Xmas Sqwalk 29th December 2015 (See plan showing the full route at the end of these memories)
The 91st Office Sqwalk took place on 29th December, the only day in the Winter with a perfect blue sky and full sunshine. The ground was very wet and waterlogged after such a lengthy period of sustained rainfall but it didn't deter us. Several reckies with the assistance of Anytime Tone, Brolly Wolly Man, Mrs Yupmistress and yours truly, had been made to determine a suitable route in the area and avoiding large areas of mud. Many thanks to each of them. One was particularly memorable when the Yupmistress had turned the air blue during one of the reckies when she became entangled in a barbed wire fence whilst slipping through a mud bath. 'Never again, zzxxxx!!!!??????'.
There were 29 up for the walk and part way round John Mills surprised us, joining in for the central part of the walk. Keithee also showed up later at the Travellers Rest for lunch.
The 29 up for it were:
Yupmeister, Yupmistress, Zolette, Anytime Tone, Most times Chris, Barry, Little Spillage Dave (LSD), Pedro, BrollyWolly Bagman of Talke Talke, 2 Pie Hard Dave Semi-Colon, Laura Sutton, Helen Sutton, Heavy Steve Machine, Jenny, Gill, Mark, Wil n Ann n Helen, Jacko, Nige (Noel), Paul Hecky Thump, Wendy Hecky Thump, Tim Mothy, Tom Flacket, Spikelett, Sarah Spike's cousin, Rose n Nigel.
At Rose Bank Farm we opted for a slight detour through a small wooded area where a private pub named 'Sweet Chariot' could be spotted in the grounds.
The route then followed a northerly direction, along part road and part fields down to the Holly Bush. Who would have guessed we'd be sitting in bright sunshine outside a pub, at the end of December.
The dining room was beautifully adorned with Christmas baubles glistening in the reflections off Keithee's head. The service and food were superb. The minibus turned up bang on time at 4pm as we all went our separate ways to hot baths and a good nights rest.
Thank you all for turning up and making it a brilliant and memorable day once again. 9 more to make a hundred walks !!!
Cheers
Yuppers
(enjoy yer mud)
The walk started and finished at the Travellers Rest, Stanley near Endon, just off the A53 Leek Road. An 8am meet up was planned with an 8.10am start but as luck had it, or not, Hecky Thumps sat nav let him down and a later start was made. Despite Yupper's eagerness in setting off punctually a further delay was made when Wendy was allowed a further 2 minutes (by the Yupmistress) to visit the ladies loo before setting off at 20 past.
We set off as the sun was rising across the fields beyond Stanley Pool and made our way squelching across to Bagnall and past the Stafford Arms Pub which was shut of course. Here we joined country lanes and crossed a ford placed strategically for us to clean our boots in before continuing to Jacksons Nursery for a brekkie stop. Jacksons did us proud and we managed to get back on track timewise.
Back outside we had an opportunity for a group snap or two complete with a long shadow. Anyone see Heavy Steve Machine?
For the keen eyed amongst us you could see ginormous pigs in the corner of the adjacent field, who had managed to survive Christmas, and several deer could be seen huddled together at the far end.
Following Thorneyedge Road we gathered pace, avoiding the alternative option across some fields to our right where we would have had the opportunity of viewing one of Pointon's extravagant properties and gardens. An option to be taken on one of our future Retiree walks from Cheddleton no doubt.
No-one appeared to need a taxi, which was an option for anyone needing one, so we set off in a westerly direction along the towpath stopping at the bridge with traffic lights before panting up the road back to the Travellers Rest. A mad man in a black sports car cut us up which turned out to be Keithee, joining us for lunch.
