Horsted Keynes, Bluebell Railway

Thursday 31st July

Walkers: Mrs P, Sue and Minnie, Mon, TB and me

 

Length of walk: 5 miles

The Tornado whips up a storm.

A welcome return to some Rahra rambling which has been on hold for a while due to mud, elderly parents and general debility!   We met up at West Hoathly car park and set off to the Bluebell Railway crossing near Sharpthorne tunnel in time to see the magnificent Tornado steam past.  Farty had kindly sorted out a timetable of viewing points for us.  We waited expectantly.  We thought we heard a toot but it may have been TB as he had his ear nervously pressed to the track a la Tonto.  He's now sporting what he describes as his ear trumpets and doesn't miss a thing, making it tricky to talk about him.  Other enthusiastic fanatics were there.  If only it had been slightly cooler we could have worn our anoraks.  I stood poised, camera in hand.  "Wend, you're facing the wrong way" said Farty despairingly.  Actually, when the train appeared it was back to front, so that might have worked. We would have preferred full frontal though.

Time for the walk proper to begin, and we set off through glorious countryside, the sun beating down, passing lovely cottages and properties, one with a black horse with rigor mortis in the garden.  Eh?  A very convincing model.  Some road walking was required alongside the Weir Wood reservoir.  All very windy, hilly, and treacherous, with cars whizzing perilously close.  One driver shouted "get off the road!" and got a few two and one fingers.  Don't mess with us!  Luckily we caught up with a school group and followed their rather stern teacher's instructions to "KEEP IN LINE", and "CAR!" The children eyed us warily, having just witnessed our rather unseemly hand gestures.  Were we perhaps escapees from the home for the bewildered?  We thankfully left the road and stopped for refreshments by some huge limestone rocks that you often see in this part of the world.  Mrs. P kindly provided chunks of Alan's birthday cake.  He may not be best pleased when he next revisits the cake tin!  At this point TB needed a lavatree break, and was about to expose all when the school children reappearred.  This would have been the final straw for the poor mites. They were already traumatised by our earlier behaviour, and as Farty said, the last thing they needed was a Rolf Harris moment.  This reminded me that my sister had a Rolf Harris moment years ago at a book signing, when having signed his book, Rolf stood up and kissed her full on the lips!  She was mortified, turned puce and fled.  He just laughed.  Just shows you, his tentacles spread far and wide.  And other things that sound similar.

Time to move on, and we found ourselves in a shady glade where we came upon.......MUD!  NOOO!  I don't mind it as you know.  Mrs. P suffered some sock seepage, though it didn't look particularly mud coloured.  As Farty said, you often don't know you've got the squits until you take your bicycle clips off.  That Roedean education certainly paid off.  Next was quite a steep hill which took us to our next vantage point on the Bluebell to view another train.  TB positioned himself in the middle of the track and received a toot for his recklessness.  We waved at the passengers and they waved back.  We love doing this, I don't know why, it's rather sweet and British!  We were conscious that time was marching on, our table was booked for 1.30, so we cut the walk short slightly.  This is always disappointing for TB and me, but needs must.  We got to the Cat with time to spare, and sank gratefully into chairs outside under an umbrella.  The food here is always good, if a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for.  The fish and chips were excellent, as was Sue's ham egg and chips.  During conversation it transpired that Farty and TB have been invited to Mauritius by their gay neighbour who is about to become High (camp) commissioner there.  Sounds like something from Gilbert and Sullivan. How fab though.  They'll be staying at the official residence and waited on by punkah wallahs.  Those were the days. 

Just time to see the Tornado coming the other way through Sharpthorne Tunnel, this time the right way round, (and me!).  Quite a spectacle, and reminiscent of the Railway Children.  We waved our knickers and truss (I didn't know Farty wore one), and went home tired but happy.

See you all soon, Wend xxx

Go (to Penge) West young man!

Venue:  Yes, you guessed it, Penge West!

Walkers:  Farty, TB and Mrs P - the northern hemisphere urbanites!  The southern hemisphere rurals aka Miss Windy Nohills and Clat were doing a gentler Reigate Hill walk.

Distance:  8 1/2 miles

Time taken:  Most of the day due to leisurely stops for lunch and ice cream in the park!

Find of the walk:  Freddie's school bag

Mrs P arrived on the Uckfield Express - which this time was actually running - bang on time at East Croydon to be met on the platform by a very welcoming welcome committee in the form of Farty and TB.  We quickly made our way to Norwood Junction where we caught the Overground to Penge West - a total journey of 15 mins, so we started our walk by 10.45.  Today Farty had planned a 'lollipop' walk.

Mrs P, yours truly, tried once again to contain her provincial excitement about all
things 'London' and 'Urban' - and failed miserably!  We headed straight into Crystal Palace Park which was looking quite beautiful in the glorious sunshine.  We stopped to look a the ship's bell from WW1 and to have our photos taken by the Sphinx.

