Footprint August 2010

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NOTTS DERBY WALKING GROUP

FOOTPRINT

AUGUST 2010 WWW.NDWG.CO.UK

New “Breaker–Away” Group Formed

The inaugural meeting of the Notts Derby Surfing Group, Croyde Bay, May 30th

Photo: Shashidar Gadad

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IN THIS ISSUE: CONTENTS Notes from the Chair Page 3

Your Walking Group Needs You! Page 3

Ullapool Page 4

Ilfracombe Page 10

Surf’s Up, Dude! Page 14

FAFF-ology: Fundamental Principles Page 15

Brecon Page 18

Hostel Survival Guide Page 20

Weekends Away Quick Guide Page 21

Yee Hah Page 23

Walks Programme Page 24

Weekends away list – summer / autumn Page 25

Socials Page 25

The Committee 2009/2010 Page 26

Click on the navigation links on the right hand side of the page to go to the article

Click on the “Home” link in the Footer to return to the top of the document

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FROM THE CHAIR – AUGUST 2010

A warm welcome to the August edition of Footprint. As this is my last Footprint intro as Chair; I would like to thank all those of you, who on the whole have made it so enjoyable; you know who you are!

After the success of recent weekends away to Brecon and Kettlewell, both the Bara and Borrowdale weekends are now sold out. Weekends away to the Chilterns and New Year in Caernarfon will open for bookings soon. Further weekends up to the middle of next year have also been booked.

Finally a big thank you to Heather and Jenny for organising the recent “Wild West” summer social.

That’s it from me folks! Happy Walking,

Andy (soon to be ex-chair)

YOUR WALKING GROUP NEEDS YOU

Wanted: A Bakers Dozen

It’s that time of year again; as the NDWG Committee year draws to a close and thoughts turn towards the AGM in early October and who will or won’t be on next years Committee. Several of us are leaving the NDWG Committee this year and others will be seeking re-election, possibly to different roles though! Anyone interested in joining the NDWG Committee next year can take your pick of the thirteen roles:

Chair

Secretary (also Vice Chair and Area Rep)

Treasurer

Web Editor

Communications Officer (including Publicity)

Walks Organisers x 2

Weekends Organiser

Membership Secretary

Social Secretary – Derby

Social Secretary – Nottingham

Conservation Officer

Footprint Editor

Further details of what being on the NDWG Committee entails will be in a one off special edition of Footprint to be published shortly

Standing for election is a simple process; just get down the AGM and shout your name out at the appropriate time! In the event of a vote being needed; the candidates standing for election are asked to leave the room and a show of hands is taken; it’s that simple!!

Andy

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ULLAPOOL

Imagine my surprise when Brendan told me I'd agreed to write an article for Footprint as an 'outsider' taking part in the NDWG trip to Ullapool ~ still if, as Brendan & Steve B insist, this conversation took place in a pub after 10pm, then I've got no way of knowing I didn't say just that. I should start by saying that on this trip there were both people I know & those I didn't. I got to meet some fantastic new people & barely got to meet others ~ so my write up will be about the (new to me phrase) "Long Walkers" - although Brendan insists that secretly several people are in fact Bi-Walkers - it's appears to be a brave new world I've entered.

The accommodation was booked from Saturday - but Steve B & I (like many others) decided to meander up on Friday (the only real choice when travelling by campervan) & stop along the way to bag a few hills. First on our list was the Cobbler (Ben Arthur), but as we arrived at the turn to Loch Long & Arrochar it was lost to the cloud & the rain - so we decided to push on in the hope of finding better weather. Eventually the skies cleared as we approached Glencoe & the logical choice was Curved Ridge on the Buachaille which would be quickly accessible & still leave us time to get to a pub afterwards.

As we walked across the moor I commented to Steve that this was just the sort of place we should keep an eye out for adders – Steve knowledgably informed me there were in fact no adders in Scotland – as a newbie to Scotland I stood corrected. I mention this now as it will come back to kick (but not bite) Steve later in our week. A straightforward walk in saw us at the bottom of a wet & steep scramble - we roped up in anticipation of difficulties to come - but the rock & route were easier than the grade suggested & we made quick progress - all the while amazed that we didn't see a single soul. We later

found out that Phil S. & Dave M. did the same route on the Saturday & encountered about 50 people en-route - what a difference a day makes. After a night on the hospitable Clachaig Inn car park we were up early hoping to do the Aonach Eagach Ridge - but again the weather thwarted us - cloud base was about level with the van windows - so we headed North once more in search of better weather. Fort William came & went, Inverness was a coffee stop, but, just short of Ullapool the skies started to clear - so we headed to the Fannichs. A good steady walk with 2 peaks tantalisingly shy of a 1000m (997 & 999) & a lovely snowy ridge - we'd put in two excellent days & the trip hadn't even begun in earnest yet.

As we pulled into Ullapool the sun was setting spectacularly on Loch Broom - a sight that continued to draw the crowds with their cameras for the whole week - the omens were all looking good. The van was quickly pitched, Steve's house (known as the boy’s house - sorry Jackie & Nicola) was just round the corner & Dave M helpfully picked up Steve's stuff – the combination of Dave's car & Steve’s vast amount of kit meaning that Steve then had to walk Plans were made to meet in the Ceilidh Place (pub). This was probably the only night that we all went to the pub together –as the ‘main’ house was a little way out of town, & the other houses were right next to pubs – it seemed to fit with the natural routine amongst the NWDG and its members' individual tastes. Between the meeting & greeting plans were made for the next day –

Red sky at night – Rambler’s delight

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initially everyone agreed to a walk up Ben Mor for the first day. However, after a while we realised we were making plans for two different mountains; - so whilst the main group were going to do Coigaich a smaller group weren't so keen on the hour+ drive after 10 hours of driving already – so plans were made for a more accessible & longer walk - with (Yeay) the mention of an exposed ridge to scramble (I should at this point declare that the climber in me always prefers a walk with some scrambling, climbing or rock - there's also usually little argument from Steve B - indeed he's been known to go out of his way to find the rocky bits - even if he does occasionally cheat - but more of this later). The group that made its plans for Ben More Assynt would form the core of my companions for the week - so I'll name check them now - Steve Blatherwick, Dave Spencer, Dave Millington, Anna Dobrowolska, Jane Harrison & Tina Gough - we had notable & memorable additions on some days - but these are the people I'll mainly be embarrassing mentioning. Strangely (or not) it’s also this group that forms the core of the people who stay in the pub till far too late.

