Another marvellous walk!
Congratulations to everyone - walkers, organising and backup teams and sponsors. The 14th walk will be hard to beat in 2010 (but we'll try!).
Our walkers' pages on the Justgiving website will be open for some time yet. There are links to them here.
Photos mainly by Dorothy Gonsalves. Text by Patrick Wyman.
Thursday 30 April 
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| On the way out of North Petherton |
After the usual early start from the Hospice, our coach drivers took us on a steady M4/M5 run, reaching Sedgemoor Services ahead of the Dodd-mobile, in time for a hot drink. There was a good space at North Petherton for a group photo, with loos and a micro-supermarket nearby. The drizzle held off for the photo, but returned off and on for most of the day.
No-one came to grief crossing the A39, but some, would you believe it, actually failed to read the walkers notes and went the wrong way in Kings Cliff Wood! Perhaps some confusion at the pony corral on Cothelstone Hill was excusable, but we all ended up by various routes at the friendly Blue Ball pub in Triscombe.
Friday 1 May 
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| Above Triscombe. Concentration needed! |
Today the sun shone and we could see the views from the Quantocks properly. Route finding was easier - just as well because it was a long day, up and down. But we were well served by the checkpoints, including jelly babies in Bicknoller and the tea van in Williton. Wild flowers and the gorse were in full bloom. Dunster's pubs and tea-shops soothed the aching limbs.
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| Gorse in bloom |
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| Bicknoller Cleave |
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| The jellybaby checkpoint in Bicknoller |
Saturday 2 May 
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| The start at Dunster |
More fine weather. After leaving Dunster, there were great views over towards Minehead and the Bristol Channel. And then the woods, where you pop out above Wootton Courtenay. Though it was a long climb to the tea van just before Dunkery Beacon, we were spread out, so there wasn't too much of a scrum for the seats. At the Beacon, Wales was definitely there!. A long way down to Exford, but the village stores stayed open for us, and of course the Crown...
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| Above Wootton Courtenay |
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| Tea van just before Dunkery Beacon |
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| At the top of Dunkery Beacon |
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| Lesley and Bryan outside the Crown |
Sunday 3 May 
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| Exford Youth Hostel |
Apart from minor problems, both hotels and the Youth Hostel did us very well. Today's walk, in continuing fine weather but a chilly head wind, explored some of the higher parts of the moor. Sadly, Middle Distance walkers had to miss the steep climb up the Postman's Path... We all finished at the friendly Poltimore Arms in good time for the circuitous coach journey back to Exford, where Party Night was laid on in the excellent village hall. Many thanks to organisers and performers.
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| The White Horse Inn |
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| Coming up the Postman's Path |
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| Exe Head |
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| Party Night |
Monday 4 May 
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| The bluebell woods |
In typical Bank Holiday drizzle we loaded luggage onto the coaches and set off for the quarry car park at Newtown Bridge. From there Full Distance walkers had a beautiful walk through bluebell woods and past shoals of wild garlic. We finished at the Ring O'Bells in Landkey for lunch and to receive medals from our Chairman, who somehow had managed to get there ahead of us. Then, after the usual bank holiday crawl along the M5, we got back to Kenton at just about the predicted time.
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| Wild Garlic |
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| The Ring O'Bells |
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| New walker Shirley Wood |
Tuesday 5 May onwards
Now we begin gathering in the money from our sponsors!
