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A muddy outing but no casualties this time

NOVEMBER 16: Eleven walkers left the Fox and Hounds near South Godstone on Monday, 14 November, watching out for traffic on the first southward stretch, part of the old London to Newhaven Roman road.  They branched west into muddy countryside, following quiet country tracks north of South Park Farm and Cuckseys Farm.

Braving the mud near Cuckseys Farm

 

They worked their way up the gentle southern slopes of the Greensand Ridge through a variety of woodland, pasture and muddy fields before meeting Ted Mouat at the refreshment stop, Bletchingley Arms on the A25.

 

The loneliness of the long-distance walker (Banners falls behind)

The group crossed the White Post housing estate and then approached the route taken during the notorious Winter Solstice walk some 12 months earlier which had resulted in Martin Perkins' broken ankle.  Tales were told of the twelve paramedics and eight vehicles that had been mobilised to rescue our fallen chorister and, after Martin had declined to partcipate, navigator Dave staged a graphic re-enactment of the accident, happily without incurring fresh injuries.

Dave, watched by the original casuality, re-enacts the blackest day in the walking group's history

The group savoured the open views along the final stretch on the Greensand ridge before arriving back at the pub exactly at sunset, 16.12, ready for an excellent dinner.

 

The group, with social member Ted Mouat, at the halfway refreshment stop