Sunday (Kelvyn, Steve B, Dave S, Dave M, Jane H, Tina G, Anna D)

We're up early and after sorting out cars we're away - a pattern we manage to keep up for the week - largely helped by Dave Spencer being up at 6am each day. It's only a short drive to Inchnadamph and before 10 we're kitted up & heading up the side of the Gleann Dubh - it's going to be a long steady climb to reach the first summit, Conival - a climb most memorably broken by; 1- Our first sighting of Red Deer (by the end of the week this will have become a commonplace occurrence) 2- Jane H needing to stop for a wash after a particularly unsuccessful bog crossing (by the end of the week this will also have become a familiar sight). We pause (not yet an official lunch) above a lochan in a hanging valley, and as Jane remembers her Geology degree we can admire the huge quartzite buttress of Na Tuadhan. It's now a scramble or walk (as the

mood or ability takes us) up to Conivals summit (988m) for Lunch 1 (having done the Yorkshire 3 peaks with some of this group I am at least prepared for the multiple Lunches). As we eat we can see the start of a fine snow covered ridge that will take us over to the dual summit of Ben More Assynt (998m). The ridge proves to be huge fun, firm underfoot with some 'see through' cornices & large rock buttresses to pass, the height drop & gain are negligible & we're soon at Lunch 2 – or as I will forever remember it ‘The Cake Lunch’, or to be precise, Dave Spencer’s cake. Not only has Dave brought a full lemon cake with him – but he’s “riched it up a bit” – this basically means that he’s sliced it & then put centimetre thick wedges of butter in the slices – & this is not the weirdest thing we’ll see him do this week!

From here the route had been described as a challenging scramble and whilst some were a little nervous it proved to be a fairly straightforward rocky ridge with a mix of terrain allowing people to opt in & out of the difficult bits and to make it up as they go along. At the end of the ridge we made our own, steep, descent down to Dub Loch Mor and traversed round to the pass between Conival's southern cliffs and the large slab of Breabag Tarsuinn. The path out followed the other side of the Allt a Bhealaich, and whilst

Conival

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we could have visited the caves we all decided that a 16mile, 10hour day was enough. The lure of a shower, fish & chips & beer (in different orders of merit to different people) was too much and we pushed on for the cars & home.

We meet up in the pub about 10 – & when we ask what time last orders is we get the rather excellent answer “when you leave” – but by midnight the group has thinned out & it’s time for bed.

Monday (Everyone I think!)

Today we're heading for Suilven - for me personally one of the main attractions of the trip. Not a Munro, not even that big - yet still truly a mountain - in fact so much more so than most of its taller companions. Much has been written far more eloquently than I could about its iconic shape & stature – I’ll simply rely upon a picture to impress you

On a walk with this many of us it's obvious we're never going to make a quick start, & the Long Walkers are restless. We split up into cars & Roger draws the short straw - in the Singing Mini with the 2 Jane’s - his face plaintively staring back at us as they wig out to S Club is one of the slightly mean highlights of the week. The drive is nearly an hour & then we have to; chat, manoeuvre cars in & out of parking spaces, get dressed(?), put on sun cream, chat, check maps, chat some more - but eventually we're off at about 10:45. The walk to Suilven is renowned for being long & flat - all in all about 6 miles of gently undulating track known as the Stalkers Way.

The group fragments along usual lines, but there is little chance of anyone getting lost on a path like this in glorious weather like this. Anna & I are a long way in front when we eventually come to the cairn marking the point where we must finally begin to climb. Dave S joins us, his huge dislike of seeing anyone's back having spurred him on into a sprint, and we climb a series of short sharp rises until we reach the twin lochans of Loch a'Choire Dhuibh and Loch na Barrack and as these come into sight we can see the wonderfully direct route, quite possibly the only route, up to the bealach between the two summits. Dave quite rightly points out that the main group will be unable to pass up such a beautiful spot for lunch, so we settle down to wait for them. Anna has other ideas & pushes on for the bealach.

As the group settles in it is apparent this will be a long lunch, Dave & I wait as long as we can, watching Anna slowly become a speck in the distance & then we set off. The climb up is akin to a staircase for perhaps 25-45 minutes dependent upon your legs, but the view at the top is simply stunning. You can see into the next valley with its hundreds of lochans, to your left is Meall Mheadhonach & to your right is Caisteal Liath.

Anna is waiting for us, laughing & we turn right & climb steadily to a strangely grassy & smooth summit. For a while we actually sunbathe & then next to join us are Tina & then Roger. As the group starts to appear & the summit gets crowded we head off to Meall Mheadhonach (MM). At the bealach we liaise with Steve B who tells us Jane T's injured

Suilven

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knee has forced a retreat accompanied by Jane H, but Steve is going to bring up the rear. We discuss my plan to put a confidence rope up the last rocky outcrop of MM for anyone who'd like a crack at this more difficult summit & Steve agrees to round up those that are keen.

After a few trips with Anna I’ve no concerns as she follows me up the small outcrop at the summit of MM, in all about 35ft of Grade 1 or 2 scrambling in a definitely Grade 2 position. As Anna wanders along to another smooth summit I set up a rope and bring up Dave S – possibly the largest grin I’ve ever seen. Ken & Jackie are next with a hearty shake of hands and slowly all in all Steve & I bring up about a dozen of the group. I’m fairly confident that most of them really enjoy it. Steve & I don’t see the point in letting them know just how much of the rock is loose & moving until they decide to sit directly beneath it! Down is nearly as much fun as up & various techniques are used as people hold the rope, ignore the rope, think about jumping...but after an hour we’re all back at the Bealach where Steve, Dave S & I tell the group we’re going to do the full round via Fionn Loch & Inverkirkaig. This makes it a much longer walk (18 miles) but the three of us all have an aversion to ‘out & back routes’.

Eventually the distance & the tarmac start to take their toll on us & only the thought of the chip shop we all saw in Lochinver keeps us going. Dave puts on a sprint and is soon far ahead of us – when we ask a group we pass if they’ve seen him they reply “do you mean the bloke in green going like the clappers...” obviously this can only be Dave S. When we finally reach the van we discover there is no chip shop – a collective hallucination. Dave sets a new Transit speed record for the return to Ullapool.

After such a good day it’s inevitable that we all take to the pub & stay there for far too long – but by now you know us & you’ve come to expect it from us.

Tuesday (Rest Day)

It's a horrible day - low cloud & rain - the Long Walking group discover that we don't all feel the same way about these sorts of days & people do their own thing. A lot of people nurse a hangover, Jane & Brendan discover why it's wise to have a GPS in your rucksack as Steve B tries to tell them they're at the top of Cul Beag 3 times, I go for a run & discover that even the small Scottish hills are much bigger (& harder on the legs) than they seem - others walk in the rain. The mixed short day sees us all in the pub by 7pm- far earlier than our usual 10pm start - unfortunately we seem to forget this & drink like last orders is approaching - it doesn't for another 6 hours. Tomorrow many of us will pay a price for this foolery...

Wednesday

We meet at the boys’ house. I'm very very glad I'm not driving. Phil has simply stated he won't drive. Collectively we smell like a brewery where there has been a terrible accident. It's another horrible day - & we're not in a rush to get started. We've decided to do the seven Peaks of Coigach, but there’s not much chance we'll see them.

