2006 Another Fun Packed YHA Year
(…how many events can we do that include Tea shops, Pubs or just food )
In January Richard and Mary were seen skating to the Barn Dance (on one of the coldest nights of the year) but soon warmed up with the rest of the YHA crowd. The evening was full of fun and laughter, dancing and eating and Mary decided not to enter ‘Strictly come dancing’ with Richard.
February was the months for a stomp (just) and chomp (plenty).
A short walk – just to say we did- then into the Chinese restaurant at Great Holm for as much as you can eat. What a day to spend a cold February afternoon. (Mary)
And then there was Liverpool.
Great time.
Great place.
Great weather.
On Friday Louise, Heather and Elke ventured on the Ferry across the Mersey to visit Port Sunlight. It was brilliant, and that was not due to the soap.
During the rest of the weekend groups did various things including a trip to the ‘Pink Gents Loo’ at the Philharmonic Pub, a walk along the sea front, paddling in the sea, watching red squirrels and visiting museums and 2 Cathedrals (they’ve got one to spare) .
On Sunday Richard, Mary, Nigel, Nic & Andy visited the Maritime Museum. While Mary and Nigel did all floors, the coffee shop more than once and had gone through Customs to get a transport to Australia, the others only managed 3 floors !!!
(They must have gone on a slow boat to China E.S)
(Mary,Elke)
Easter at Stow 
The highlights of Easter were not eggs but feet this year. Steve accused me of ‘hot footing’ around the Cotswolds when I took off my boots and socks as I usually do during snack breaks to cool off. And then for dinner someone had a ‘defeated’ chicken to eat. This was topped off by a dose of footie on the telly. (Elke)
Ivinghoe Beacon, what a view! June 2006
Camping in July
After a freezing cold night on Friday it was HOT,HOT, HOT!!! 
( Sounds like a song )
We had a great time with lots if laughs – and how long did the men spend trying to build a kite !!!
Judith had climbed a ‘particular mountain’, even though it was flat. She walked 10 miles in the blazing heat with Stella, Marian, Elke and Shannon. What an achievement!
Suitably refreshed after some great food and chocolate fondue some drove/rode home while
How much Bread and Butter Pudding with custard did Richard eat? (He had to make up for the lack of sausages the night before)
(Mary)
A rest at Aldbury pond before the final lap of an 11m walk.
the rest enjoyed some more drinks with the setting sun.
(Mary,Elke)
If you like any advice on how to emerge from a tent with a perfect hair style you need to contact Andy.
A “local history” walk with Eugene (9 miles)
Saturday, 12 August
This was one of the best attended local Group walks this year with nine members attending. We assembled at Pitsford and Brampton Station car park as duly requested for a prompt 10.30 a.m. start but unfortunately a few people were slightly confused as to exactly which car park we were meeting at; eventually though we all gathered together and Eugene began by giving us a brief resume about the railway line’s history. We then set off up the Brampton Valley Way before arriving at Spratton where we visited the Church and Churchyard for some more local history notes and a sojurn to the pub before continuing on our route back to Chapel Brampton. (Stella)
Harringworth Viaduct area walk with Dinah
Sunday 17 September
A lovely sunny day and such a shame only five members went on this walk; we saw Red Kites and also Mother Nature’s bountiful larder – most of which we sampled – pears, blackberries, raspberries, apples and nuts (although Kevin insisted at one point they were acorns but was proved dumbfounded when Elke promptly started to prove her point by eating them!). We had some good views of the Viaduct, a refreshing paddle in a stream and again managed to catch Kevin out at lunchtime; he had neglected to bring a packed lunch but thought he could buy something at the pub, unfortunately for him though the one and only pub in the village was closed due to staff holidays! Nevertheless, his mantra of “the Universe will provide” came into play as us females took pity on him and donated a food item each! He had also not brought enough water with him and rashly finished it well before the end of the walk.
We had hoped to find a tea room open but were out of luck so Dinah offered to provide tea to Elke and myself back at her house where we were treated to plum cake – delicious – in Dinah’s garden. (Kevin and Marian having departed homewards earlier).
(Stella)
Simply the Best!
The Scottish week was, for me, the best group event so far in 2006.
Having arrived at Derwentwater for the first night’s stay, I would have been happy to stay the week there. The hostel was right by the lake and there was a waterfall in the back garden. Arriving at Oban I was not disappointed. Oban Youth Hostel has to be the best hostel I have stayed in with its wonderful position on the seafront with views over Kerrera and Mull. We were in the Lodge so I can’t vouch for the facilities in the main hostel but it was roomy, well appointed and the bedroom had a little table and an en-suite! English YHA take note! The best fish sandwiches were for sale on the quayside, we sampled the salmon and the crab - superb! Talking of food, Stella celebrated her birthday at Mctavish’s Kitchen (a restaurant) complete with Highland Night! The best views were everywhere, at every turn another island or far away mountain! Having spent 2 full days in Oban and having enjoyed the remoteness and peace of the island of Kerrera, a short ferry trip from Oban (with no shops, toilets or open tea rooms,) it was time to move south to Loch Lomond. This hostel certainly had great character but unfortunately was a bit run down. In its day it must have been a very grand country house. The best feature was the view from the unisex loo!! It was through clear glass and was of Ben Lomond and the loch. I ‘bagged’, along with Stella, Ben Lomond my first (and probably last) Munroe. A Munroe is a Scottish mountain over 3000ft (914.4 metres). There are 284 of them. Ben Lomond is 3300ft (974metres). Chris and Norman chickened out before reaching the top! The colours of the azaleas in the country park near Loch Lomond were wonderful as were the bluebells in the woods. After an overnight in Glasgow we finished the week at Ambleside. The weather had turned warm and Stella, Norman, Heather and I bought a special walker’s boat ticket which involved 3 different boat rides with walking in between before ending up back in Ambleside. Once again, many thanks to Chris for organising this memorable week. (Janet)
OF TICKS AND TOCKS (QUANTOCKS)!
