Autumn Sqwalk 2016

Autumn Sqwalk (No 94) 2nd sep 2016 Beginning at Biggin

Start/Finish point - Village Hall, Biggin, near Hartington.

Up for it were: Yupmeister, Anytime Tone, Granpop Bill, Malc Jay, Ali Gee, 2 Pie Hard Dave Semi-Colon, Tim Mothy, DT, (John Mills - lunch only), Paul Hecky Thump, Wendy Hecky Thump, Jacko, Matt Nixon and Lecky Ade.

The sqwalkers set off promptly at 09.45 rather than 09.30 as set by Yuppers, who was fashionably late. The fault being that the taxi was late and the lads got dropped off strategically outside the Waterloo pub so the driver would know where to collect them from later, assuming he bothered to turn up. However, newcomer, and Yup's lightbulb maintenance man, Lecky Ade, reckoned it was Yuppers who wouldn't have been able to get up. How he knows this am not sure but it seems a fair shout.

Anyway in the end the group left the community centre and strode off toward Porridge Lane leading to the Tissington trail and past the campsite that Lecky Ade and Ali G stayed at.

Unfortunately no porridge was available in Porridge Lane so it was over a stile and onwards to the trail. Despite this first section to Alsop station being roughly 3.5 mile it took what felt like no time at all to get there. We then turned right, down the lanes, toward the river Dove.

The lanes were narrow and without footpaths but Ali G said we wouldn't see much traffic on them; which we didn't until a massive artic loaded with Yupper's shredded wheat turned up, leaving everyone diving for cover into the hedgerow and an owl dashing off its perch disturbed by the height of shredded wheat.

So the walk concluded at the welcoming Waterloo Inn, no Marquee, but plenty of nice beer and a row of seats in the sun to finish the day, whilst waiting for Yupper's and the lad's 'cosy' taxi ride home.

Lecky and Ali G strode back to the camp site via the chip van with the original intention to return to the pub later. However, Lecky washed his chips down with two bottles of cider and once necked, Lecky could only be understood by Ceefax and therefore a return to the pub didn't seem worth doing or indeed possible.

Lunch finished and beers drunk, the group set off for the nearby Hostel to check out the well recommended (by Lecky) ales available to those who stayed there and general passers by, such as us. Unfortunately on arrival we were greeted by the sight of a giant Marquee. Giant Marquees are never a great sight because it means either you are getting married, or, as in our case the establishment are too busy to be arsed with you because they have a Marquee to play in, which luckily or un-luckily this was the case for us.

On enquiring in the bar and being advised that they have a Marquee to play with and therefore no ales would be available until Sunday, Ali G passed the info on and then fearing entrapment and not being prepared to take on any such risk by hanging around, he disappeared, Ninja-like; leaving Yuppers and a few others admiring the Marquee.

We then took a right at the bottom of the lane and followed the river toward Hartington, checking in at the Charles Cotton for lunch and a beer or two.

The meals seemed to go down ok with some interesting touches such as Mrs Hecky Thump's record onion ring eating attempt, and Lecky Ade's lack of mash to go with his 'decent bit of sausage', Well ok if you say so Ade.