Saturday 1 October 2022 - Weston Bampfylde
DH, RW, TO, PC, PCl, Scrumpy, Sully and Amy
October already! Where is the year going? A slightly reduced group today was bolstered with only the 2nd time youngest granddaughter Amy has joined us. Last time was for a walk from Long Sutton by the river which included one of the muddiest tracks we have ever walked and at close to 4.5 miles a little bit too much for young leg as, so this time I opted for a shorter stroll around the familiar fields between Queen Camel and Sutton Montis.
We met up at the Parlour Farm shop at 0900 and after a quick check in to the cafe to ensure we were good for a breakfast later we headed south on the road towards the village and church. Trevor fresh from his recent angioplasty reacquainted himself with Amy, who having heard once that he was really called Mr Grumpy, continued to refer to him as such. Taking a right turn down a village lane which quickly turned into a track through a stream we were soon out into a large field with views back to the cafe area. Distracted or generally not paying close enough attention to our route we headed straight on into the field when we should have taken a sharp left towards an open gate in the hedgerow. Having reached the corner of the field with no obvious route through or any visibility of the bridge under the railway, we retraced out steps and we’re soon back on track. As we headed under the bridge the village of Queen Camel came into view as we made our way towards our most westerly point of todays walk to join the path that we have been on a couple of times on previous walks. Heading through the field on a cut track we saw a bouquet of flowers laid near a corner of the field. Thinking is was probably the final resting place of a family pet we took a closer look, only to find that there appeared to be two graves, one fresher than the other, that looked more suited to human sized burials than animals. At the head of each plot was a simply plaque with a name on, both with the surname - Chard. A bit more researched needed I feel.
Headed back across the Cary to Yeovil railway line again we took a left turn through a gate and onto a section of the Leland way. Just inside the field was a large oak tree with a very crude homemade swing hanging from the branches. On closer inspection it was even more basic than initially thought, literally an old wooden pallet with two sets of ropes over one of the lower branches. Obviously totally concerned for our health and safety, we took the decision to test it out with the smallest member of our group, so Amy was lifted aboard and Trevor and Richard started the swinging. Trevor, well trained in all aspects of child safeguarding was very pleased with his child care arrangements and if you listen to the commentary on the video below is convinced he has finally moved on from his familiar nickname.
Once Amy had finished her turn, the kid in each of us took over as we tested the integrity of the construction by adding an extra few kilograms at a time, until all 5 of us, with a combined weight of some 350kg + were balanced on the pallet, although somewhat closer to the ground than when Amy was on it. This was certainly an occasion to be recorded for prosperity, so we are very grateful to Amy for taking the momentous photograph. Swinging too much was probably asking for trouble so we slowly climbed off before the rope gave way under the strain. Amy collected a few acorns from under the tree (which we planted up later that afternoon) so who knows, she may have an oak tree of her own to swing from when she gets older!
Heading into the corner of the field we soon lost Sully down into the stream, although wisely Scrumpy decided not to follow. Over the road and on with Corton Denham ridge and Cadbury Castle in front we aimed for the small church at Sutton Montis as our more easterly point. It was now around 1030, and having said we’d be in for breakfast by 1100 it was decided to stay on the narrow road all the way back to the cafe. On route Amy was delighted when a lady on horseback stopped to allow her to stroke 9 year old Casper and then a few hundred yards down the road, we all stopped to view ducks/geese and a Southern American woolly animal in a field. Trevor, the llama whisperer, convinced the animal was aware of his ancestral roots, commenced his best rendition on his hand pan pipes (where does he learn all these useless skills)! Little llama, or as it turned out to be, little alpaca was not impressed and it was only when the adults and dogs started moving away from the gate leaving just Amy watching, actually felt safe enough to move a bit closer. Unfortunately the fear then transferred to Amy before he got too clos, big tall horse yes, fluffy small alpaca no! Having seen many cider apples on trees today, fortunately one of the residents of the village obviously had too many Bradley apples and so was offering a “help yourself” from a box of windfalls on the end of their drive, which were certainly taken advantage of.
Almost dead on 11 o’clock, we arrived back at the cafe having completed 3.7 miles today, and certainly ready for a sit down and a full English breakfast. Despite only 3 people in the cafe the service today was not the sharpest unfortunately, maybe the kitchen was confused with Phil’s maths as to the number required, or they have just not got the pots and pans big enough for a large order. However, when it did arrive, some great sausages again and overall a tasty breakfast. Amy was particularly pleased with hers and although she gave her egg, black pudding and toast away she cleared her plate. Afterwards she presented the former Mr Grumpy with a couple of apples she had collected and announced that thanks to the swing he was no longer grumpy, so going forward would be called Mr Swinger! I don’t know which is worse!
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