Water Link Way To Greenwich

Water Link Way

Mud-free Meander!
Tuesday 25th March
Distance 10 miles!
Weather: dull, but dry, Walkers: TB & Farty

Klemmer

The Carshalton all-weather walkers were determined to get a decent walk in even though the forecast was for some rain. Left the house with a little drizzle and that stopped after a very short while and the rest of the day was dry, but dull. Caught a train through to Sydenham via West Croydon where we picked up the Water Link Way and walked its entire length to Greenwich and the Thames!
We passed a river pool to a confluence with the Ravensbourne river. We didn't find any mud just nice clean pathways and some very pleasant people only too pleased to chat. Who'd have thought we were up 'in the smoke' being surrounded by all this greenery. We met a U3A group ('stroll with a camera') and ducks and birds. Just before Lewisham we came across a Dutch elm (Klemmer) which is in very good nick; set for another 200-300 years good quality life. A rare find indeed

Deptford Creek

The route took us to Ladywell and into Lewisham for lunch.  Lewisham has some few nice older buildings (the old Co-op building), a good daily market and a fab Turkish restaurant. There is a 'Thing' in the middle of a roundabout outside the library, but we couldn't find out what it was.
 Deptford Creek was intriguing. The CreekSide Centre runs all kinds of activities for kids (and adults) to mess about in the mud for as long as they like!

The Big Red Bus

Canary Wharf

At the end of the walk there were views of Canary Wharf, Peter the Great's statue and that skyline!. We took the Clipper from Greenwich to London Bridge and coffee & cake at Cafe Rouge in Hays Galleria before jumping on a train back home. Absolutely 'cream crackered'!

Peter the Great & TB

The Walk that Never Was

Venue - that should have been - Dulwich Park & Crystal Palace Park

Walkers - that should have been - Farty, TB, Miss Windy Nohills and Mrs P



Farty had arranged another Urban PP for our delight - this time a journey to East Croydon, onwards to Penge West and a perambulation around Dulwich and Crystal Palace Parks.  Excellent, we thought! Somewhere different, no mud, weather forecast good - all recovered from our attacks of the lurg - what could go wrong go wrong go wrong?

The day dawned not so bright and clear, overcast and rather chilly.  Never mind, suitably wrapped up Miss Nohills and Mrs P drove into Uckfield, parked the car and walked down to the train station in plenty of time to catch the 09.34 Uckfield Express.  Arriving on the platform Windy (who had been somewhat quieter than usual) decided that she really wasn't feeling at all well and that getting on the train for a day's walk was just a step (sorry!) too far .... so I packed her off home with instructions to have a duvet day instead.  Get well soon Windy, hope you've not got what Farty, TB and I have had.

Has anyone seen the Uckfield Express?

So, that just left yours truly to carry on & be the sole representative from the Provinces.  I went to the ticket office and had a long and involved conversation with the ticket lady about the best and cheapest way to get to Penge West - clearly more complicated than I had realised!  The queue behind me grew .... I put my card into the machine as she said to me "The coach is outside".  The coach? I gasped, what coach?:  at that point everyone behind me in the queue repeated parrot fashion "Coach, what coach?"  The Uckfield Express had morphed into the National Express!  And the coach was heading for Haywards Heath - via Buxted and Crowborough - which may not mean much to you chaps who don't have the pleasure of living deep in the provinces! but I reckon it would have taken until almost lunchtime to reach Haywards Heath let alone East Croydon!

I don't think so thank you very much!

Someone somewhere was trying to tell us something.  Having dragged Mon out of the shower and leaving TB luxuriating in the bath (with or without pussy??), we decided to call it a day as far as the Provincials were concerned.  After some debate between M&M, they made the decision to forget Dulwich for the time being and head for Highgate instead.  And, yes, you guessed, all their trains were delayed due to congestion! so they were last seen heading for buses ..... and most likely a pub!

The rare and elusive Lesser Spotted Orange Nosed Uckfield Express - on a sunnier day!

We will try to reconvene next week - trains permitting!  venue TBA!

Have a good week one and all!

Oxted - The George

Tuesday 4th March
Oxted - The George
Urbane Again

Walkers: Windy, Mrs P., (who has been in bed with lurgy nearly a week, and this was her first day fully up ), and Clat. 
 Lil couldn't make it as she was appearing in 'One Born Every Minute' - in the Delivery Suite no less, expecting her new settees.  No 8 Legs either, as they are busy with appts instead of apps.
It was an appt. that delayed Farty and T.B., so they arrived later on, did their own walk, and joined us for lunch.

Distance: 5 miles-ish, as Mrs P's app 'appened to be u/s
Find of the Walk: a pink peruvian hat
Time taken: nearly 3 hours, as we meandered about and looked at things.

Re last weeks' blog and the flowers outside the gun shop..........Chris tells us that a man of 76 walked in, asked to see a gun, loaded it with his own ammo. and shot himself.   He died, but what a shock for the shop staff.

In fact, Mrs P had diced with death on the way here, gently removing a dead bird and putting it in a hedge - a bird in the hand etc.

