CMVC
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Choir walking group
With a spring in our steps
On 5 June, eight walkers gathered in glorious late spring sunshine in front of the Red Lion in Bletchingley before striking northwards down Little Common Lane. After paying homage to the site of the old William IV pub, we turned right and continued through the meadows down to Sandy Lane and the track towards Pendell Court, now the Hawthorns School.
Halfway R&R at Inn on the Pond
Walkers keep on walking
The choir undertook further walks in March and April. On March 20, a group of seven left the Hare and Hounds in Godstone and walked around Bay Pond to St Nicholas Church. We skirted the church graveyard and went past Moore's Shaw to the A22, crossing the busy road to reach quiet meadows and Knight's Garden Centre.
Steep ascent near A22
Challenges and chill winds
There was more parking fury at the Feathers in Merstham on February 27, when some of the 12 walkers found they had to pay a non-refundable £6 to park, in contradiction to what the parking instructions appeared to say. The 12 eventually left the Feathers, crossed the M25 over the North Downs Way footbridge and were soon making the challenging ascent of Ashstead Hill.
Challenging ascent of Ashstead Hill
With Hope in their hearts
Some of the eleven walkers gathering at the The Hope in Carshalton on February 6 2023 had an extra pre-walk as the tiny pub car park was full. After finding spots in local roads they joined the rest on the group enjoying a pre-amble beer from the pub's fine selection of real and craft ales. The route was a reprise of the one attempted on 15 November 2021 which involved a circular walk following the Wandle River downstream throughout. This seemingly impossible feat requires the use of public transport mid-way to gain altitude, but had been scuppered in 2021 by a broken down tram.
The hopeful eleven
A chilly winter walk
Ten walkers gathered in front of a roaring (gaslit) fire in the Boundary-on-the-Green pub (formerly The Fleeting Brooking, formerly the Ladybird) in Caterham-on-the-Hill on January 16 2023.
Initial stretch in Happy Valley
Winter solstice outing
The group conducted its traditional winter solstice walk on Monday December 19. Dick Jones was waiting anxiously alone at the Coombe Lodge Hotel as walking colleagues were delayed by a choir meeting and heavy traffic.
Sostice seven at Croydon viewpoint