Saturday 5th February 2022. DH,TO, BFS, DL, PC, AC, PCL, Sully & Bill
After last weeks trip into Dorset it was a closer to home walk today as 7 of us met outside the Bell Inn in Evercreech, to repeat a walk we last completed back in September 2020. There had been a frost overnight but the sky was clearing and the mercury climbing as we confirmed breakfast time with the landlord and we set off towards the Grade 1 listed St Peter's Church. Only 2 minutes into our walk we stopped to look up at the clock on the church tower, as the face features an unusual ‘mistake’. It is missing the X(10) and instead has an XI(11) and then two XII(12). Rumour has it that the man who paid for the clock was told by his bossy wife that he had to be in from the pub by 10. Sounds reasonable to me!
Heading out south from the village we paused for a couple of minutes as Trevor and then a few others recognised a former pupil who was servicing the Rodmore Farm milk station. You know we’re getting old when the ‘former chubby student’ (Brian’s recollection of him) tells you he has 2 young children himself now. A couple of hundred metres down the track and then it was off into the muddy fields. Sully, missing his pal Scrumpy this week, was immediately happy to be off the lead and did his usual by rolling in the grass. Thankfully only frosty this week!
The going was in horse racing parlance, ’soft to sodden’ and very slow going up the slight hills. New gates on the route certainly made the crossings easier but as we were to find out later, they are not all completed yet! Dropping down past the derelict barn to the first crossing of the River Alham, we watched as a heron took flight ahead of us, obviously upset that we had disturbed his breakfast fishing. As we crossed the bridge it was delightful to see so many drifts of wild snowdrops slowly recovering after the cold start to the day. They were on both sides of the steep bank and must be multiplying each year in their undisturbed location.
Having crossed the river our route then headed left as we crossed through a few hedges, with varying degrees of success. The first crossing consisted of an aged wooden style at each end of a wooden plank over a drainage ditch. Probably not crossed too often and mossy and damp, it certainly proved very slippery for even the most able footed. Adrian was most thankful for the assistance he received crossing the stile at both ends as he tip toed across the bridge in between like Bambi on ice at times. Is there still time to get him out to China for the Winter Olympics?
A couple more slippery crossings, and a good run out for Sully as he put up a hare and gave good chase, then a short distance along a muddy track and across the road and down to Milton Clevedon church as we headed back north, with just a brief stop for the weekly selfie (whilst keeping one eye on the clock to make sure we’d be back for breakfast in time). Crossing the Alham for the second time we came across an old stone stile, where once again Adrian was stuck for the best option to cross. Trevor decided to take things into his own hands and giving Adrian a bear hug tried to lift/drag him single handed over the obstruction. Things didn’t quite go to plan but with others coming in quickly to hold his legs, Adrian was once again unceremoniously over the stile and back on his feet. Some discussions about size and weight and I think Trevor came to the conclusion, that he won’t be trying that one again in a hurry. It was only a few hundred meters later that Trevor in his normal helpful manner again was first to reach the electric fence and using the plastic handle unhooked the wire. Was it a cracked handle, the damp air or a slip of the hand? All we know is that Trevor was throwing the wire down as a few volts shot through him. Clutching his chest, and moaning loudly it was soon evident that it was more dramatic than electric and so there was no need to flag down the air ambulance, that coincidentally was passing overhead. A bit more drama at the last crossing as Brian offered himself to be ‘used however’ (I think he meant in reference to crossing the stile) then a short walk along the sunken lane into Stoney Stratton, and back by the roads to The Bell. 3.6 miles in just under 2 hours.
Self service drinks and with breakfasts preordered in the week, we didn’t have to wait long for good platefuls to be brought out. Only an extra egg and sausage on the big bell compared to the medium but with an ample serving of mushrooms and ample toast to go around, everyone tucked in to a very tasty breakfast which was certainly on a par with last weeks.