Dave M drives Phil’s car, Tina takes her own – I’ve no idea where they drive us to – I’m asleep in the back & I’m not the only one. When we stop we’re on a desolate hillside in the rain. I’ve read the guidebook, I’ve seen pictures & I know that this is a really beautiful walk on a nice day, but today is not that day. The walk is fun – in that way that only UK Mountain’s can be in the cloud & rain. Stopping every couple of hundred yards to get a bearing – Dave M showing us how his (frankly far too high tech) phone can do GPS – we only go the wrong way once & we even find some fun scrambling along a gloomy ridge. I take a leaf from Jane H’s book and go head over tail into a bog; Steve stops to empty his boots, Brendan fiddles endlessly with his poles (sorry – get’s used to a new walking style?) -all in all we have a thoroughly British

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mountain day. Phil feels after a 6 hour walk he might just be under the limit – the rest of us fall asleep in the back again.

Tonight is curry night in celebration of 2 birthdays in the group. Anna & Steve are celebrating birthdays in their 30’s & 40’s – frankly it’s easy to tell which is which, although Steve is overjoyed when Tina tells him he looks younger than me (he’s not, honest) – I’m slightly worried I’ve been letting Tina drive me places. On various walks with the group it’s been mentioned to me quite a few times that the NDWG is actually for people in their 20’s & 30’s – as someone old enough to remember Logan’s Run I’m a little concerned by the slurred ramblings of the younger members (yes Jane’s I mean you two!) but Brendan & others tell me that the group has cleverly elected a “really old” chairman to prevent such a thing – once again I realise there are many layers to the workings of the NWDG. Following our by now well established routine about half a dozen of us stay in the pub until they ask us to leave.

Thursday

The really late night & more gloomy weather mean we all fancy a rest(ish) day. Various plans were mooted, discarded & forgotten in the curry house & pub – so it’s a discordant group that phones round the next morning and no favourite idea emerges. It seems clear to me that not much will happen till after lunch – so I set off on a mountain bike ride to see a local gorge, Steve goes shopping, Phil is unable to resist a chance to get his last Wainwright’s & heads to the Lakes, Dave M leaves for Manchester & the remainder of the group go for a drive to Cape Wrath.

Sadly I end up caught in a major road fatality that closes the only road for four hours – I detour in the woods but can’t get back in time to join Steve & the 2 Jane’s on a visit to Stac Pollaidh. Two things worth reporting happen on this Stac Pollaich trip;

1 – The unlikely trio are the only 3 members of the NDWG to stand atop Stac Pollaidh this

week - a fabulous achievement by Jane T whose injured knee has seriously hampered her trip.

2 – The second ting of interest is best shown in a picture yes that’s right folks – that’s an adder – in Scotland, an annoyed adder, in Scotland. Enough said. Thursday night – you’ve guessed it – we go to the pub. We’ve learnt nothing.

Friday It’s the last day for most of us – so it has to be a big one & round here (or pretty much anywhere in the UK) they don’t come much bigger than An Teallach. Whilst there is no actual peak called An Teallach the massif itself sports 10 distinct summits over 3000ft – it’s a serious undertaking. For those that like bagging it sports 2 Munros – strangely Sgurr Fiona was only granted Munro status in 1981. Reports of snow see us packing for all eventualities, today is not the day for going light. More importantly however I’m summoned to the girls’ house to blow up balloons. Today is Steve’s actual birthday (43 btw) and the girls are not going to let him off lightly. Fortunately Steve is either a good sport & takes it in his stride or has realised it will all be over sooner if he agrees. Personally I think it may be a form of cheating to lighten your load like this, Dave S is horrified & puts on a sprint to the top of Sail Laith, Brendan looks

This doesn’t add up…

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oddly jealous & eventually tries the balloons for himself!

With a mountain as big as An Teallach (1062m) it’s never going to be easy getting up – but the long steady plod up to the first summit, Sail Laith (954m) is a bit of a drag by any standards – fortunately as we climb the cloud lifts and we can at least be inspired by the view of the magnificent ridge ahead, reckoned by most walkers & climbers to be the finest on the UK mainland. I know the reputation of this ridge has made the group a little jittery – but today we’ve brought all the kit – a rope, axes & gear – people will be able to do as much or little as they want – I’m more than confident after a week in their company that it’ll be a fun, safe day for all.

It’s probably fair to say the fun part of An Teallach starts after Sail Laith. A broken sandstone pinnacle is climbed by a crumbling loose path & for the first time you become aware of just how impressive the Eastern bowl is – the slope simply plummets away from you down to Loch Toll an Lochain – and there doesn’t look like much would stop your fall before then. As the ridge stretches in from of us it’s quite easy to see that the pinnacles that form the main ridge (Corrag Bhuidhe) can all be bypassed by a lower route – but for now

the group wants to press on with the summits. In a couple of places we use the rope – but all of the group press on – we even manage to tackle the infamous Lord Berkley’s Seat. Some of us are happy to sit on the edge – some of us aren’t – only one of us decides that ‘aeroplane arms’ is the correct way to approach a ridge.

All too soon we’ve finished the ridge & all that is left is a slightly tricky descent. Whilst Anna & Dave jump between the rocks, Steve & Tina take one snow filled gully, Jane, Brendan & I take another. Let’s just say Jane is glad that I brought the ice axe – it’s a long slide down a very big hill otherwise. (Wonder why I wasn’t allowed to use the axe? BB)

When we reach the car after the long walk out everyone is sure of one thing – this has been the biggest & best day of the trip – just the way to finish. There are no prizes for guessing what we do that evening – Chris Parkin joins us from the big house, we drink too much, stay up too late & start to plan more trips – all the things you’d expect.

So what conclusions can I make after a week with the NDWG? Well I definitely got to know some people I’d trust in the mountains. There are people I would (& now have) go away with again. It’s obvious (to an outsider at least) that there are people who deeply care about the

Friday was not a day for travelling light - tell Steve that!

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success of the group & that it’s members are having a good time. Sure some things could be different – I saw some approaches to being in serious mountains that could have poor consequences – but I also saw people helping out, offering guidance and looking out for each other – surely the best way to learn. The people I spent time with were all good company apart from XXXXX – oh come on you didn’t really think I’d write that did you?

See you on the hills,

Kelvyn (Article and photos)

ILFRACOMBE - THE BEACH

They say that if you were there you won’t remember it, but only those who were can truly understand. Many a day or night I get a flashback and think I’m back in ‘Combe. You may leave the place, but it never leaves you.

Getting high on sugar

My story began back in Nottingham when these two dudes Gary and Rob told me about this place out west where there was this secret beach nobody had ever found, where you could just live for now, surf, go naked, smoke, drink Stella all day, just sleep wherever you want. Man, Cream Tea wasn’t just legal there; folks kind of lived on it. This sounded like my kind of paradise.

So I arrive just as the clock is striking midnight and there’s Justin pulling up in front of me. Man, that guy can warp space and time, like he’ll leave Nottingham two hours after me and we’ll still arrive at the same time. It’s kind of late, but also kind of early so we hit this bar called the Ship where I grab myself a fix of Doom Bar and straightaway it hits the back of my throat I get a flashback to my first ever trip on that stuff, but I soon snap out and it’s time to head back to the commune hostel and it feels like the night has hardly begun.

