Proper beer on a proper walk
The annual Winter Solstice walk on 22 December started from the reopened Coombe Lodge, now a Wetherspoons venue. Early arrivals were delighted that the pub now actually had proper beer, and at exceedingly proper prices. Walk debutante and local expert John Rowe surprised everyone by joining just as the bijou group were leaving, bringing the number up to five
.
Bijou group at Croydon viewpoint
The first highlight was the Addington Hills viewpoint with its vistas over Croydon, although the weather wasn't clear enough to see as far as the Wembley Arch. The route then followed the London Loop through Heathfield, Bramley Bank and Littleheath Woods before emerging close to the Golden Ark, a venue very familiar to Friday Beer n Dittiers. Monday afternoons were less popular with Selsdonians however, and landlord Matt was the sole occupant sitting at his laptop and calculating his beer profits.
Interesting fungi photographed by first-time walker John Rowe
Having generously bought a round of excellent beer, debutante Rowe popped off to the nearby Aldi. He visited a charity shop on his return and proudly produced his purchase - a set of dominos. The crash course and competitive game that followed were stymied as the domino tiles seemed to contain a rather random set of pips, perhaps explaining their donation to the charity.
The return journey commenced with a road section before ascending onto the summit of Croham Hurst where Navigator Dave invited the group to sit on his recently installed benches. John Rowe excelled again by producing a box of mince pies resulting from his Aldi visit which we gratefully consumed.
The final stage past the golf club and along Conduit Lane led back to the pub. Former walker Martin "Polly" Perkins and occasional walker Roger Parkinson arrived to join us for dinner. Polly was celebrating the 10th Anniversary of his broken ankle on the Solstice Walk of 2015 (as well the reappearance of beer at Coombe Lodge).