Newsletter
January 2001
Reports
FRENCH ALPS 25 August - 3 September
A week walking in the French Alps with good company and no cars or shops sounds idylic, and it was! We wondered about the wisdom of the 5.15am departure from Waterloo but, as we sped to the Vanoise National Park on Eurostar and a TGV, we soon put that thought behind us.
We were away for ten days and backpacked round a vaguely circular route staying at one youth hostel and six mountain huts. They may have been called ‘huts’ but they were all substantial buildings and were at superb high altitude locations with wonderful views of the snow-capped mountains. They provided good quality French cuisine, but in other respects they were a bit like simple youth hostels. We all had a go at speaking to the locals in French and they were very polite and patient, even when they hadn’t got a clue what we were trying to say.
Our route was not fixed in advance and we adjusted it as we went along to suit the weather, our abilities and aspirations and a notice in French warning us that we were about to go into an area where we might get accidentally shot! On another day all seven of us made it to the summit of Pointe du Pisset which was 3,033 metres high (over 10,000 feet). One brave (or foolish?) soul even swam in the lake about 100 metres below the summit!
We were delighted to see marmots, chamois and alpine ibex at close quarters and enjoyed lots of hot sunshine, together with some rain and even a little snow.
This event was a new venture for the club and it turned out to be a great success. Thanks are due to Duncan and Nicky who had the idea and did most of the work required to make it happen.John Lodemore - Crawley
[If you are interested in the Alps and/or mountain hutting and would like to be e-mailed a more detailed report, please email Duncan Parsons
MEDWAY 13-15 October (Easy)
A small number gathered at Medway Hostel on Friday evening for a weekend led by John Lodemore. The hostel is a well appointed recent conversion from a barn and oast house with small bedrooms, two dining rooms, lounge
and study area.
On Saturday, despite the threat of floods and showers, local members increased the numbers to 15 for a varied 10 mile walk through woodlands, orchards and meadows along the North Downs Way to Bicknor and Hucking. After the walk, local member Melanie Tucker kindly invited everyone to her home for tea and cakes. Fellowship was able to continue in the evening thanks to John and Melanie who arranged an enjoyable meal at Mr Topes wine bar in Rochester High Street.
On Sunday, after morning service at All Saints Chatham, there was a six-mile walk along the Saxon Shore Way from Upnor following the river Medway. The walk included good views of the river and a marina and refreshments at Hoo Saint Werburgh parish church flower festival, conveniently near the end of the walk.
Many thanks to John for a well organised weekend.Mike Barkway - Finchley
SNOWDONIA WEEK 21-28 October
(Moderate-Hard)
Shuffling cars became the complex morning ritual at Capel Curig hostel. No lack of initiative when a power cut struck - some enjoyed the candlelit hostel meal whilst others dined in the red (cycle) light area. Rumour had it that John Ashworth raided someone's pan of sausages in the gloom of the kitchen! Oh no! John Lodemore arrived just as we were setting off up Pen yr Ole Wen to say I'd left my car window open in the lay-by at the hostel! What a hero driving all the way to get my keys, then catching up the walk from the hostel! Wonderful scenery, especially the amazing rock formations on the Glyders. Dinner out amidst the unusual décor at the River Garden Restaurant in Beddgelert; how do they dust all those piles of loose change stacked on the ledges of the roughly plastered walls? Val tucked into her jumbo chocolate pudding, watched enviously by Roger who'd ended up with a mini portion! Opportunities for lots of gear shopping and tea shops. Nantlle Ridge, Snowdon, the Carnedds, the Glyders and Cnicht were all on offer, as well as various lower level routes. 'I've never known so many leave so much behind', declared our patient walk leader as one car returned to the hostel to fetch all the forgotten items (waterproof jacket, boot footbed, extra jumper, micropore tape and flask)! Anyone need a car-park ticket? Somehow Roger managed to buy too many! Wind and rain featured quite a bit. Next year if these prevail, perhaps Val should change her name from Breeze to Gale?
Excellent hostel meals at Snowdon Ranger.
Evenings of fun and fellowship, including worship, Bible study and a slideshow of Val's trekking holiday in Peru.
Kaleidoscope of Autumn colours.
Thanks Val for organising such a memorable week. Sign me up for next year!Sue Edwards - Southampton
BADBY 27-29 October (Easy-Moderate)
The weather forecast for the weekend was officially described by the newspaper as ‘miserable, don’t venture outside unless necessary’. Nevertheless 20(ish) of us decided to ignore this advice and enjoy the Northamptonshire countryside. We had been given a warm welcome at Badby Youth Hostel on the Friday evening, which was also the starting point for the Saturday walk. We walked along part of the Knightley Way and passed through Charwelton, Hellidon and Catesby before returning to the hostel for tea and cakes (and to dry out!). Despite the wet and windy conditions there were beautiful views of the area, with the change of season to winter clearly visible. Yellowing leaves on the trees were torn from their branches by the gusting wind and blown some distance away before falling to the ground. We even tasted the last of the season’s blackberries from brambles alongside the lanes. That evening we enjoyed an excellent meal at “The Windmill”. It has been reported to serve the best pub grub in Northamptonshire; though a little expensive, the food was certainly very good!
