Winter Walking: Top Tips

Winter Walking: Top Tips
(courtesy of June & Aubrey Zaft http://www.country-walks.com)

Well, winter is now with us following a really wonderful autumn that has lasted so long that the leaves are still clinging to the trees. And winter is the theme of this newsletter in which we've included a number of tips which we hope will help to keep you well and safe.

Being in Nature

Many of us believe that being in nature is good for the soul. Now recent studies show that if you spend just 20 minutes a day outside you'll benefit from increased vitality and well-being. Being outdoors makes us feel more alive.

In our fast-paced world it can take a determined approach to ensure that nature and the outdoors still has a place in our lives. We are constantly accessible - by mobile phone, tablet, laptop; we rush around by car, train, plane and taxi. Sometimes we may barely make it outdoors at all. Let Nature help restore your energy levels. Research shows that those with a high level of vitality are less prone to illnesses. They feel happier and healthier. Next time you feel an energy dip, or feel down, get yourself outdoors.

It's particularly important to walk regularly in winter to help boost your immune system and keep all those nasty bugs at bay! So don't be tempted to hibernate: wrap up warm and get out and enjoy the fresh air, however cold it is outside.

Emily Bronte Communing with Nature

We would love to share with you this poem in which Emily Bronte is ushering in another winter with blissful anticipation.

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
I shall smile -when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night's decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

Thought for the Day

"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it."     Kierkegaard, 1847
 

Walking Tip

We'll admit - it's always a bit of a pain removing mud from your boots after a winter walk. Try using the handle of an old teaspoon. It is small and firm enough to prise out mud without any danger of damaging the sole that can happen when a knife is used. We have tried small sticks in the past but they snap so now we keep an old teaspoon in our rucksac for this purpose. Finally bang the boots together to loosen any remaining dirt so that when you get home all you have to do is rinse the boots under the tap. Do let us know if you have any tips we can pass on to other walkers.

Stay Safe this Winter

We may tread carefully in icy conditions but it isn't always enough. Accidents are common and we personally know several people who have suffered long-term consequences of falls on ice. Protect yourself this winter with some Yaktrax or similar devices. We highly recommend pulling on a pair of these simple, light-weight ice grips over your regular walking shoes or winter boots when walking on packed snow and ice. With every step you take, hundreds of biting edges make contact with the ice. And they're very easy to pull off when entering a building. Here's the link (opens in a new window). At around £12 they're a very worth-while investment to keep you safe.

 

Friday Street - The Stephen Langton

Friday Street - The Stephen Langton

 
Tuesday 26th November
Fallen Arches
Walkers:  Farty, T.B., Lil and Clat.  No Sue as her Mum has had a fall - we wish her well. Chris has appts., and so has Windy with a tree fellah, or feller, at a branch meeting - ha ha ha.
Distance: 6.25 miles which pleased Farty
Find of the Walk: a cotton scarf in a delicate shade of pooftah pink

Another fantabulous day - albeit cold, but the sun was out, and all was bright and clear - aren't we lucky?  Clat was told she looked like Janet S.P. in her get-up today, but the boots didn't, as they were covered in duct tape, so she will have to go for a feel from the bloke at the Cotswold shop, and get replacements.
Off we went, straight on to the Greensand Way, and we talked about sex - as you do. Youngsters attitudes to this subject are totally different these days, and ' friends with benefits' doesn't mean ones who get luncheon vouchers - remember those days?
Our route went south and straight, and much undulating was performed as we encountered

numerous fallen trees, hunkering down in the roots of one, pretending to be hobbits and suchlike.
A waterfall too, which reminded Clat that she had to create one too.  At the chosen location, the taps had to be turned off as two walkers came into view. In fact, we met several on our walk today, and lots of testosterone-fuelled men doing manly things like chopping wood, and brandishing chain-saws. Shotguns were heard, popping away, and loads of pheasants who were popping out of it.

We arrived at Broadmoor Bottom, turned right, and commenced a diagonal climb up Whiteberry Hill.  Across some sugar beet fields , and on to some hedges where we dis-lodged  some more testosterone on a ladder.
The Stephen Langton is where we stopped for lunch, and , donning protection on boots, instead of donning protection from Boots, we entered the premises. A warm coal fire was burning, and we parked ourselves in a room nearby. 
The food was superb - full marks all round, and you should have seen the size of Farty's fishcake.  We got chatting to a couple nearby, who remarked on our food, and we remarked on theirs - enormous sandwiches.  We got chatting, joke-telling,  and discovered they live on one of our routes in Westcott - we shall wave when we next pass their house.
We had to go - there was more walking to be done, which is quite a change to our normal walk, chat, walk, chat, walk, chat , walk,chat, stop, eat, drink, loo, leave. 

