Birthday wishes and broadband dilemas

DH,RW,PCL,PC,DL,JB, Scrumpy & Albus

Having completed two five mile plus walks in the last two weeks, it was time for a shorter one this week, and with many of the team booked in for their annual flu jabs later in the day, it made sense to stay local for a change. RV was therefore fixed for 0830 in Carrington Way car park with breakfast afterwards in The Dolphin. For the Wincanton regulars, that meant a later start and a short walk to the RV where at the designated time we were just one missing, none other than todays Birthday Boy! Of course there were many speculations as to why he might be late, from still unwrapping his presents to blowing out his candles, but it suppose it came as no surprise when he did appear around the corner off the High Street to hear that he had started to walk up town in good time, only to have to turn around when he remembered he had forgotten to pick up his trusty stick. Being the kind hearted souls that we are, as soon as he got to us we burst into our very tuneful rendition of 'Happy Birthday to you', which did raise a smile or two.

Once the morning and birthday greetings were completed we set off for a clockwise walk around the northern side of town starting with a trip through Cash's Park and down the Coneygore Lane path down to the bottom of North Street. We crossed the road and passed the front of Shatterwell Villas and could just make out the trickle of water falling over the waterfall opposite. As we crossed the Shadwell Lane, who should come around the corner but Phils wife Claire, on her bike heading for her cycling RV down at Cale Park. At least she knows now that we do actually walk and not just nip to the nearest cafe each week. We continued along and climbed Old Hill before turning off right on the track towards Burton Mill. As we stopped briefly on the track, the early morning mist was still hanging in the trees and by the river although the sun was starting to break through in places.