I take a couple of shots of scotch and we’re talking about all sorts of stuff and it feels like we’re solving’ all the world’s problems. There’s me, Paramjit, Denise (who lives by night and sleeps by day) and this strange cat called Mike who’s kind of running the commune. The carpets in this place need a bit of repair, so Mike’s growing some carpet on his head. I’m heading out to the coast in the morning so I call it a night and there’s time warping again ‘cause I think it’s two, but the clock’s striking four as I stumble upstairs to my quarters.

SATURDAY

I wake to the bustle of my fellow commune dwellers starting their days and for the first time I get a sense of where I am. Our quarters are pretty cramped so there’s barely room to open the bathroom door if someone’s bags are in the way and it’s even worse if Crofty’s standing in the middle of the room.

Getting high on the cliffs

I stumble downstairs to the kitchen, dropping by the latrines on the way. Now some dude

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has left a bottle of scotch in there and Carpet Cat has left a note saying that you have to keep pressing the flush button “or the Universe will go badly wrong”. Maybe it has, maybe it already has.

Now the first task of the day in the commune is to prepare breakfast. We all dance around each other, round and round the big table, always anticlockwise, so it seems. Carpet Cat himself, meanwhile is supervising events in his own way by sleeping through it all on the sofa.

All together – for now

Today our shaman, Gary, is going to lead us in procession along the cliff tops from Trentishoe Down via the Heddon Valley to Woody Bay and back. First of all we have to perform The Faff. This is a key ritual in the commune. It teaches us that time is nothing, that being ready in the soul is that what matters, rather than packing worldly goods for the procession.

Faff performed, ready in body and soul for the procession, we set off. Today’s procession truly is a journey. There’s Denise testing the limits of her endurance by combining sleep denial during the night with walking in the day, Shashi with his camera and a sense of wonder, Dave, Justin and Jane disappearing into the distance and all the time Gary trying to work out where everybody is. We may be miles apart (literally), but we’re all one walk (sort of), fast and slow all in the same place inside, man, it’s beautiful.

At Woody Bay Gary performs the purification ritual of swimming in the sea, before dancing along the beach clad in the ceremonial speedos. It’s time to go our separate ways.

Most of the party head towards the Hunters Inn to partake of the sacred food and drink (Cream Tea and Exmoor Stag ale), but some of us are on a quest to find The Beach.

Arty Ferns

So we step around pools and clamber over rocks trying to find our way through to the next bay (and possibly enlightenment). It’s fun (highlight of the day for me), but there’s no way through. Dave has a watery, painful slip and we reluctantly abandon the quest. Greg and Paramjit head for the Hunters, the others go for the long way round to the beach and I somehow make my own way to the pub where I discover a peacock, Crofty sitting outside and Greg and Paramjit tripping on Cream Tea.

No Fretting – we’re nearly there

We set off up the Heddon Valley before ascending back to the cars. We decide not to go up the Ladies Mile (let’s not go there), but after a steady ascent we find ourselves on the moors and with a sea fret coming down it feels like a different walk on a different day. We make our way back to the commune (where Carpet Cat is already on the Stella) and

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spend the evening eating a traditional meal of fried fish, before heading out to the local inns.

SUNDAY

Carpet Cat is once more stationed on the sofa. We have now been joined in the commune by a party of students, so the place is really full of life (not to mention the life inhabiting Carpet Cat’s head or the life inhabiting the dust that pervades the place).

Today sees the best weather and the most memorable part of the trip for most. We have learnt much already, so The Faff is a little shorter today. There are several plans today. The surfer dudes are heading out to Croyde Bay (see Sue’s article), a few are walking to Woolacombe, while I’m joining Dave, Jane and Justin heading out along the cliffs from Lynmouth, up to County Gate, then back along the East Lyn valley.

Funiculee Funicular

Gary joins us on the journey. Today he will be undertaking a solo pilgrimage from Lynmouth to Ilfracombe. During his journey he will ritually swim in each bay he passes as part of his growth as a shaman.

As we head out from Lynmouth it’s clear that we’ll soon be getting high. Yeah. Exmoor has the highest coastline on the British mainland. It’s a fair old drag up to Great Red and Foreland point (well it is when trying to keep up with Dave and Justin; I’m quite glad at this point that their previous night’s carousing might have taken the edge off a little).

It’s a glorious day with fine views, initially a little hazy to make out much of South Wales. The cliffs on this stretch of the coast are slightly off the vertical and wooded in places, a most attractive sight (as well as providing some useful shade). We head up to County Gate and briefly tread into Somerset before descending towards the highlight of the day – I am finally visiting Brendon!

That’s me

It’s time for Cream Tea, and Brendon House seems to fit the bill. This Cream Tea Den has been voted Britain’s best by Countryfile, and if it’s good enough for countercultural icons such as John Craven and Julia Bradbury then it’s good enough for us.

Now the menu offers a choice: mini or standard. Well, we’re not going to go for the mini in a place like this. We want the full on experience. Man, this is hardcore stuff, the largest scones I’ve ever seen, vast bowls of

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cream and jam; it’s not just the cream that will be getting clotted.

Hardcore Cream Tea

Those who do Cream Tea will tell you that the ritual of getting your fix, carefully spooning out the cream and the jam, is all important. Some do the cream first, others the jam, some spread, some dollop, but no Cream Tea session is complete without a ritual argument over the pronunciation of the word “scone”. In a few weeks my 3 companions will be completing the Welsh 3000s, but only Dave manages to complete the Devon 3000s (that’s 3000 calories).

Well, it’s time to walk on, well, waddle more like. The sky is beautiful, the East Lyn River and the forest are beautiful, our heads are spinning, and we’re feeling a little sick. Jane makes a beeline for the first bench she sees. Slowly we meander down to Watersmeet.

Flaked out at Watersmeet. This place was full five minutes ago.

Now the NT garden at Watersmeet is a lovely place to have a civilised cup of tea and is very popular today. It’s also a good place for some sweaty ramblers to flake out on the grass for a quiet doze. For some reason the place is empty by the time we leave.

The final stretch takes us above the river, somewhat benign today, but the branches and trunks strewn along its length bear witness to its power in spate, as borne out in the tragic floods of 1952. We make our way back to the car via the cliff railway before heading back to Ilfracombe.

MONDAY

Today we are leaving the commune. To prepare ourselves for the outside world The Faff is particularly long and involved today. Suffice to say it involves cars blocking in, people nowhere to be seen and Carpet Cat finally rousing from his slumber to oversee things (i.e. go outside for another roll up).

Rocks by the “tunnel beaches”

Once we have Faffed it is time to slow things down, and wander along to the tunnel beaches (you get to them via a tunnel through the rocks) and their tidal pools. Gary performs one final ritual swim, Sue has a clamber on the rocks, and most of us just sit and chill. A couple of splinter groups actually go for a walk (Rob and Anna round Lynmouth, Dave, Jane and Justin around Dunkery Beacon). Denise decides she needs another night in the hostel to complete her experience.