After 40 mins  we were back at the cars - rather a good way to get your lunch down. 
Next week (December!) - who knows, but you will, once we get our maps sorted -   ta ta xx

Tandridge - The Barley Mow

Tuesday 19 November

A Winter Wanderland
Walkers:  Farty, T.B., 8 Legs, Windy, Lil and Clat.  Sally, later.  Mrs P is back in the bundu, stroking her impalas (yes, really), in 30 deg heat,  and watching out for stray giraffes falling into her pool.  I don't know what she's on either.
Distance: 51/2 miles
Find: nothing to report, today 

Rather chilly today - so we were well wrapped
up, and after a frosty start, we found ourselves in a rather lovely, clear and sunny day.  Success at last after weeks of no walking due rotten weather.
We went sarth as they say in London, and across some fields and Gibbs Brook, where we bumped into a bouncy springer.  Minnie was wearing her new thermal coat, with stand-up collar, so she looked quite the part.  She changed into combat fatigues later. 
We crossed the busy A22 and into a field diagonally -not us, the path.  Then some confusion began, as there was no signage at the expected place.  After a dig about, we found the rotting carcass of signs and got going again.  If the farmers would pay heed to the above, then they wouldn't see us straggling across their fields trying to find the next bit of the path.  We did find it,
again, buried deep in some bushes.  Muddy underfoot and then we got on to the Greensand Way, and dried out somewhat - marvelous.  We stopped for a break and T.B. showed us his knots on his anorak - yes, i think conversation was a bit slow today.  They stand for poverty, chastity, and obedience - did he buy it from a monastery I ask myself.

Tilburstow Hill, then Garston Park, where Clat wanted to check her location, so the only thing you can do in this situation is to flag a Jag, which she did, and the occupant told her where she was and where to go - charming. Next we were walking through Godstone Farm, and noted a few additions to the play area, and then it was off to do some heavy petting.  Pigs mainly, Gloucester Old Spots, Tamworths, and a traditional pink job.  Chris got her compass pole out and placed it near said pig's privates and declared they were heading  sarth too - a pork prolapse.
Down then to The Enterdent and eventually getting to the pub, half an hour earlier than planned, which meant Sally didn't get her text message for our arrival at the right time.  Into the pub, lovely and warm, with crackling fires and a friendlier barmaid this time.  The menu is not very big or inspiring, but if you want a smaller main dish, then that is possible.  There's not much fish, and no jacket potatoes either.  Sally made it despite getting lost a bit, and has a bright red new mini - the purchase was made whilst having two new tyres fitted on her old mini - good salesmanship there. She also supplied some very welcome Lindt d'or (sp?) chocs.
Then Minnie decided that a newly-arrived Bichon Frisee (this is a dog, not a lettuce), needed to be given a good mouthful, and dressed in her combat gear, she was no contest for the white fluffy job lurking nearby.

So, not a lot to report this week, but it was great to catch-up with each other.  We shall advise re the next venue, and fingers crossed that this drier weather will continue, but Carol at the Beeb seems to think otherwise.  Adieu x

'Sarf' London - Crystal Palace

If it's pie it must be Tuesday!
Time taken: all day!
Distance: 5 3/4 miles
Walkers: Farty & TB

'We lived, we laughed, we loved'

Rain? What rain said the intrepid 2 as they set off on the tram to Beckenham.
A cemetery we had been meaning to visit was our chosen start point. By the time we were in the cemetery the sun was out. We agreed that neither of us had ever seen one like this before (we're going to book our places there!).  Wendy will be amused because it is the resting place of Thomas Crapper who died in Anerley (is there a joke there?) although we didn't find it (his grave, of course!). One stop on the train from Birkbeck and we were at Crystal Palace which was getting ready for tonight's firework display. So some of the paths were closed but it was as lovely as ever.
On Crystal Palace Parade we admired # 9
recently featured on 'Gorgeous George's Small Spaces'. For those of you who missed the programme it's a converted underground public convenience. (pic)

# 9

We were then in the Crystal Palace Triangle (spooky music...) which is the new up and coming place to eat. Lots of restaurants, pubs and bars. Being a walk day we estewed the brazilian/vietnamese/portuguese/turkish/indian/asian & plumped for a regular pub The Sparrow Hawk where believe it or not TB enjoyed pie!

