Chelmsford YHA Group

CYHA News

The Monthly Newsletter of Chelmsford YHA Local Group

May 2006

Beyond the Magic Trousers

Near Lyndhurst in the New Forest

There is a legend in the club that relates to Robert’s waterproof trousers. They look innocent enough but conceal magic powers, for every time they are put on the rain stops falling. They have proved powerful against showers and even hail, but on occasions the weather has proved to be too much, too hard, in fact… beyond the Magic Trousers!!

This month’s newsletter includes reports on two such occasions: our wet weekend in the New Forest and the Easter trip to the lakes, where Robert successfully warded off wintery showers!

Ali

New Forest. New Faces. New Pickle!

 After a four-year break this was my return trip to CYHA and I was feeling a little apprehensive about meeting new people and getting used to some changes. The people came from far and wide, South Africa, New Zealand and even a couple from Wickford. I thought I would dust off my keyboard and share my thoughts about the changes that have occurred and those things that will never change.

Lunch in the New Forest

After battling with the M25 everyone arrived safely and many found the local pub in record time. The prize goes to John, Sarah and Sue who managed three pub visits on Friday. Glad to see priorities have not changed. Dave P. made an excellent breakfast the next morning, which perked everyone up. The sandwich crew lead by Cressida had already created a cheese and pickle sandwich mountain well before some people opened their eyes. The spicy new pickle was a brave choice but proved popular as we sat on a soggy log for lunch. There were a few mutterings about bringing on the Branston but no one looked like they were going to starve.

Lunch in the New Forest

It was quite a damp day so finding a cosy teashop half way round, with delicious cakes and loads of teddies was a welcome relief. It does still amuse me when the group can manage to navigate through a boggy forest but as soon as we hit civilisation we stop and become confused. This caused the locals to stop and stare and chuckle as they went about their shopping. The second rest point came just in time as we were very wet by then. A local pub had built a very handy outdoor shelter with a couple of heaters for scruffy walkers and cyclist to enjoy a drink. Helen and Gerry had the right idea though as they disowned us and sat in the warm pub.

Returning to the centre there was a mad dash to the showers. The girls did this very efficiently and even had hairdryers! That didn’t happen in my day. Meanwhile Jim set to work to produce a tasty chilli for dinner and people enjoyed the rest of the evening. Some went to the pub, others did crosswords and cross-stitch. A few people played a new game of musical mattresses to find a bit more space. Unfortunately for Dave and Ali the new space was outside their room.

On Sunday morning there was a great team effort cleaning the centre. I have never seen people fighting to sweep and mop and wash up before. It used to be a struggle to get people up and organised to leave. Even with the clock change we were ready to go walking at 11a.m.

Damp New Forest ponies

The weather was still very wet but Sundays walk took us to a new area of the forest. At times it looked like the Yorkshire moors. New Forest ponies sheltering from the rain were a beautiful distraction from the downpours. We caused locals further amusement as we entered a lovely pub full of smartly dressed families celebrating mothers’ day. We walked in looking like we had been swimming in the sea, fully clothed. A few pints were consumed as we warmed ourselves and the families began to leave – was it something we said?

As we retraced our steps I watched the array of colourful waterproofs and realised one thing had not changed. Even though many members were complaining of bad knees, shoulders and backs and walking sticks were all the rage, my position as “slow plodder” at the back was still safe. The newer members are fitter and faster but we all got there in the end. Of course the final destination was….you guessed it – a pub! Hot chocolates, coffees and pints we enjoyed before we headed home.

It was great to be back and I can’t wait for my next trip. It may be a while as I am starting work as a seasonal assistant at a Youth Hostel. I will be seeing YHA life from the other side. I just hope I can make a breakfast like Dave, lunch like Cressida and dinner like Jim. I also hope to meet people as friendly and entertaining as those who shared this weekend in the New Forest.

Sarah Ashton

 

New Forest Adventures

On Friday 24th March we forsook the chill clime of Essex for the sights and sounds of the New Forest. Cressida, Mike and myself made record time from Billericay to the hostel at Lyndhurst courtesy of Jim. We must have found a lucky window in the traffic, as setting out at 1830 it took us just over two hours to get there, whereas others who left earlier spent much longer savouring the delights and geography of that ancient and fabled route, the M25.