Most of us head off in the early afternoon to beat the bank holiday traffic. A fine weekend,

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a memorable experience. Thanks to Gary and Rob for leading.

BB

Photographs: Shashidar Gadad, Jane Harrison and GO

SURF’S UP, DUDE!

The newly formed “Notts Derby Walking Group Surf Club” had its first official meet at Croyde Bay, North Devon on May 30th. The spin off group of eight dudes braved the slightly wintry waters of the Atlantic Ocean in an attempt to ride the tube man or in our cases lie on the boogie board and try not to fall off! The newly formed club members were (in no particular order) myself, Clare, Denise, Shashi, Blaine, Gregg, Paramjit and Andy.

Shashi preparing to ride that roller

We arrived at Croyde Bay at about 10.30am and then made our way to the nearest surf hire establishment namely “Baggy’s” at Baggy Point. We were soon assisted by a cool long haired American dude in his early 50’s. Clearly an old time surfer himself judging by his wind and water etched features. He soon supplied us with a couple of real surf boards and some attractive red and black wetsuits. We had already borrowed all the boogie boards from the hostel, this hopefully stuffing up the day of the rowdy students we had been sharing the hostel with!

We then spent the next half an hour attempting to squeeze and strain our way into

our wetsuits. At times this required some help from a friend or two! Grabbing handfuls of suit and pulling it up from a fellow NDWG members bottom was certainly a new experience for me! These wetsuits as you can imagine displayed all manner of lumps of bumps and contours. Bits of us were emphasised in ways that no other outfit could possibly achieve. I looked at least 3 months pregnant, before you ask no I’m not! (Ahem, see Whitby review in Feb 2009 Footprint. BB)

Flattering Wetsuit

Now dressed in our contour hugging suits and armed with our surf and boogie boards we made our way to the beach. The excitement was now tangible! The surf was calling us!

We quickly made a beach base and then headed for the waves man, and boy were they pumping! The water was initially intimidating as it stormed strongly around us and it was also a bit nippy! But once immersed we soon warmed up and started to enjoy the power of the ocean!

At times I was expecting a message from the Australian life guards, “Could the eight galahs in the red and black wetsuits please get out of the water!” But the message never came so we can’t have been that bad!

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However, there were a couple of near drownings and washing machine moments, as well as near accidents involving collisions with children and stray surf boards! And then of course there was the “glasses incident”. To cut a long story short we learnt that it is highly inadvisable to wear glasses whilst surfing! One pair completely disappeared beneath the waves and the other pair now has only one arm! There’s probably some marine creature benefiting from some extra lens power as we speak! Lesson learned the hard way there I think but I guess that’s why we have insurance!

Paramjit keeps hold of his specs – just as well he did

Throughout the day we made several sorties in and out of the water, basking on the beach in the glorious sunshine between surfs. Well when the sun was out! Our two surfing virgins Paramjit and Shashi were particularly enjoying the day it as it was all a complete novelty. Some of us were even brave enough to attempt real surfing on the proper surf boards. Andy even managed to stand briefly!

At the end of the day, exhausted but happy we returned our wet suits and boards to Baggy’s... As for the hostel boards well they ended up a bit worse for wear…..well erm broken! It was the power of the ocean man! The hippy hostel man with the carpet for a hair extension would surely understand that?!

All in all a great day out, next NDWG Surf Club meet? Newquay in August, anyone?!!

Sue Davey

Photos: Shashidar Gadad, Blaine Quigley

FAFF-OLOGY – THE FUNDAMENTAL

PRINCIPLES

Picture those special moments that define a day in the great outdoors – maybe waking up to the sunrise beaming into your tent, cresting a ridge after a long uphill slog, or the moment that glass of mulled wine warms your bones after a winter’s day on the hills. But for every one of these sublime experiences there will be dozens of repetitive, mundane activities like unfolding hostel sheet sleeping bags, preparing sandwiches, crossing ladder stiles or queuing for showers. Some of these are avoidable or can be done effectively with coordination and forward planning. When this process breaks down it is called a FAFF. The scientific study known as FAFFOLOGY a.k.a. Faff-eMatics, combines theoretical analysis with observation and experiment.

It’s a while since I studied statistics at sixth form college, so there will be no equations or formulae, but along with a few brainy people and an accountant I came up with these guidelines, applicable in an outdoor travel context, for predicting a `faff` in advance, performing some dangerous experiments and unleashing the awesome power of science (its not just for hair care products and atomic particle colliders) – we’ve even got a graph!

PART 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF APPLIED FAFFOLOGY

Rule 1. The product of frequency and urgency of access required to an item is directly proportional to the average retrieval time of the item from the point of access (from, say, the top of a rucksack).

Optionally refer to the ‘Langsett Kitchen Paradox’ in the appendix.

Rule 2. The number of fully functioning zippers on a backpack after one year’s use is proportional to the square root of the number of zippers originally installed on the item,

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except for Regatta backpacks where the number of fully functioning zippers is proportional to the square root of the number of zippers that zipped up correctly the last time the backpack was used.

So a solution to rule 1 might be to have more zips. Rule 2 suggests this might not be cost effective. PS this applies to drawstring, buttons and Velcro as well. What a faff!

Rule 3. The average periodic time interval between rain showers at 50-55 degrees north latitude in the month of May is approximately equal to the average time between retrieving and deploying protective clothing, and thermal equilibrium being reached between the human and its local environment.

In other words, as soon as a rambler takes their waterproofs off on a warm but damp day it starts raining again, then stops when it has been retrieved from their backpack and zipped up. The conclusions from this observation are that either

(a) ramblers should try to predict this time interval, halve it and then wait that long after the rain stops before putting their waterproofs on, bearing in mind rule 1 for retrieving said rainwear

(b) Some raincoats can be used to influence short term rainfall patterns in Northern Europe.

Now what?

Rules 1-3 explore some of the more common observations and principles of nature (and some of the ways these rules interact) which

might provide the tools to help today’s busy people to reduce the burden of personal faffing and live a more efficient lifestyle, enjoying fuller days of walking, a successful career and social life, and still having time to write pseudo-scientific magazine articles.

PART 2: APPLIED FAFFOLOGY: NORTH DEVON CASE STUDY

The next example merely scratches the surface of that complex chaotic phenomenon known as the GROUP FAFF! (Bear with me - this one really takes some explaining).

Rule 4. The probability density function (PDF) of achieving `ready to go` status for individuals within a hostel based walking weekend group, plotted versus time, will conform to the graph shown in Fig.1, or one of its variants.

The first peak at `A` on the graph is the relatively high number of mainly new, naïve members of the walking group, all packed and laced up, raring to go at 8.50 or 8.55 anticipating a 9am start.