(August Bank Holiday)
What a weekend – mostly fine weather, lovely and varied scenery, good walks and plenty to moan about – no, not really!
Our exploration began Friday afternoon when we located the hostel at the end of a long and winding (pot-holed) road which later resulted in Marian needing to get a new tyre. Donning our boots, we set off down the steep path towards Kilve beach, en route passing a tea shop incorporated into the remains of a 15 th century Chantry. (Originally used for the saying of masses for the dead). We made a mental note of the prices for the cream teas (naturally) and continued along to the sea, reading the historical notes about the Oil Retort* which we passed on the way. Kilve Beach is remarkable for its limestone formations on the foreshore and we tried in vain to spot the remains of a medieval harbour. We collected a few interesting rock specimens before heading back to the tea room and partaking of the refreshments. The skies looked threatening but we decided to complete our circular walk along the headland path to Quantock’s Head before turning inland through woods and back to the hostel.
On Saturday, Lynda had planned a 10 mile walk for us on the Quantock Hills.
As we had an unusually early pub meal booked for 6 p.m. we said “goodbye” to Louise and Ian (who had been doing the volunteer wardening that week) and went on our way. We enjoyed fine views at our lunchstop stop (amongst the bracken) and the usual few removed their boots and socks. As we continued over the summit, a strong wind blew but this didn’t deter some of our group who consumed ice creams from a mobile trailer. Martin and Toi decided to try a shorter route back so we handed over a map; unfortunately though we weren’t where we thought so their route wasn’t quite as short as it might have been! We made it back to the hostel for 4 p.m. and sat around in the warm sunshine waiting for the hostel doors to open at 5 p.m. so we could all dash in for a quick shower or so we thought.
However, best laid plans and all that …. 5 o’clock came and went and we all formed a line outside the door, some clutching towels, others in mounting frustration banging on the door whilst the hostel phone rang and rang. Elke, in desperation, tried to make contact on her mobile with nearby hostels to discover who the local keyholder was in the absence of the wardens but to no avail. Eventually at 5.30 the new warden arrived having been held up in traffic but with no time to waste we sped up the stairs and made our hasty ablutions before retreating to the pub. Back at the hostel later, there was much discussion about the shortcomings of the YHA “service” to its customers but we tried to put it behind us with portions of Janet’s very belated birthday cake.
On Sunday, we were astonished to find out from Martin that Toi seemed to have suffered a tick bite and therefore they would be leaving that day. (It seemed that only a very few people had heard Elke reading the relevant warning notice the day before!). Undeterred, Lynda had planned a shorter walk that day around the Dunster Castle area leaving the afternoon free to enjoy visiting the Castle and village.
It was a beautiful day and we visited two villages and churches en route and spotted a humming-bird moth on a buddleia. Some of us also spent time picking blackberries. We had lunch with views of the Somerset steam railway, the sea and Minehead in the distance. Later on most of us visited Watchet; we explored the harbour esplanade and beach trying to find pink alabaster and waited patiently for a steam train to appear trying to capture the perfect picture. We also marvelled at the honesty of locals as a fruit and veg barrow was left outside a cottage with all items priced at a £1 with the request to put money through the letterbox! Our party also managed to find the remaining tea shop that was open and suitably indulged ourselves! Later on in the evening at the hostel, we all tucked in to a Group apple and blackberry crumble with custard.
Monday morning we departed homewards reflecting on a very eventful weekend. However, for Janet, she also took home an unwanted “present”; a dreaded tick was discovered on her person Tuesday morning which sent her scurrying to the internet to read up on the subject of Lyme’s Disease and which subsequently entailed a precautionary visit to the doctor who, it must be said, knew less about the subject than she did! However, all was well. (Stella).
* Oil Retort – Industrial Archaeology feature, part of a system built in the early part of the 20 th Century. The coast at Kilve is rich in oil-bearing shale and large sums of money were invested in a hoped for oil boom but interest and returns faded and the venture was abandoned.
October Weekend at Burley
Nigel, Richard and Mary decided to visit the Birthplace of Nigel’s tart fetish in Stockbridge on the way down to Burley. The tarts were still as good and went down well with a cup of tea.
Ruth and Elke stopped at Basildon Park (NT) where they enjoyed the views across the Thames valley, the house and exhibition of the filming of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ …and the tea rooms. A second stop at the amazing Minstead Church (resting place of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle –Sherlock Holmes) broke up the journey.
Skittles in November
Another successful evening with plenty of food (thanks to Stella) and pudding.
The winners were Steve and Richard who are going to share their prize of chocolate biscuits (oh yes they are) at Matlock. (Mary)
Thanks to everyone for their contributions both for this Newsletter and for organising events during 2006.