We had dressed for more rain than we actual saw. After lunch we walked around
the triangle checking out the shops & restaurants, admiring the views & architecrure. To the north views of the Shard and to the south the Downs. The whole area had a really buzzy feel & we plan to go back Saturday for a farmers' mkt and LUNCH!

Joseph Paxton MP

 an English gardener, architect and Member of Parliament, best known for designing The Crystal Palace.

Reigate - Skimmington Castle

Reigate - Skimmington Castle
Tuesday 29 October

Bridge Under Troubled Waters and a real T.B.

Walkers: Farty, T.B., 8 Legs, Windy,  Mrs P., another Mrs P.,  - Lil and Clat - wow a full house
Distance: Less than 5 miles
Find of the Walk: a route which wasn't blocked or flooded.

How marvellous, so many of us gathered and ready for action . What a gathering, what a job for T.B. - all these women - how will he cope?  After many weeks of bits and bobs of us, we were finally en masse, and ready for action. It's been a while since we were all together, what with one thing and another, and last week was off, due to the weather, and Farty and T.B. were at a funeral that day anyway.  The other Mrs P, is Jane, who has walked with us before.

Farty was sporting her brand new boots, kindly fitted by Dan, who ran his hands over her feet and ankles, and up and down her legs (50 shades of hey).  After an hour of this, she left the shop (or was she asked to leave?),.. with her purchase, and today is not the best for trying to keep them clean.  Clat is brandishing her new water bottle (a considered QVC purchase), which has already been likened to a colostomy bag, but it has a useful clip on it.

The recent near-hurricane and heavy rains have left their mark, so it was time to go see what the results were.  We were immediately entrenched in mud - a good christening for das boots, and headed westwards, over sodden grounds and lots of fallen trees and branches.  A locked gate then told us that our normal route was now out of action, and we had to find a way round, which kind of took us the wrong way, and we ended up near the river.  This is where we found that the bridge was submerged, the area looking like a mangrove swamp,  so a turning round was performed, which meant straddling a metal gate - talk about assault course. 

Here we bumped into two chaps walking their dogs, and told them their intended passage wasn't possible.  We had quite a chat, then discovered one of them really did have initials of T.B. - and the number 3 on his baseball cap - I don't know either. Our route altered, we then chanced upon a huge oak which had toppled from its once glorious splendour and been reduced to a wreck, and amongst this we found a man.  He had been sent to dismantle said tree, and was displaying an array of chain saws.  Apparently,  these were not big enough for the job, and he had had to order a 36" one - "but don't tell the wife".  He was on an hourly rate, and in no hurry to finish the job, or even start it, for that matter.  We left him to it, came upon a range of farm buildings, which contained 8 labrador retrievers, having a grand old time, and were allowed to view 10 puppies , only a month old.  Farty informed us that bitches (don't go there), have 8 nipples, so what happens to the other pups?  This word is also another term for bosoms in some circles.  Confused?  I hope so. 

We had a refreshment break - Mrs P produced some wonderful flapjacks, Minnie displayed her paw nails painted in poodle pink and looked marvellous against her black fur, and T.B. said he had been to see a specialist "The King of the Penis", who asked him if he was taking precautions, as, in our age group, sexual diseases are on the rise (if you'll pardon the pun).  I take precautions - I always look 3 times before I cross the road - ha ha ha ha ha.

We approached a part of Reigate golf course - ladies day today, and we were waved through

by  a woman with two plums in her mouth, judging by her accent, and came to a windmill which had been de-bladed.  Eventually we were back at  the pub, and the intention was to do a figure of 8, which meant that some walkers could break off here, and the others could carry on.  Well, as it happens, everyone stopped , hence the short mileage - the temptation for lunch (for some!) was too strong.

The publican lady was very accommodating and helpful.  It was busy so we had to sit at two separate tables, but soon connected, once the bloke at the middle table had finished his cheese board. Provincial Mrs P then got her i pad out and showed us some marvellous pics of her African abode, with her many visitors - nyala, rhinos, big birds, a giraffe (they have very long and blue tongues, which reminds me of an ex) and told us that a hyena arrived whilst she was having a bath. Badedas has a different effect out there apparently.

Windy showed us a clipping of an ex BCAL girl who appeared in yesterday's Daily Mail - accusing a golfer of cheating, by all accounts - it's amazing what we get to talk about.  However, the food was gorgeous - piping hot, tasty, and plenty of it.  Full marks all round I reckon, and eventually we departed and headed for home. 
Next week, we shall probably go to Tandridge - see you there, then!