The hostel was part of the Guides activity centre, covering a large amount of ground right in the New Forest. On Saturday morning we set out en masse for a pleasant walk in the Forest. Just after we left the windows of heaven opened slightly but, undeterred, we carried on. Deer were spotted but we were more curious of them than they of us and they quickly moved onto quieter areas. We were luckier with the wild ponies. They were totally unpeturbed at having people walking by and even walking up to them. It was nice to see a forest with wildlife.

Bolderford Bridge

John S navigated us around, taking us past the site of King Charles II's day lodge. This was probably built in timber as an outpost to the main Royal Hunting Lodge at New Park. This day lodge was in a nice tranquil setting and one could imagine Charles taking a break from hunting, perhaps sitting outside the lodge on a tree trunk with a flagon of ale and contemplating the topsy-turveys of his eventful life.

The Stuarts got off to a bad start with the New Forest and Charles I sold logging rights in it to pay for his foreign policy when Parliament vetoed his rights to tax his subjects further. Charles II did come to appreciate the Forest however and was the first monarch to set aside acreage in it for the conservation of ancient oak trees. After the Restoration he spent happy days here with  friends. In his youth he took shelter north of the Forest in his flight following the final defeat of the Royalist cause at Worcester in the Second Civil War. Cromwell's men scoured the Forest in search of him and no doubt a few ghosts still do. Today all that remains are humps in the ground to show where Charles spent holidays away from the burdens of kingship.

Moving on we passed the site of another dwelling. This was the shanty of the snake catcher of the New Forest, a hermit who made a living in the latter 19th-Century by catching snakes and selling them to scientifically-curious gentlemen, the new zoos that were exciting public interest, and no doubt also to local wisewomen for ingredients in traditional medicines and potions. It is said that during his lifetime Jack caught and sold some 35000 snakes : it is a wonder that the New Forest did not become a second Ireland, with no snakes at all.

Abbotts Well

The evening was spent in the 'Crown Stirrup'. We were all bemused by the unusual name until John S enlightened us : by royal decree no dog taller than the height of a rider's stirrup could enter the Forest save those owned by the King himself.

On Sunday we set out into the Forest again. The start of the walk here took us past old charcoal workings used for gunpowder manufacture; one more reminder of the eventful past of the Forest. A walk along a ridge in driving rain took us to the Two Wells, recorded as far back as 1215. From here we walked to another welcoming hostel, this time with the less-obscure name of 'The Woodsman'. The way back allowed us to test further the resilience of our wet-weather kit. Finally we finished up at another welcoming hostel where we warmed up with hot coffees and ale.

A very enjoyable weekend. Thanks to John S for the walks, those who provided the car lifts and those who did the cooking.

John Maton

Lakes One Year On


Group on Helm Crag

Well, here I am, returning from the Lakes where a year ago I had my initiation into hostelling trips with the group.   Not quite a baptism of fire, but for a newcomer to mountains and fell walking it had its moments.  And this time?  Well, here’s a little taste…

Fairfield Horseshoe

Having had a good day’s walking on the Fairfield Horseshoe, the next day I felt ready for another long walk with plentiful climbing.  Five of us set off on a walk that would take in the Pike of Bliscoe and the aptly named Crinkly Crags that we had seen in the distance the previous day.  Tackling this series of boulder-strewn hills set my heart pounding more from exertion than fear.   I couldn’t help reflecting on my walking abilities of a year previously, when I would definitely NOT have wanted to be clambering around on all these big nasty rocks.  This time I felt much more confident, and determined to manage anything that got in my way.  Thankfully nothing insurmountable challenged such faux courage, so I didn’t have to eat my words, or find an alternative route! 

Rydal Water

As we reached the top of each ascent the wind whipped around us, and it was with some relief that we put Crinkle Crags behind us, and pressed on to climb Bow Fell.  Descending by a route often more suited to little cloven hoofs than hefty walking boots we finally made it to the  ‘ Dungeon Gill’ pub, a popular watering hole for walkers and climbers.  Of course it wasn’t water we were in need of, and happily we were not disappointed!  Can’t help thinking that it’s not just my taste for hill walking that has flourished over the past year!

Sue Hill

See also Dave's pictures of our Lake District trip.

Please send any comments on these pages to Dave Plummer