CYHA News

Summer Dreams

After a slightly damp July, August has been a mixture of hot & dry, and cold & wet. My evening walk in Little Baddow was a glorious evening. Thanks to everyone who joined me for a brisk 3 mile walk through the network of bridleways and nature reserves that circle the village. An evening of woods and bats was rounded off with a drink in one of our favourite pubs, The Rodney.

Mid month saw a super walk around Britain's oldest nature reserve at Wicken Fen. When I planned this walk I had visions of us strolling through the golden meadows by the Cam, whilst circled by multi-coloured dragonflies - I was partly right!

Sunny hot weather was the story of the Wells weekend as the gang pedalled their way around Norfolk to the strains of "Dancing Queen". See Dave's article for details.

And there's news just in from North Wales of hurricane-force winds blowing away hats, spectacles, tents and people - full story next month!

Ali

Scottish Slides

Many thanks to Dave for organising everyone's slides into chronological order so it all made sense. We had a lovely evening revisiting the spectacular scenery of Loch Fyne and the Mull of Galloway. From wind blown trig points to dung beetles - we had the lot!

Wicken Fen Walk

It was a very windy Sunday morning that saw 8 of us meet up in the car park at Wicken Fen, Englands oldest nature reserve sited in the peaty flat fens. We started with a walk around the edge of the reserve, following the drainage dykes. From here you could see how much lower the drained farmland was compared to the virgin fen. The National Trust have a brave new plan to celebrate the centenary of Wicken Fen by buying up the surrounding farmland as it comes available to produce a green corridor all the way into Cambridge.

The morning started gusty and soon sunny patches blew in between the clouds. The walk was mostly along raised embankments, designed to keep the water in. About half way round we came across another local nature reserve based in the hollow and lakes caused by an old limestone quarry. Quite a contrast when you've been walking around on peat for hours!

The sun was shining and, just as we were looking for a spot for lunch, a pub loomed on the horizon. After a round of drinks as we roasted in the beer garden, it was time to move on. Barely had we gone more than a few steps down the road and the heavens opened. The torrential rain made munching on sandwiches a tricky task, so we ended up huddled under some trees. Luckily the National Trust tearoom had a much warmer welcome!

After some refreshment we did a tour of the reserve, but it was a somewhat damp affair. All the insects had run away and it was still raining, even inside the hides. It would have been so much nicer if the sun had come out again.

Ali

CYHA go Mad in Wells-next-the-Sea

A weekend of sunshine, cycling and lashings of ginger beer (well beer, anyway). We strapped on our shorts and headed for a jolly cycle ride along the quiet country lanes around Holkham Hall, the Burnhams and Walsingham. No Timmy the dog or mysterious, dark strangers planning evil deeds, but there was a trip to the beach and a scrummy picnic. No paddling though, the tide was so far out we could hardly see the sea.

By lucky chance it was carnival weekend at Wells and we ate our chips whilst an Abba tribute band brought the "Dancing Queens" out onto the village green.

Sunday saw another spiffing ride, this time around the Sandringham estate and Wolverton. There were very few road-rage incidents and only one puncture.

The "crowning" moment was the Queen's home-made scones at the Sandringham tea shop. Dave P

One Visits Sandringham……

After our hard cycle ride on the Sunday of our tour of Norfolk, one decided to visit Sandringham. Unfortunately HM, Philip and the corgis were not at home having decamped to Balmoral for the summer.

It's is a charming little country house, too small or course for living in full time but perfect for those times when one wants to escape London and Windsor for some simple country living.

There were seven of us and we were allowed in the house even though a bit scruffy. To our surprise our rucksacks were not searched - but as none of us had beards (George not being with us), perhaps we were deemed low risk.

Sanrdringham is not a palace or a state building, but the Queen's own private house and the rooms we saw were more like those in a home than a palace. The living room was full of family pics, its just the family's a bit more well known!

We asked where HM's TV was and apparently she's just bought (or maybe renting from Radio Rentals) a super new wide screen one but is having a splendid new cabinet built to accommodate it. You could just imagine them settling down to watch East Enders with their supper (yes supper, not tea or dinner!) on their laps battling for control of the remote!

The dining room was a good sized room with lovely views over the patio and back garden. Mind you, it has to be quite big as this is where the Royal Christmas dinner is held and it seats about 40 - so it's bit like our Xmas do.

The family pictures were fascinating starting with Queen Victoria's huge family and continuing through Edward VII, George V (and his cousin Tsar Nicholas), Edward VIII, George VI and to the present Queen. It was from here that George V broadcast the first Royal Christmas message.

Dave J