Onward to Sydenham Hill with its lovely houses and stunning views over London.  (Sydenham Hill is one of the highest spots in London.)  We caught glimpses of the Shard and the Wembley Arch as the visibility today was excellent.

Then into Dulwich Woods where we could well have been in the middle of deepest Sussex as it was so quiet - well, apart from the odd aircraft overhead which I suppose is just like Sussex too!  Onward past the manicured greens of Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf Course, arriving at Dulwich itself.
We stopped at the gate house to the Dulwich private estate, took pictures and had a chat with the friendly gateman who agreed with TB that it was the only paying toll in London apart from that other small one over at Dartford!  Bet the houses were exceptionally posh in the estate but we moved on as Dulwich Village and Gail's Bakery were calling.

We passed Dulwich College - a beautiful building where Mon informed us Shackleton's boat from the Antarctic is on display, Shackleton being one of Dulwich's old boys.  Usually out of bounds to the public, she was able to see it on one of the college's infrequent open days.  An extremely polite young man (no, not George Clooney, he was busy at Reigate Hill!) entered the college as we took pictures (it is exam week) - clearly all that money and history buys not just an expensive education but excellent manners and diction!  We know our place ..... so carried on towards the bakery, finding Freddie's bag along the way.  Having checked for phone numbers (not a chance, just his reading record) we hung it on the railings for him, or more like his Mum,  hopefully to find it later.

Dulwich Village is very pretty and was full of yummy mummies having coffees/lunch sitting in the sunshine.  We dived straight into the bakery and came out with bags stuffed full of their lovely offerings which of course meant we were then starving hungry and in need of lunch ourselves!  We turned back into the park to head for the pub.

The park was full of all the remaining yummies and their tiny offspring - talking of which we kept stopping to ooo and ahhh and the wildlife and their tiny offspring!  Amazing wildlife everywhere (no, not the human kind, this is Dulwich after all) - some cute goslings with very proud mum and dad, baby coots who were quite adorable as they tried to climb back onto their nest having dipped their toes in the water, ducks and cygnets.  Later on in the day we also saw a magnificent heron, some grebes (very impressively identified by Farty) .......... and the ubiquitous rat scurrying across the path towards the water.  Hopefully not after our gorgeous fluffy babies ........

So, through Sydenham Woods and to the pub - Dulwich Wood House.

A super pub, friendly staff and loads of tables outside in the shade to chose from.  So lovely to have pubs that serve food all day - and the food was excellent too.
Fish and Chips all round!  Not quite the size of Cornwall but not far off!
It was almost too comfortable sitting in the sun so we moved on before we felt the call of a bucket of wine .... back through Sydenham Woods, passing John Logie Baird's house on the way.  Mon took us to see the disused railway tunnel that used to go to Crystal Palace which has now been boarded up but is a major bat nesting site.  We walked through the park in a different direction, stopping to look at the wonderfully restored Crystal Palace station and on to the

dinosaur lake - yes, really -  complete with all manner of dinosaurs and I don't mean cabin crew from our era! A young dad walked past with his 2 toddlers, one of whom was demanding ice cream - that was it, Mon and I turned all toddlerish on TB and demanded to be taken to the cafe too!  So we ended up in the park cafe with our yummy double scoops enjoying the late afternoon sunshine, getting more and more chilled (sorry!), feeling that we could quite happily have moved on a pub for the rest of the afternoon/evening.

However, the clarion call of the Uckfield Express beckoned  so reluctantly we walked back towards Penge West and East Croydon.  Farewells bid all round - it had been a really lovely day with so much variety: parks, woods, views, lovely houses and gardens, wildlife, history - and of course, great company.

I'm off down south again for the next 4-5 weeks, so Farty & TB will be continuing their urban walks but I'm sure there will be some liaising going on so hopefully we can all meet up again very soon.

See you soon! xx

Green grows the city, 0

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40 Read more reviews and listings and book tickets at timeout.com/london

 

Reigate Hill - The Urban Cafe

Tuesday 10  June

The Southern Hemisphere Offering

Walkers:  Windy and Clat:
Distance:  3 miles
Find of the Walk: (not photographed) but a toy butterfly in a tree.

Farty. T.B. and Mrs P are 'doing' London, and, hopefully, a blog will emerge from the Northern Hemisphere later.  8 Legs have more goings-on, going on, Lil is on a snowmobile , round a glacier in Banff, and Sally is probably at work.  She has a double bunyun op. (i know the sp. is wrong), in September, and is having through the  keyhole surgery - Lloyd Grossman is performing.


Wonderful, gorgeous weather.  The sun shining brightly, clear blue skies, and enough breeze to keep the heat off, and the cold, too.

