Latest Walk

Thursday 28th January 2010

Thixendale, Water Dale, Court Dale, Raisthorpe Wold, Lane, Bella, Wharram Percy, Deep Dale, North Plantation, Court Dale, Water Dale, Thixendale (Cross Keys) (7 miles).

Sunny with cold wind on higher ground.

.Keith, Dudley.

Postponed from a fortnight ago we set out on what has become a recent FAC tradition, the egg & chips walk to Thixendale deep in the Yorkshire Wolds. There was a bit of a mix up as to who was picking Stu & Sherlock up on Beverley High Road with both Keith & Dudley turning up at the pickup point. In the end they blamed Paul the transport manager for issuing conflicting instructions. For his part he reckoned it was better for two cars to turn up than none at all.

Church of St.Martin

The reason for deciding against visiting the Thixendale area last time out was the amount of snow and ice still lying around. The numerous patches of snow stubbornly refusing to melt suggested we had made the right decision.

We parked up outside the Cross Keys in Thixendale just before 8.30 and all that remained to be done before we set off was to post our lunchtime order through the pub letterbox.

The going was soft, which after all the slipping and sliding in the ice and snow on our last couple of walks, made for steady progress. Apart from John & Craggsy missing the path off towards Raisdale Wold, and Sherlock letting them get some distance away before shouting them back, the first part of the walk passed without incident.

We had our break in the ruined Church of St. Martin at Wharram Percy. As we all lounged around the nave among sandwiches and flasks Keith was seen skulking around the church grounds happily snapping away. Or was he working out the best plan of approach to Chancellor Craggs with a view to securing a short term loan? As earlier Keith had revealed that he'd forgotten his money thus putting any chance of egg & chips at grave risk.

Posing in the Nave

Mind you Keith wasn't the only one forgetting things as Dudley forgot his tea bags and, for the second walk running, omitted to pack any apple pies in his rucksack. His claims that he didn't think we'd want any because of our impending feast at The Cross Keys were met with laughter and derision in equal amounts. And just to rub salt in the wound he managed to acquire a spoonful of coffee from Craggsy only to then find his tea bags which were not lost at all, just mislaid.

Not wishing to be left out John and Stu discovered they had both forgotten to bring anything to sit upon to protect their respective posteriors from the rising damp. Ray had a spare sit-upon to loan out which he threw in the general direction of the forgetful pair but as it flapped through the air it struck Stu on the side of the head. It seems in future FAC standing orders will have to be changed to require the wearing of hard hats and hi-viz jackets when on official breaks.

The route back to Thixendale passed without mishap or incident. We did expect holidaying Col to ring us to boast about the sun he will no doubt be enjoying in Spain, but then past experience tells us that he only does that when he's sure we are up to our knees in snow. We arrived back at The Cross Keys around 12.10 and as we got changed Bob arrived. It was good to see him after his recent encounter with the surgeon's knife. He looks to be on the mend and hopefully he will soon be back with us cracking the whip, leading us astray and serenading us with alternative versions of chart hits from the past.

Climbing out of the valley

As ever The Cross Keys was very welcoming and cosy with two roaring fires and the best egg & chips in East Yorkshire.

We've had many encounters with Paddy the landlord over the years, along with his unique disposition, but as we have got to know him better I can safely say he's become one of our favourite landlords. Poor old Keith didn't go hungry either as Ray the money lender came to his rescue, and, it must be said, at very reasonable rates. As not only was there food and ale to be purchased but Bob was hovering with pencil and notepad in hand collecting four weeks Kettlewell money which had mounted up during his absence.

As ever a great day out with a good walk, decent weather, good company and full bellies.........