TO STRIKE OR NOT TO STRIKE –
SPRING WALK - Wed 23rd March 05
Hartington,
Hulme End, Wetton, Alstonefield and return northwards to Hartington.
Up for it
were:
Yupmeister, Mid
Week Tone, Spikelett, Granpop Bill, Keithee 'I'm on for it', JayCee, Gerben,
Matt Nixon, Paul Hecky Thump, Keith Jacko, Chrissy Mayer, Joe Tahoohigh, Cee
Tee, Baz (Tones b in law), Jay S Birdman of Tittensor, Timmee, Graham ‘Spotty’
Hawkwind and Dave Tee.
One or two
couldn’t make it including Malc Jay who was walking the deserts of Arizona
chatting to the local tribes of Hopi, Apache and Navajos. What sort of an excuse was that? How could
they understand his potteries twang?
Heavy Steve Machine also had to cry off, having ran out of leave and was
struck off the list, and Nige was struck down with the flu. Chrissy mapped this
one out, taking over the mantle from Nige who realised he’d be striking in some
form.
The walk was
arranged one day earlier than traditional to coincide with a potential day of
strike action, or industrial action in union terminology. This would avoid the potential lack of
office cover issues and any flapping that may take place. As it happened, the strike was called off at
the eleventh hour and those looking to be off on strike had to book the day off
or keep the office going.
A minibus
through Kev of Supreme was arranged for 10 of the group from the Westbury at
7am, picking up Joseph Tahoohigh in Newcastle, and Spikelett and Matt Nixon at
Milton. Jay S was in training for a
mountain challenge, so walked from Tittensor to the Westbury to meet up.
The rest met up
in the centre of Hartington and a start was made at 820pm after the traditional
group photo.
The first stretch
of the walk was pretty muddy from the rain we’d had for a few previous days,
and Granpop Bill took a ‘superman’ dive at one point but was aided out of the
mud by Spikelett. Out of the fields and
we were onto the tarmac in the Manifold Valley at the Hulme End end, making our
way southwards for a wee breakfast stop at the Wetton café which had opened for
its first day today.
The weather had
started off a bit murky but cleared to a bright sunny day as we got to the
café. So impressed with the countryside
Mid week Tone questioned his earlier decision to take the caravan to France
‘when it is so beautiful here’.
Heading east we
climbed over Wetton Hill and on to ‘Ye Olde Royal Oak at Wetton’ (Tel 01335 310
287). The new landlord was waiting and
willing having agreed to open up early for us at 1130am. Cracking ale, ‘Landlord’ a friendly landlord
and staff and an enticing menu. Joe
tried to convert Gerben onto the Irish Guinness but time had run out. Shame we couldn’t stop but we had to move on
to reach the George for lunch at 1pm.
The little
lambs were frolicking and the styles were getting narrower as time passed;
strange that. The skunks were also out
according to Gerben who was getting an occasional whiff.
¾ of an hour
later and we were queuing up at the kitchen door to order some grub at The
George at Alstonefield (Tel 01335 310 205 - http://www.greatbeer.co.uk/stage.htm.) The turkey and mushroom pie, at £7.20 was
succulent and well worth the push.
Shame the ale wasn’t up to it.
Prince Charles, who had called in a couple of weeks earlier, must have
bad taste in ale. Bet he had better
taste in slippers though. Jay S donned a grey waxwing pair whilst Joe slipped
on a mis matched pair, which he admitted having a similar pair at home. Only poor pourings of Pedigree and
Burtonwood were on the pull. DTee
wasn’t having it, switched to Guinness, and sat outside soaking up the sun with
Jacko.
So we set off
earlier than anticipated back to Hartington.
The lambs were still frolicking and Jay Cee was heard to declare ‘I’m not a number I’m a free lamb’. It was a relaxing end to an undulating walk
and we approached Hartington at 4ish.
The Devonshire Arms was shut but The Charles Cotton Hotel across the
road was open all day thankfully with Easter bitter (a Whim Ale), Bombardier
and Black something or other, where we sat for an hour before Kev picked us up
and returned us to The Westbury for an aperitif.
Yuppers