Cheddar joint trip with St. Albans Group

In December before the snow some of joined the St. Albans group for a trip to Cheddar.

Sorry this comes in 2 parts, operator error!


This is the Annex of Cheddar YHA Hostel which was rented just for us. (Now called "Escape To")

On Saturday we had an enormous meal brought by various members of the hostellers and entertainment provided by way of a murder mystery evening. We all through ourselves into our various parts with a gusto and some very appropriate costumes were also worn (Jo gets a special mention).


This is the Hood monument with Glastonbury Tor in the distance


Us walking back to the Hostel through Cheddar

Although grey, a good Somerset walk

Our lunch stop under a Yew in the churchyard in Cheddar

Glastonbury Canal close to Street

The murmeration is not guaranteed, and is sometimes far better than others, if you wish to go, I gather the best time is December and January (but you can always check on the internet). There were dozens of people, bird watchers and similar there enjoying the countryside, and wildlife. A beautiful area well worth visiting.

Cheddar December2009 Before the Snow!

We did a short walk from the hostel and then went to Street and to the RSPB reserve at Ham Wall to see the starlings coming down to roost over the Somerset levels. Beautiful clear (cold) evening with thousands of birds flying in with the sunset as a backdrop, we all agreed definitely worth doing!





Some of us visited the local pubs, good food, variety of real ale, atmosphere and on Saturday night a Skiffle band.


Of course on Sunday we had to walk to the top of Cheddar Gorge

A bit of Somerset Countryside

There are goats in the Gorge

A starling murmeration against the sunset

To see more photos of our trip look at the Cheddar folder in the bogtrotters photos + many more of our various trips.
Those of us who went would like to thank the members of St. Albans for organising this trip - we were made to feel very welcome - and hope some of their group will join us on one in due course (or perhaps we can do a joint walk when we can find a suitable date in both groups Programmes).

WALK FROM FLITWICK NOVEMBER 2009

Flitwick Mill, where seven of us started the Two Moors Heritage Trail

It was a grey November day, however it was warm and dry and the colours were amazing! If you wait for the weather you may never do anything. We saw Flitton Moor, Flitwick Moor, some beautiful churches, the River Flit, the site of a Monastic Grange, woods, moors, animals and were even invited back after the walk to the house of one of our first time walkers for coffee. Very much appreciated Dave!
Silsoe Church where we stopped and ate our lunch on the wall.

The River Flit is rich in iron ore and they used to take the water and bottle it as a tonic (do you fancy it?)

What, we are too early the pub isn't open!

However on extending the walk to Silsoe we subsequently found one which was and provided us all with tea and coffees.

A small pond on Flitwick Moor.

They even provide some bridges to save walkers disappearing into either the river or some of the very boggy land if you stray off the path in Folly Wood.

Part of the path on Flitton Moor SSSI.

Well worth doing. If you want to try it yourself, look up the Two Moors Heritage Trail.

MILTON KEYNES NOVEMBER 2009

Another trotting weekend, this time a little nearer to home.

It surprising what you can find on, or close to, your own doorstep!


Bradwell YHA MK


Some of the group stayed over, others of us just went for the Saturday or Sunday Walks.


A glorious autumn day walking along the canal watching the barges go by.

There was as usual an irresistible hostelry along the way where coffees and other refreshments were very welcome.


Going to see Bradwell Mill.

We found those infamous concrete cows.

You never know whats round the corner in the MK countryside.

Taking a while to enjoy the Peace Pagoda which is very close to Willan Lake.

This was only on the Saturday. Those who stayed over went out for a meal on Saturday night and did another walk near Cosgrove on the Sunday

BogHedgeJamTrots

First we start with the fruit. Sloes, hawes, rowen berries, damsons, blackberries, crab apples and rosehips.



..We cooked the 'hard' fruits, rosehips, hawes, crab apples, sloes and rowen berries.




Once this is cooked we sieved this. The result was a lovely sticky pulp.



Sticky lips, someone has to have a taster!



Lots of jars of jam. (the first batch)




Starting the washing up.



Look what we made!




Batch 2. Preparing the fruit.



Another batch of cooked fruit. (Batch 2)



Boiling up the jam.




Always the washing up at the end.

bogtrotting

Some of you will have noticed we have had some new members evenings, are now putting in more short walks (by public demand) as well as doing the traditional longer (10 mile+) walks, social evenings, and hostelling weekends. We have even had jam making sessions! Hopefully photos will follow shortly!
The group is expanding and it was really good to see so many new faces turn up at all sorts of different activities (including over a dozen at the Globe on Monday 11th October). We had 11 on the midweek meander, I think another 11 on the Saturday part of the John Bunyan Trail longer walk, and another dozen or so on the short Sunday walk round Whipsnade. Some duplicates but quite impressive over a week!
We also welcome the addition of new blood to the committee.
If any of you feel like adding to this blog, adding photos to this or the website please let us know, your input is always welcome.

Meander from Luton 8/10

We did one of our typical midweek meanders starting with a bus ride from Dunstable. 11 of us turned up outside the Leisure Centre only to find that although timetabled, the bus we were going no longer started there! No problem we just used a different one, however on telephoning - the bus company did volunteer to send the bus back to collect us! We walked to Parkway Station and walked along the newly tarmaced walking/cycle route in the direction of Harpenden.

This is us enjoying the sunshine and coffee from a nearby snack shop on Redbourne common before catching the bus home.


The old cutting was pretty and this a convenient place to sit and rest.

Part of the Nicky line near Harpenden.

This is the new cycle/walking path near Luton close to the railway line.

A short rest whilst we just check the map.


The view near Batford.

Another traditional bogtrotters activity along the way...

Finding an outlet which provides beverages (not always alcoholic)

A good fairly easy ramble with countryside many wouldn't have realised was so close to Luton!

MEANDERING

We have been doing midweek meanders for a while and hopefully in the near future we will start doing some Wednesday or possible Thursday 1/2 day walks.

Salcey Forest August 2009

Most of the group drove to the cafe in Salcey Forest and followed the short trail which goes along the Elephant Walk before having lunch, others then joined us and some people travelled back home. (Depending on the walk logistics and transport requirements it may suit people only to do part of a walk. Provided the organiser knows what people are doing, and they sort themselves out, the group tries to be flexible so that people with time constraints or who feel they cannot manage the whole of a large walk are welcome to organise things slightly differently from the rest of the walkers)



This is some of the Northamptonshire countryside


Some of the Group enjoying the afternoon part of the walk,



Enjoying a rest and a break.

Who left that tree across the footpath in the Forest?

The Group outside the Centre

21 people in total participated and although the whole walk was only about 9 miles the weather was hot and we were glad to get back to the refreshments!