Here you can see the report from our latest walk and also some of the pictures that were taken.

Unless otherwise stated, report by Paul Coates and pictures by Keith Bilton.

Thursday 15th. January 2009

Thixendale, Water Dale, Court Dale, Raisthorpe Wold, Wolds Way, Bella, Wharram Percy, Deep Dale, North Plantation, Court Dale, Water Dale, Thixendale (Cross Keys) 7.5 miles.

Cold, windy & rainy.

Col, Paul, Chris, Paul Craggs, Keith, Nathan, Paul ' Sherlock' Holmes, Dudley, Jack, Bob.

Paul Craggs, Paul Holmes, Col.

Some say start the day as you mean to go on, so as soon as we were out of the cars in Thixendale it was on with the wet weather gear. The grey dawn clouds had been threatening rain all the way from Hull and once through Wetwang it started to chuck it down. It could be worse, we could be at work.

We parked up outside the Cross Keys and left a note for Paddy the landlord with our order for egg & chips. This walk has become something of a tradition at this time of the year for our intrepid group. A walk in the morning followed by the East Riding's finest egg & chips in the pub at lunchtime, while sat alongside a roaring fire. Heaven! So it can rain & blow all it likes 'cos we will be soon warm and dry.

As we walked out of the village we passed by Thixendale's brand new cricket pavilion. We were certainly impressed as it definitely is an improvement on the old and battered caravans they had previously used.

We took our break alongside the woods above Burdale Tunnel through which the long closed Malton to Driffield line once ran. It's a fairly high point on the Wolds with the trees offering little protection from the wind and rain. We eventually found shelter from the wind behind a pile of logs. It was certainly a muddy place to be. Paul Craggs reckoned it was once of the bleakest grub stops we've ever had. It could be worse, we could have been in the canteen.

A guy in a mini 4x4 came bouncing off the nearby lane and into an adjacent muddy field. He then drove his way around some trees and the joined the track further down from where we were sat. It then dawned on us that he'd gone that way so as not to cover us all in wet sloppy mud. What a gent!

We called at the old ruined church in Wharram Percy then began the climb up towards Deep Dale. Paul seemed to lose all sense of direction at this point as he swore blind we were walking north when in fact we were walking south.

Luckily Bob was nearby to keep him on the straight and narrow while certain other members of our party just assumed he'd got the map upside down.

Much amusement was had at the 'kissing gate' close to the old church as those of our group with a wider girth struggled to squeeze through. Of course when it was Dudley's turn to negotiate this narrow gap I was mindful of future lieu day request's and rest day changes, so I didn't laugh.......my mate!

The path above Deep Dale was hard going with much slipping and sliding with the added delight of the rain being blown in our faces. And on the way down into Court Dale a loud cheer went up as Sherlock slipped and ended up with a muddy rear.

And so we arrived back at the Cross Keys looking forward to our meal. It was still raining so we took shelter in a nearby garage belonging to Paddy the landlord. The landlord's brother appeared on the scene and during the course of our conversation someone handed him a copy of last years FAC Journal. Inevitably one of the earliest reports he came across covered our snowy trip to Thixendale in January 2008. Upon reading the report, and particularly the comments about his brother Paddy, he handed the Journal back and left the garage without comment. Whether he agreed, or not, with what was said we will never know. Whatever he thought it fortunately didn't result in an immediate lifetime ban from the Cross Keys.

As ever the Cross Keys didn't disappoint. The egg & chips, or sausage & chips for Jack, were delicious. Only owd' Bob struggled with his chips but there were others on hand to help him out. The fires were suitably warming and the pub itself had a very welcoming atmosphere. As Keith pointed out it was just how a pub should be. And Paddy the landlord was the perfect genial host. And if this isn't enough to ensure that we are allowed back there next January then I don't know what is.

To round off the afternoon Bob produced an amusing novelty item, which for once didn't involve him removing his trousers, while Jack asked for instructions on the dark art of washing up. It appears Pam will be excused washing up for awhile as she recovers from an operation on her hand. So unless she has enough pots to last a fortnight or a generous amount of paper plates it looks like Jack will soon be getting familiar with Marigolds and Fairy Liquid.

A short walk today of just over 7 miles although Chris claims he's done 8. When Col went to pick him up early doors he inadvertently drove past him, well it was still dark. So as we waited outside Chris's house wondering where he was, he was walking back to his house to catch his ride. That's what happens when you don't wear your hi-viz jacket.