Frequency

Figure 1: Typical `ready to go` probability function for weekend walking group

The dip `B`, followed by a second peak `C` may occur at about 9.15am. This represents a small number of more enlightened weekenders realising that they are experienced in packing, will be ready early and will then waste their own time waiting for ‘faffers’. Solution - pop back into the kitchen to make a last minute

Time

8.45 9.00am 9.15

B

C

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coffee. The shape of peak `C` depends on the length and throughput of the queue for the kettle(s), and can be influenced by additional parameters pertaining to the `Langsett Kitchen Paradox` which is the generic name coined by a leading faffologist, describing a common problem in shared catering facilities. Of course it also depends on the number of walkers guilty of this despicable trait and whether or not having a full cup of hot coffee with boots on and a packed rucksack counts as `status = ready`. The walk should begin when the area under the curve is equal to the number of people who are meant to be on the walk, when someone in the group decides to go to the antiques shop instead, or when the walk leader loses the will to live, whichever comes first.

Addendum to rule 4.

The dip `B` can bottom out below the x - axis, implying that the rate at which walkers become ready to start walking can be lower than the rate of `ready` walkers declaring themselves ‘unready’ and moving towards kettles or alternative sources of distraction. As a corollary to this, Peak `C` can exceed the height of peak `A`. Remember that the graph is not cumulative – it is for the instantaneous frequency of people declaring themselves ready for the walk in an infinitesimally short period of time – if one or more of these people subsequently goes off for a faff but is ready again later they count up then down then up again (at different times – a kind of `waveform` alluded to in the next paragraph).

Research sponsored by the English Herbal Tea Information Council hints on a `delayed positive feedback mechanism` between personal caffeine use and the enhanced psychological requirement for alternative stimuli to fill in `dead time` before the walk starts – e.g. fidget, read National Geographic, check some zips, or get more coffee. The latter might appear on the generic curve as a gradually decaying oscillation tending towards a non-zero asymptote (This means people keep going back for more coffees, then to the

loo, the walk starts and they get left behind). If they are the walk leader, that’s a whole new kettle of coffee fish.

Addendum to Addendum to rule 4.

Further studies into the group dynamic introduce `car sharing`. This reduces the `global’ problem to a number of independent sub-problems according to how many walkers are in the cars and how many cars there are in the system (that is, until they start driving somewhere in convoy with fewer maps than cars and don’t even get me started on linear walks by car).

The global problem can be further simplified in situations like the Ocean Backpackers in Ilfracombe on Bank Holiday Monday, where the car blocking everyone in was owned by a guy who was still eating breakfast at lunchtime.

Oops, nearly forgot to mention the Langsett Kitchen Paradox! Picture a wet October evening in 2001. I have just arrived at aforementioned YHA hostel following a long walk and am gagging for a coffee. Why are all the mugs and spoons hidden away in a drawer at the back of the busy kitchen when the nutcrackers, cheese graters and spice racks are near the door?

WHY?

Gary Olds

Photos: GO/James Cholerton

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BRECON

Not only was this my first weekend away with the walking group, it was also my first time in the Brecon Beacons! It was a far too hot, action packed weekend, with plenty of socialising and fantastic scenery. I really enjoyed my first weekend away, so thank you Rob for organising it!

On arrival I went straight into the accommodation and put my bags on the bed that I decided would be mine, the accommodation was clean and comfortable and reminded me of school. Being eager to explore I took the first opportunity to explore Brecon, which is a quaint little town with houses that look far too small.

Our splendid accommodation, the Canal Barn

It’s near the canal, funnily enough

Along the canal we discovered a group of chicks alone with no mother duck, this was a source of much curiosity and despair for Fiona who was very worried about the orphaned chicks. Town was much like any other except this town had free wine tasting in one of the booze shops. Being one who never turns

down a freebie I marched straight in, followed by three other thirsty ramblers (Clare C, Ashley and Graham). To our delight they were very generous and gave us samples of a rosé and a white.

On the way back Ashley suggested a night hike, I was well up for this but no one else seemed to share my enthusiasm so it was just the two of us. We didn’t even need a map because Ashley’s all singing and dancing phone told us where to go. Up and out of town we went, onto a hill, scrambling through barbed wire fences and fighting off nettles.

Once at the top the full moon gave the landscape a eerie and mystical quality. Again Ashley’s phone came in handy because were able to establish that the moon would be 100% full at 1.34am, I did look at the clock around that time but to be honest it didn’t feel any different. Back at the accommodation we found a sleepy Rob sitting around, everyone else had gone to bed. I decided to pretend to be teacher and start drawing on the wipe boards. Using all my artistic talent I drew Rob while Ashley drew me, the masterpieces were a source of much entertainment and laughter and I am sorry Paul that you were kept awake with our “squawking”.

The following morning everyone sorted out there own breakfast, I was baffled with Chris’s choice of muesli? mixed with corn flakes and something else. There was much debate about who was going to do which walk and what the different walks were going to be. In the end there were three walks. Twenty miles through the valleys and up Pen y Fan plus Fan-y-Big for the hard core people, a moderate fifteen mile hike including the two already mentioned mountains and one other followed by an endless stroll along the canal back to Brecon. Plus, a gentle ten mile walk along the canal for those who had injuries or just couldn’t stand the heat.

I fell into the moderate hike camp, Clare. C kindly offered to lead this walk and after

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getting up at 6am for a 45 minute run. It was far too hot and I only had one litre of water, this was pointed out to be me as being a bit stupid so I felt all the more nervous about the walk ahead (at least I had sun cream). We went straight for the big one and started our ascent of Pen Y Fan, as you probably know this is the tallest mountain in the Brecon Beacons.

Clares B and C on Pen y Fan

The view throughout the valleys was spectacular and I once I had made it to the top I felt that the effort was worth it. We peaked two other mountains, so for what seemed like an endless time it was just up and then down and up again and down again, why they didn’t have a zip wire from peak to peak I do not know. Towards the end of the third hill we encountered some lost teenagers on their Gold D of E expedition.

Robyn and Shashi on the Diving Board, Fan-y-Big

At this stage of the hike the only thing that was keeping me going was knowing that the pub was not very far away, so you will understand my disappointment when we found the pub was closed. The last stretch seemed endless as it was too hot and the canal just seemed to go on forever.

Long walk party on Pen y Fan

Back at the accommodation I had a much needed shower and sat around chilling and moaning about how hungry I was. The long walkers came back looking exhausted and half of them seemed to be limping. Once everyone has freshened up a group of us headed to a hotel for food, there was a wedding reception with a buffet and Graham was so hungry that he was temped to go and raid it. The food was very nice and I washed it down with a few glasses of wine, I can’t remember the content of the conversation but I had a good time. So much so in fact that I did not want to leave when everyone else did, Ben ended up giving me a fire mans lift out of the building (now you know who to call if there is a fire).

Water, water.... there hadn’t been enough of it on Saturday

I woke up the next day all achy and tired and not feeling like I wanted to anything too strenuous, let alone another hike. We all went on the same hike which was about 8 miles, the group ranged from the very keen people who wanted to run up mountains to the quite slow suffering from the heat.

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Despite this we all made it. We followed a public right of way but for some reason encountered a scary Welsh woman who wouldn’t let us through her farm. This meant a route alteration and some confusion but once we reached the top, we got to admire the view while having lunch. The final stage involved walking round a reservoir back to the cars that awaited.