Sunday started sunny but fresh. We received a warm welcome at the church in Newnham and then had a short circular walk via Everdon before returning home.
I’m sure I’m not the only one to have enjoyed this weekend despite the weather conditions.
Thanks to Pat, Chris and Mary for leading the weekend and the walks.Jonathan Gower - Brentwood
QUINTA HALL FIREWORKS 10-12 November (All)
Despite the threat of floods in the area and possible road and rail disruption 70 people arrived at this Christian Conference Centre near the Welsh border.
On Saturday two walks started at the waterfall of Pistyll Rhaeadr, the highest in England and Wales. After the recent rains it was quite magnificent - better than any of us had seen it before. Other attractions included the Berwyn hills, the crags of Eglwyseg Mountain, the hill-top ruins of Castell Brân, the huge canal aqueduct of Pont Cysyllte and such Welsh delicacies as Bara Brith!
Most groups had to make diversions because of flooded paths and impassable bogs; while one group thought nothing of a ‘Road Closed’ sign, only to be confronted with a landslide. It consisted of thick grey mud extending above and below the track and took 10 mins to cross!
In the evening Peter Arnold succeeded in getting a good bonfire going in the rain. It appeared to consist of furniture but certainly kept us warm. The fireworks display was well under way when heavy rain and strong wind brought it to a premature end. We all retired indoors for a very welcome hot chocolate.
Sunday started with a service ably led by Phil, followed by a selection of shorter walks to finish the weekend. These were in the ‘Welsh Lake District’ around Ellesmere and made good use of the canal towpaths and woodland walks.Jeremy Sharp - West Kensington
SLAIDBURN PRE-CHRISTMAS 8-10 December
(Moderate)
On Friday we gathered in the well restored hostel in the village of old stone houses; two dozen of us from the length and breadth of the country.
The following morning two groups left the hostel. The first group, led by John, started at Dunlop Bridge, followed the river Hodder and later went onto high ground in the Trough of Bowland. The other walk, led by Nick and Irene, covered a less hilly route north of the village and around Stocks Reservoir. Highlights of the walk were a lovely stretch at the edge of the reservoir and two very cute kittens which tried to shelter under us from the rain.
Back at the hostel we later enjoyed a magnificent five-course feast followed
by dancing for the high spirited.
On Sunday we greatly swelled the congregation at the village church and were warmly welcomed by the minister. Afterwards, Nick led a short walk through lovely countryside near the village.
A mix of good company, walks, meals and the service all made for an excellent weekend. Many thanks to Nick and Irene for organising the weekend and leading walks, to Bob and Linda for organising the meal, to John for leading one of the walks and to all who came and helped.John and Jacqueline Taggart - Northwich
SHERWOOD FOREST 24-27 December
(Easy-Moderate)
Fifteen CRC members gathered to celebrate Christmas in Sherwood Forest. Situated in the heart of ‘Robin Hood country’, the hostel is a modern building and each room has its own shower; upstairs there is a lounge with a log fire. We were not the only ones spending Christmas at the hostel. We had the company of a group of cyclists and a few other guests. We enjoyed a ‘fully catered’ package and the staff took good care of us. An unfortunate incident occurred during the meal on Christmas Eve. Some local lads got into the hostel and stole money and other valuable items from four of the rooms, affecting both CRCers and other guests. Two of us thought we had seen the culprits in the hostel and were given a ride round the town in a police car, to see if we could spot the culprits - but no success.
We were able to join in services in the local church on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. At the latter service the children had brought some of their presents with them and the lady vicar tested out the scooter one child had received in the centre aisle of the church.
We were joined by other hostellers for our walks, worship and Church visits. Two of our four walks started from the hostel - on Christmas Day we passed the Major Oak, which is estimated to be over 800 years old, and the Abbey in Rufford Country Park, which was occupied for 400 years by Cistercian monks. On Boxing Day we started our walk from Clumber Park and enjoyed views across the lake (including grebes carrying out an early courtship display) before heading out into the nearby country. On both these days (and the next) we enjoyed dry, cold weather.
The event was an excellent way of spending Christmas and was enjoyed by all. Having walked before we had our Chistmas meals we were able to avoid that ‘I’ve eaten too much and done nothing’ feeling.
Thanks to Diane for excellent organisation.Karen Taylor - Southport
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