy's Parts

Walkers:  Farty, T.B., Windy, 2 Legs,  .  Trish joinlil and Clat.  Trish joined us for lunch - Happy New Year  Mrs P. !! Distance 6 1/4 miles

Find of the Walk:  A rugby ball, a pair of wellies, and a discarded bike - some of this will not be on show, cos T.B. had an equipment mal-function, so that even his back-up camera equipment failed - it happens.
What a beautiful day - bright and clear, and after a frost and fog, it became truly scrumptious (as Mary Poppins would say, or was it Bert?)  Farty and Clat had designed today to be long and linear, on the old Sussex railway track, thus avoiding the mud and wetness - it worked.   The pub is open all day from, it appears 0900 - brilliant, so we could get some light relief and have a coffee before setting off.
At first, it was muddy, but once we were 'on-line' (tee hee) it was plain-sailing and a good pace soon developed.  T.B.  or rather, Fingers Malone, was having a bit of trouble with some of his digits today but overcame this hurdle and got snapping - his malaise from last week has ended, thank goodness.  Along the way, we met lots of activity in the shape of walkers, runners, dogs, cyclists - don't get me started on their lack of bells, or even voicing a warning of their impending approach from behind  Various maori-style posts along the way, tell you how far you have come and how far you have to go..  It is half-term this week, but nevertheless it was good to see so many children outside rather than inside, stuck to the controls of a gadget.

Timed  to perfection, we had a break, carried on, then turned round, viewing the views from the opposite direction.  Actually, we could see a lot more at this time of year, due to lack of leaves - we got back to base in good time - so lovely and warm in the sunshine, and got into pub mode.  There were log fires burning, and the c.h. was on - excellent.  Various menus were offered, including two mains for £5 - which didn't mean one person ate two meals but one each - a bargain!!  There was also a good blackboard menu, as well as the usual - we were spoilt for choice.

Trish arrived, looking glamorously coiffed and a vision in pink - she even ordered a drink to match - she is a very co-ordinated woman.  We updated with her, and then the food arrived, and really good it was too.  This is a definite return venue menu.   T.B. then produced a slip of paper with a picture of a man modelling a mankini - apparently he wants one for his birthday - April 10th   Also displayed was penis pasta and other male 'interests' - is this a side-effect of digit trouble? He then went on to tell a few jokes, and proceeded to give us a quiz - in fact, the Daily Mail hardly got a look in.

Well, all good things come to an end, and ours was nigh, so we paid, upped, and left.
Next week Farty will be manning the helm as Lil and Clat are off to the seaside.  Roger and out.