Christmas walk: 18-12-12

This is an annual event which is organised by one of the volunteers and this year Clive volunteered to plan the walk and to arrange for the traditional lunch to be held at the Washburn Heritage Centre. Sixteen of us met at the Centre for a five mile walk in the Washburn Valley on a circular route which included Swinsty, Beaver Dyke and John O’Gaunt’s reservoirs.

Beaver Dyke

Swinsty Reservoir

We stopped for a cake break half way through the morning which gave us a better chance of admiring some of the Christmas headgear worn by our more traditional members and there was no doubt about the best – Howie’s, without any question. 

                                  

                                 Cake Break

At various points Clive explained the history of areas we walked through – an ancient monument (oddly enough a track rather than a building), John O’Gaunt’s Castle and other interesting buildings. 

Clive (blue hat) sharing local history knowledge

Bird life was good with three red kites and a buzzard being mobbed by two kestrels. A flock of winter thrushes – roughly 100 fieldfares and 60 redwing -  put on a good show among the species seen.

The weather stayed dry with the odd glimpse of some brightness. The paths were muddy and slippery and in two fields an enthusiastic farmer had spread a very generous amount of muck, but after Clive’s initial risk assessment and H & S instructions no-one came to grief.

By the time we got back to the Centre we had worked up an appetite for the soup, sandwiches and mince pies that were waiting for us, and it was something of a family affair with Sally and Pat, wives of Clive and Howie, looking after us. Excellent food!

There are various people to thank:

• Clive of course, for organising the whole thing.
• Audrey, who provided cake for us all at the mid morning break.
• Sally and Pat for the food and very professional table service,
• and the AONB for paying for it all.

There were four of our volunteers who unfortunately were not able to come, and Paul is in New York. We missed them, and they missed a very enjoyable day.

Tony