It was the day of the England vs Germany match and back at the cars it was possible to estimate the success of England by overhearing the cheering from a near by pub. The reservoir was very beautiful and I might have enjoyed a day pottering around it rather than going on another hike, but I did enjoy the hike and it was worth it. After ice cream, people started to go there separate ways and head home, the end of a fantastic weekend.

This was a very enjoyable first weekend away with the walking group and I am sure that it will be the first of many!

Clare Burgess

Photos: Shashidar Gadad / BB

HOSTEL SURVIVAL GUIDE

(BY ROB STEVENS)

New to hostelling? Not been away with a group since the Scouts or Girl Guides? Used to plush B&B accommodation? Then read this essential step by step guide and you won’t get caught out.

PICTURE THIS….

When arriving at the hostel during the late evening on a Friday it’s impossible to appreciate the surrounding scenery (as its usually dark). Take note of the array of super pictures of local scenes in glorious sunshine decorating the hostel walls – when you start walking on the Saturday morning the sky will be different shades of battleship grey, the

mountains in the distance will be obscured by mist and you wont be able to see further than a few hundred yards in front of you.

KEEP IT LOCKED

It’s a good idea to bring a padlock on a hostel weekend. The hostel very kindly provides secure lockers but nothing to lock them with. Don’t be fooled by the smiling hostel warden who is only too willing to loan you a padlock and key. He/She will also own a skeleton key and will indulge in a good rummage through your personal possessions while you are out.

PROHIBITION

Well might as well be. Our good friends the YHA for England & Wales have decided to have a blanket ban on personal alcohol consumption in practically all their hostels. However, alcohol is available from the poor excuse for a hostel bar at the cost of £3.50 for a bottle of luke-warm weasel water. Wonder why this rule has not caught on with the Scottish YHA?

NIGHT NIGHT – hope the bed bugs don’t bite

If you thought these little blighters were confined to the days of 7 in a bed, back to back council estates in the 1920’s then think again! I can confirm that these nasty little parasites are alive and well in a hostel near Thurso, Northern Highlands.

PLUG IT

If you remember to pack just one thing on a hostelling weekend, make sure its earplugs. Noises encountered in a dorm during the night include; snoring, bag rustling, sleep talking, bed squeaking, belching, and watch bleeping….need I go on?

FIRST IN LINE

When trudging in the cold and wet all day the first thing on your mind is getting clean, warm and dry. Make sure you are first in line for the showers though. After 40 people have all

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spent about 20 minutes lathering themselves senseless the dreams of a hot power shower will be dashed to a cold trickle of P*** by the time you get your turn.

(THE DREADED) 11 PM CURFEW

If you think this kind of draconian regime disappeared during the blitz – you are in for a shock! The 11 o’clock curfew is annoyingly close to the local pub calling last orders but you would be wise to pay attention to it. Sleeping in the car is not very comfortable.

Rob Stevens

WEEKENDS AWAY

QUICK GUIDE

If you have only been in the group a short time, chances are you have got to know a few people, and will enjoy a good day’s walk BUT may not have yet been on a weekend away. This article aims to;

(a) inspire anyone who hasn’t been on a weekend away to get signed up for one asap

(b) answer some FAQs about how it all works

(c) placate the YHA, who will sue our ass for slander if anyone representing them just read Rob’s article above!

(d) Come to think of it, perhaps they shouldn’t read the bit I just wrote about Underbank YHA camping barn either!

WEEKENDS VS LOCAL WALKS

Most of our Sunday walks happen in the Peak District. After a while you will be very familiar with limestone dales (White Peak) and gritstone outcrops (Dark Peak). If after a few white peak walks your soul is devoted to

limestone, get yourself on a weekend away to the Yorkshire Dales National Park (or travel back in time to March and do the Limestone Way). After a while though, you might wonder where all the rivers have gone, as in these parts they have a habit of disappearing underground. If you want more water in your landscape, go to the coast, or the Lake District (it’s got lakes), or Scotland (for the rain).

Broaden your horizons on a weekend away

On a weekend away the first walk (Saturday) may well be longer than our local walks, but with earlier starts (typically around 9am) it will not feel that much harder unless the area is mountainous. As with local walks, there may be shorter or less difficult options available. If a trip is aimed at very active or experienced walkers it will be made obvious in the advert (e.g. last winter’s weekend away in Coniston). The walk on a Sunday is typically much easier to allow for tired legs, maybe hangovers, and time to travel back to the East Midlands.

At least one walk will usually be led by the named weekend organiser but he/she will usually be open to suggestions as there may be three walks on a weekend, more for bank holidays or even longer breaks like Easter, New Year and one-offs like Ullapool.

TRAVEL

The usual arrangement is to drive from home or work to the weekend location on a Friday evening. Nearly everyone car shares for a range of reasons – it saves money on fuel, parking at hostels is usually limited, its more sociable on long motorway journeys, only one

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person has to drive, and something to do with Al Gore and your great great great granddaughter living under the sea in the year 3000.

Shortly after getting accepted on a weekend trip, the organiser will email you a list of every guest on the weekend. For those who are vain, you can use this list to count up the number of trendy vs. uncool people already booked on the weekend and make an informed decision as to whether the weekend is `happening` enough for precious little you. In reality the list is mainly for the weekend planner’s benefit but it will enable you to find out if you can car share, something best arranged as early as possible, especially if you are not driving.

ACCOMMODATION

For a range of opinions on the quality of hostels read Rob’s article above, then dip into our archives for Phil Robey’s `Top Ten Hostels` article, followed by a pinch of salt. The NDWG tend to use the YHA / SYHA or independent hostels or bunkhouses, which are usually inexpensive, safe and comfortable, but obviously not as private as B&Bs or hotels. In summer we occasionally use camping barns, which are even cheaper but can be very basic – (hint – don’t go to Underbank barn in the White Peak in March when it’s minus 3C outside). At the other end of the scale, some of the city centre YHA hostels are as good as hotels, but without the gimmicks, and are much cheaper.

For those who wish to travel as a couple or who just want to splurge, if you know a hotel or B&B (or relative’s or friend’s house) nearby, the weekend organiser might put you on the list (minus accommodation) but be aware that this might make their job more difficult than it already is – this has been controversial in the past.

SOCIALISING

On a walk you will get to know people but there are many distractions such as the

scenery, some people walking on ahead of others, or stopping to take photos, concentrating on a tricky scramble etc. all of which can hinder a good conversation. Most of the socialising on weekends away takes place `après-walk` over meals and in pubs and you won’t have to drive anywhere!

Weekends away can be a good way of meeting people!

Back to food – restaurant meals are good but evening meals are even more sociable if the group is preparing, cooking and washing up together. This is a NDWG tradition especially on New Year’s Eve. The cooks get most of the glory but everyone who joins in with essential tasks feels like part of a team.

GOOD STUFF – HOW DO I GET ON ONE?

First, if you are not a member of Ramblers you will have to join. We insist on this, in order to be covered for Civil Liability Insurance.