As we are not up to speed or fitness, we started our walk with a coffee!  A very enjoyable vista, over the Reigate suburbs and beyond, with a litre of liquid between us, and George Clooney by our side.  The place was very busy, and the cafe was doing a roaring trade, but, due to a roaring tradewind down one side, they could only open half the hatches.

The liquid quickly worked its way through , so a pit -stop ensued, before we set off in our light-weight walking sandals, and gear, accompanied by Tom  Cruise and all manner of gorgeous hunks - or was it the sunglasses playing tricks on us?

We ambled along at a gentle speed, and noting the lush greenery, dog roses, and other blooms, we came to the observatory/obelisk thing, which tells you where Worthing and Leith Hill are, all decorated with someone's melted ice cream - ah the charms and delights of the local wildlife.  Talking of which, the Belted Galloways, are still here, crunching and munching on their pastures, (humans, on their pastries) with big, shiny wet noses , and their hair ruffling in the breeze.  A group of anoraks was also there, most put-out, cos they couldn't fly their model aeroplanes - if you look up, sirs, you can see the real things crossing the skies on the horizon, but where is that missing 777?- still missing.

A veritable field-day out here - picnics, groups of walkers, and school kids, gangs of dogs, and the odd cyclist or two.  We headed for the far gate, and turned round, as a fellow walker told us it was a definite 3 mile round trip - excellent.   Once returned, and considering the weather was SO lovely, we dined at the cafe - really good cheese/tomato toasties. We sat in deckchairs admiring the view, and George gave us a bottle of champagne to help complete the picture.

We chatted about the D day landings memorial progs from last week, and declared the Queen incredibly fit and able. The Oldies left alive, certainly went through hell and high water, in the war, and so young too - and so modest. 

Now it's the tennis and more tennis, season, football in Rio, and the hosses at Ascot - it's a wonder we can get outside, but get out we will, and we;ve told George too.

Keep using the sun cream and love to all. xxxxxxx

Warnham - The Sussex Oak

Tuesday  3  June

A  Touch  of the Veras (think about it!)

Walkers:  Windy, Lil and Clat. Farty and T.B  joined us once they' d got back from their longer walk
Diners: 2 Legs (Sue), Sally .
  Chris unable to make it and Mrs P is entertaining a New Zealander in her house - at least that's what she told us, but then she has also been cruising, but not in the 'looking for a good time' sense.
.


So, after a long gap, and much goings on with health, welfare, Mothers, et al. we finally got it together.  A grey and muggy day, but humid.  Us later walkers met, and noted that Farty and T.B. had already gone off in their direction, and we went off in ours.

Wend and Clat were a little trepidatious (sp) as A. a virus and lack of energy, and . B the ongoing hip thing, they wanted to road test their bodies on a shorter walk.  We had Lil with us, so we knew one of the group would keep going!

Everywhere is so green and lush, absolutely lovely.  We went south-eastwards, through verdant fields - found a gorgeous little vole skittling about, out to near the A24, and in again, along country lanes, admiring the blooms in folks' gardens.  In through the deer park, where a magnificent group of stags (not the rutting season, thank goodness), were lying around surveying the scene.
Our find was a discarded walker's water bottle, but no camera with us, so apologies for the lack of pictures - please use your imaginations.

Some more lanes, and gardens, Wonham Manor, and then a stroll back to the pub - 1 3/4 hours in total and fine by us and our bits.  We found Sue and Sally swigging instead of swinging, in the garden, and we all entered the pub.  Things were pretty quiet, something not quite the same, and the usual landlord absent.  Hey ho, we ordered, and pretty soon Farty and T.B. pitched-up, and we had a good old gossip.  Sally is our only connection with the flyers' pasts, and last night's t.v prog on B.A was discussed and dismissed, and we talked about many other topics, including My Granny the Escort, and I wont say any more.

Windy had a new device with her - a gadget to test your blood sugar.  She bought it on Amazon, and cannot get it to work properly, and an alarm keeps going off.  She asked T.B. to show her his pricking action, and after a wedge of meat pie, he duly obliged.  Apparently, she has the American version which means scarily  high readings if you're a Brit.  He had a fiddle, but it wouldn't change nationality, so it's back to the drawing board on that one.

Are the RAHRAS down the pan?

So, that's us back in action, sort of.  We are aiming for regular gatherings/walks/,wotnots,  but whatever happens, it would be nice to meet once a month, even if it's just for lunch for those non-walkers, and for those who want to put their boots on, there are options to be had.  Make mine a gin and tonic  ta ta xxxxxxx


p.s.  dire warnings abound re an imminent cyber attack on your computers, so don't open any attachments unless you are 100% sure it's safe - good luck.  Clat3p.o.(More importantly make sure your anti-virus is up-to-date!- Ed)

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