Having alerted the pub the night before, we were allowed to park there, which is just as well, as the signs informed us that a fine of £100 could be incurred if you were not normal.  The chef was outside, clearing up and inspecting his decking.  He comes from Wells where the surf has been up due to the recent storms.  We shall see him later.
Sarth we went, down Beadles Lane and soon were on to the Greensand Way, walking behind some enormous houses. We were in an alleyway, aka snicket, twitten, snickleway, ginnell - what's wrong with ' back passage'?  Anyway, they were mainly muddy, so field walking is definitely on hold for the moment.
Spring was here - bright, clear and sunny, with big bloomers.  Some marvellous views to be had , and one enterprising person had carved animals out of his tree stumps.  Mrs P drew our attention to a 'castellated top' - yes we thought it was her clothing too, but apparently it's a roof made to look like a castle - she has been watching Grand Designs - watch out Kevin Mc Cloud.

We came off the ridge, and headed and treaded into Limpsfied - a charming village, really going back in time, with its quaint cottages, and shops, but nowhere for a coffee.  The local pub - The Bull, doesnt open until nearly 12, so we had our refreshment outside, along with the fab flapjacks from Mrs P. 

Next we crossed a muddy field - lots of dogs and walkers, all very jolly and very friendly.  We decided that these happy women have a charmed life - dog walking, then home for some tapenade on toast washed down with a glass of dry white, or mineral spring.  Then it's off to the salon for some pampering and pimple removing, before collecting Tamara, Tabatha, and Tobias from school, in the 4x4. The au pair has been left to wash the dog, and prepare dinner.

Back into Oxted now  - we passed The Barn Theatre displaying a confusing pictorial sign - looked like either pirates or men in drag were banned.  Turns out that fancy dress is forbidden - who'd have thought it?   Next, the local church, where a lamp post dedicated to William Winkle reminded us of our absent member.

The path took us to the rear and across a field full of discarded swedes and not the scandinavian variety either.  This was a horror-trip for Mrs P, as she hates them - the veg that is.  At the end of this we noted the works going on to shore-up the big land slip on the railway line.  We passed a few very busy brooks with water the colour of  mojitos and then down through fields to some ponds.

 Clat then thought she saw a dead sheep - on its back with hooves heavenward, pregnant and not moving much . If said animal is left like this it can die -  crushed by its organs.  Da da daaaaaaa! Su -'Mrs P-'erwoman went into action , along with Wenderwoman, vaulting the fence - Clat minded the bags.  As they approached, and were about to grab a hoof or two, the animal managed to wriggle itself round and up again - thank goodness.  Mrs P has the number for the RSPCA (0300 1234 999 Swan and Friends is 01737 773712) and I think we all need to make a note of that.

After all this excitement it was time to get back to the pub.  A warm welcome awaited us, the chef came to ask us how we had fared, and then fared and fed us well.  T.B. enjoyed his pork (what else?), Farty, her liver, Wend her fish and chips, Clat her steak/kidney pie, served in upside-down style, and Mrs P, her soup- her appetite isn't fully restored yet.
After coffees, we departed, and I think the urban theme for next week will be London or a surrounding area.  You will be informed. xx

St John's - The Plough

Tuesday 25th February 
In the Avenues and Alleyways - a hint of a Tony Christie there

Walkers: Farty, T.B.(or Mr Willy for the time being, who was also sporting a splendid flashers mac), Windy, Mrs. P, Lil and Clat. 
Distance: 5 1/2 miles 
Find of the Walk: - a sex toy for our male member - pun intended 

For Lil and Clat, this was the first meet since Christmas - the weather, and other conditions, have prevented us getting together, but today was 'on' despite the early rain. We enjoyed sunshine and mildness, even though the terrain was wet. There may be a few references to Mr Willy's procedure, but we have to get it out there. He is recovering nicely, no chaffing, and has had his first bath since his op, which was a worry when he discovered a pussy creeping round the edge (some men have all the luck). 

Time we were off. Farty expertly guided us through passages, roads, alleyways, and such, until we found ourselves on the outskirts of Reigate. First stop the gun shop and it's arsenal (bless you), with a bouquet of flowers on the bank outside - i have no idea either. Farty was getting a little concerned that the pace would slow down, as we did a bit of window shopping, but we followed her up another passage and came to Reigate Castle and its grinds, as they say in Surrey. An oasis of peace and calm, above the noise and fug of the town. We spotted a couple manipulating (lenses and equipment) - a photography lesson in progress, which meant T.B. had to have a chat. The spring flowers are abundant and merrily poking their heads out - glorious. We pressed on and parked ourselves on a bench - all we needed were the cans of lager and a packet of rizlas to complete the picture, oh, and a pitbull or two. Mrs P excelled with her fab flapjacks - always so delicious and welcome. Back down into the town we came, and made our way to Reigate Park.
 
This has had rather a make-over since our last visit. A duck pond with picnic tables and benches, a glass rotunda cafe, planted borders, and a rather grand play area - what an improvement. Through another network of roads and footpaths - we like this urban walking lark, and we were back at the beginning. Although the original idea had been to eat at The Joshua Tree, we stayed put and visited the Plough. What a treat - no kids under 10, no piped music, no fruit machines, but loads of copper and brass. They hire a guy just to clean the huge amount on show. This pub is divided into lots of rooms, and has such a lovely ambulance about it too. It also has a pretty garden for the warmer weathers. For T.B. cock-a-leekie soup was off the menu and we all had the Smoked haddock hotpot in a cheese sauce, served with mash and peas - really good, really filling, and really good value. A singing kitty video took our fancy on Mrs P's device, and once she had super-imposed some faces, the sound of raucous laughter ensued. Well, all good things come to an end, but we shall re-convene, next week, hopefully, and do more of the same - will be in touch.