Leigh - The Plough

Tuesday 23rd April

Gorgeous George

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

Distance 5 1/2 miles

Find of the Walk:  The sunshine !!!!
Well, the title should tell you that 23rd April is St George's Day, and it was gorgeous too.  The sun shone, from clear blue skies, the larks were out and so were we.  Spring was in evidence, albeit a little late (3 weeks according to the experts), and it was warm - a very rare event indeed.
So , full of something de vivre, we started out and northwards across a ploughed field, but the farmer had kindly left us a tractor track to walk along.  We came to our pinnacle, before turning round and south again.  The bluebell woods are coming on, and soon we hope to see an abundance of blue in the Tory woods.  We had another talking hedge moment, but this time a man's head popped up and asked us if we had found his muzzle - yes, we thought the same thing too.  We crossed the road and walked for a while along the river Mole and a new footbridge.  This area is very stile-ish, so the legs got a good workout today.

Much gentle ambling got us to the 3 Horseshoes at Irons Bottom, and we sat outside to drink our beverarges (sp intentional) - sheer bliss. 
On we went, and along some un-trodden paths, right by the side of this rather gorgeous house, and then a not very gorgeous alsation waiting to gobble us up for lunch.  He was restrained, and we had a safe passage.  We were on our way 'home' and, as usual, we seem to have got a bit misplaced.  I blame the arrows myself, or rather, the lack of them - perhaps they get eaten by the livestock, but all we had to encounter today was the mint sauce accompaniments and their little lambs - ahhh.
We sort of got there in the end, stretched our vitals, and sat in the pub garden.  Our hostelier was very helpful and attentive and we were soon having some delectable eats.  Farty's fast of last week lasted all of two days - and today the lager went down a treat.  Minnie went on the defence of her biscuits as another dog invaded her space - quite right too.  Could very nearly have been a Suarez moment!


We discussed walks as the birthday celebrant always gets to choose - Chris wants to go to the Algarve
which might take a bit of organising.  Then Sue's world crumbled, literally, as her rubber soles started to disintegrate right before her very eyes.  We watched in wonderment and alarm, as her feet got closer and closer to the tarmac - a perishing moment.  I think their next outing is to a skip - enough said.  However, prior to this she gave us a top tip for microwaving a poached egg.  Break egg into cup, cover with a saucer, and do dah for about 20 seconds, and bingo it's done.  I tried it and it works. Nigella eat your heart out.

So, next week we are meeting at The Gardeners Arms in Ardingly, to celebrate Windy's big 6 Oh !  See you there.