Footprint will mention forthcoming weekends away but for the latest updates visit the website or take note of `Digest` messages for essential info like the cost, date of opening (usually at a pub meet), and organiser’s contact details. If you do not know the area at all, the website entry may have links, or email the weekend organiser.

At the pub meet, hand over the money (usually a cheque) and you will also be asked to write down contact details, Ramblers membership number and other details like whether or not you can car share. We don’t keep this information or pass it on.

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Shortly afterwards, and often more than one month before the trip, you will be contacted by the weekend organiser.

WHAT DOES THE WEEKEND ORGANISER DO?

You will probably know from the website, walks programme and in footprint that our `Weekends Organiser’ on the committee is Robert Stevens. This means that he co-ordinates the annual programme of weekends on the calendar, and makes most of the advance arrangements and group bookings. It does not mean he micro-manages all the weekends themselves.

The names against particular weekends (e.g. Lisa for Kettlewell, Jenny for Bala) refer to the person `at the sharp end` who advertises the weekend, collects payments, and will come on the trip and as often as not co-ordinate many of the walks, meals and social activities. Think of Rob as Billy Butlin and Jenny and Lisa as Redcoats.

Holiday camp cum boot camp (Boggle Hole 2009)

Unlike a holiday camp, although we organise a few walks etc, most if not all of the weekend guests will help themselves to make things go smoothly, so don’t come running to us if the glamorous granny competition runs 15 minutes late!

Gary Olds

YEE HAH!

NDWG GOES WILD WEST, JULY 17TH

Helen ready for the hoedown

NDWG’s summer social had a Wild West theme, with lots of goodies and games along the theme, “wanted” posters and some very imaginative fancy dress! Music was provided by the splendid Pesky Alligators, dancing by the usual suspects and a splendid time was had by all!

A trial of strength – looks as if Jane’s winning

Rob was voted the chic-est cowboy (more purple than red for once) and Lee the most stylish squaw, whilst Jane T took the overall fancy dress prize for her “swag bag”.

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Mean, moody, magnificent, and probably quick on the draw

Clare C outmuscled all contenders, both cowboys and cowgirls, to win the arm wrestling contest. The Piñata proved much too tough for anyone, though; perhaps they just have the knack South of the Border.

This isn’t working. Anyone got a hacksaw?

Many thanks to Jenny and Heather for doing a splendid job of organising the event and to everybody else who helped with decoration, moving the band’s gear etc etc.

Cowgirl Jane and Swag Bag Jane

Bubbles, like they had in the old West, obviously

Photos: Jane Townsend / Lee Ferguson

WALKS PROGRAMME

You may have seen the new draft Winter 2010 - Spring 2011 Walks Programme on a recent walk or the Derby pub meet; thanks to those who've signed up so far we are off to a good start in finding leaders for the 70 or so walks planned.

The programme runs from 30th October 2010 to 1st May 2011 and we've done our best to give you a good variety of walks including some routes sent in to us by members. As a new idea for this programme there will be four winter evening walks, all around the time of the full moon but still requiring torches of course.

If you'd like to help out by leading one or more of the walks on offer, the draft programme will be making its Nottingham debut at the pub meet on the 26th August before a list of walks needing leaders goes on the website in early September. Greg & Luke will also be bringing the new programme on whichever walks they happen to be doing.

Luke Bradley

Leading a walk is a great way to put a little back into the group. Help is on offer for all first – timers, so if you want advice, or a recce buddy or a co-leader get in touch with any Committee member.

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WEEKENDS AWAY: SUMMER & AUTUMN 2010

WHERE WHEN BOOKING OPENS

BALA (Mid Wales) Fri 27 Aug – Mon 30 Aug (BH) FULL BORROWDALE (Lakes) Fri 17 Sept – Sun 19 Sept FULL – reserve list only CHILTERN HILLS Fri 22 Oct – Sun 24 Oct August 26th, Nottingham CAERNARFON Thu 30 Dec – Sun 2 Jan AGM on 5th October

Weekends away are usually two nights (Fri and Sat), three for bank holidays. Accommodation is Bookings open typically two months in advance. Check the walks programme for where and when weekends away open, and who to contact. This will be at one of the pub meets advertised on the socials page, and they can sell out in one night – be there or miss out!

Also refer to our website for lots more information about what type of walking is available on the weekend.

REGULAR AND UPCOMING SOCIALS

DERBY PUB MEETS Brewery Tap, Derwent Street (across the river bridge from the town centre) Second Thursday of the month… 9th September, 14th October etc…

NOTTINGHAM PUB MEETS The Canalhouse, Canal Street, NG1 7EH Fourth Thursday of the month… 23rd September, 14th October etc…

MONTHLY MEALS (FRIDAYS) 17th September Derby Mexico Alex Hudson 15th October Nottingham Eviva Taverna Jenny White

ONE - OFFS 5th September Darley Park Concert Heather Greenan 11th September Pony Trekking – Tissington Trekking Centre Rachel Honman 25th October Onassis at Derby Theatre, with Robert Lindsay If you have ideas for extra socials this spring or summer please contact Heather or Jenny (see previous page) – recently we have had theatre, cinema, bowling, beer festivals, live performances, comedy etc. etc…

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THE COMMITTEE, 2009/2010

CONTACT DETAILS AND MEETINGS Role Member Contact no. E-mail Chair Andy Rogers 0781 1528062 andy.rogers2@tesco.net Secretary Jane Townsend 07766 194936 townsend_jane@hotmail.com Treasurer Brendan Barnes 07905 297893 brendanb1968@aol.co.uk Walks Organisers Luke Bradley 07890 363416 lr_bradley@yahoo.co.uk Greg Whitton 07748 020700 gregwhitton1@googlemail.com Weekends Organiser Rob Stevens 07764 800892 stevens816@btinternet.com Membership Secretary Ian Bell 07800 643673 ian@ladygrove86.demon.co.uk Web Editor Ben Draper 07900 697968 ben.draper@ntlworld.com Footprint Editors Brendan Barnes 07905 297893 brendanb1968@aol.co.uk Gary Olds 01332 746663 gary.olds@ntlworld.com Publicity (Derby) Paul Kirby 07818 067770 mailto:paul@blueboat.eu Publicity (Notts) Lara Cronin 07816 842250 mailto:larasamuk@yahoo.co.uk Social Coordinator (Derby) Heather Greenan 07711 615096 heathergreenan@yahoo.co.uk Social Coordinator (Notts) Jenny White 07990 878449 jawhite_home@yahoo.co.uk General Member Lisa Thomas 07872 039295 lisathomasxx@hotmail.com Conservation Officer Chris Parkin 07733 312466 chris.parkin@fsmail.net Area Representative Neil Thompson 0115 9226612 Alindyhopper@aol.com

Committee Meetings - dates and venues The Bell, Nottingham The Flower Pot, Derby

Tuesday 27th July Tuesday 28th September

Annual General Meeting of the Notts/Derby Walking Group: Tuesday 5th October 2010, TBC (Nottingham).

If you want a say in how your group is run BE THERE – don’t forget coach trip and New Year bookings open at the AGM