CYHA NEWS

It doesn't always rain in Scotland! Fourteen of us had a great time at Tobermory and Oban youth hostels. Munros, viewpoints, islands, ferries, castles, teashops, caves, puffins, whisky, haggis...

A full report in next month's newsletter. 

SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM!

There have been rumours, of course, that the world famous "Spamtelope" was an endagered species and no longer a culinary staple. However CYHA have found evidence to the contrary lodged in a fridge in a remote Pembrokeshire hostel. Abandoned by a previous group, there lay, barely touched by human hand, an almost complete leg of Spam! Our meat-loving members fell upon it in a slathering frenzy, and in the space of the weekend reduced it to but a few unsavoury crumbs. Bemoaning our lack of cheapy, tomato ketchup, our meaty members enjoyed their treat with mustard and lettuce as well as "au naturel" in a number of extremely doorsteppy sandwiches (Spam slices over half an inch thick were recorded). So far there have been no noticeable side-effects from these extreme levels of consumption (although I am watching Dave very closely) .

Nature-lovers who are worried about the ever-declining numbers of wild Spamtelope need have no fear, this was a one-off aberration unlikely to be repeated. However if you do note a resurgence in Spam usage, report it to us without delay, as this could be the early signs of addiction.

After the usual late-night confusion trying to find the hostel ("We came this way last time - but we were lost then as well") we all arrived at Llwynypia (pronounced, apparently, "cloon-a-pier") in the Rhondda valley. A useful hostel for a Friday night stop-over, but sadly closing next year.

Amazed to find the sun shining in the morning, we headed for Swansea and walked Cefn Bryn, which is the ridge which straddles the centre of the Gower peninsula, with a detour to Arthur's Stone - prehistoric burial chamber and viewpoint. A couple of hours more driving towards the setting sun, the M4 giving way to A roads, B roads, narrow lanes, and a rough farm track, we finally arrived at Marloes Sands hostel, just about as far west as you can go without getting you feet wet.

Marloes Sands Youth Hostel was even better than I remembered it. An isolated cluster of old farm buildings on the cliff top. Boys in the cow shed, girls in the hen house, warden in the hayloft and the kitchen in the piggery with views out to sea.

On Sunday we walked from the hostel down to the glorious sandy beach, and around the Marloes peninsula. There were fine views of Skokholm and Skomer Islands, as well as to St. David's Head the other side of St.Bride's Bay. Despite being rather windy, the sun shone and we returned sun burnt and thirsty for beer and ice creams at the Lobster Pot Inn, followed by one of Robert's famous chilli's back at the hostel.

As usual we finished the remaining chilli for breakfast, and we went to the nearby village of Dale, "Surfing capital of West Wales" (fine views of Milford Haven oil refineries), to walk some more of the coast path to St. Anns Head. After tea and cakes we said farewell to Helen and Clive's car load, while Trudi, Robert & I had an even more spectacular cliff-top walk back to Marloes Sands.

Those of us that remained on Tuesday took the short boat trip to Skomer Island. Skomer is a National Nature Reserve, inhabited only by the Wildlife Trust warden, 12,000 puffins, 10,000 Guillemots, 3,500 Razor bills, 330,000 Manx Shearwaters and 20 Short-eared owls. Not to mention 20,000 voles and countless rabbits. The island, about 2 miles long, is carpeted with bluebells, and surrounded by breathtaking sea cliffs. We had a wonderful walk all around the island, with frequent stops to watch the birds, and we even spotted a porpoise from the boat on the way back. A fitting end to a memorable long weekend.

In a game of sporting extremes, Ali and Dave succeeded in thrashing Dave J and Lorna and proceeded to crow about it for at least 5 minutes before justice found them in the shape of Tom and Lorna. This second match saw Dave and Ali running all over the court after skilfully positioned shots before collapsing with exhaustion at the end with a mere 8 points to 21! The other court was much quieter and well behaved, but frankly I was too exhausted to see how Steve and Caroline were getting on. A jolly fine time was had by all (well I enjoyed it anyway).

Much amusement was caused by a range of ancient computers (some of which actually worked), and the space invaders, dungeons and racing games proved just as addictive as when they first came out! Thanks to everyone who brought their ancient relics.

Lynn, Alison, Helen and Fergus attended the Peoples Summit in Birmingham, as did about 50,000 others. Whilst there we met up with Anna White who told us she'd seen Roz, who'd be looking out for us! Needless to say in the general furore we never did catch up with her. The event was an unparalleled success with superb, passionate speakers including Claire Short, Baroness Shirley Williams and a very entertaining Roy Bickerstaff (from UNISON). The atmosphere was that of a carnival, although the police were videoing us just in case (Lynn smiled & waved, so that's her on police files for a start!). As 3o'clock arrived there came an incredible wave of noise as all of the 6mile chain of people shouted and blew on their whistles in (approximate) unity. Of course the campaign for the cancellation of Third World debt is only just starting and although a lot has been accomplished there is still a long way to go, but this was a very passionate and moving event and I was delighted to be part of it!

I got your email address from the Chelmsford YHA web pages, so I hope you don't mind me writing to you.

My name is Chris Hill and I live in Galleywood. I am just about totally blind and I usually get about with the aid of a guide dog. I love walking and I have been on several trips arranged by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Last year we walked the South Downs Way and this coming September we're off to the Pyrenees.

However, I don't always get to do as much walking as I would like between these trips. I have a couple of good friends, with whom I occasionally go out for walks, but they are busy people and our free time doesn't always coincide.

So, I'm writing to ask if any of your members would be prepared to accompany and guide me on occasional 4 or 5 mile local strolls, either at a weekend or on a summer's evening. Most people don't find this too stressful an experience. I simply lightly hold a guide's elbow as we walk along and hopefully the guide would warn me to duck if I were about to be decapitated by an overhanging branch, or warn me to take an extra large stride over a ditch etc.. There may well be a reward of a glass of lemonade or something similar if the walk just happened to finish at a pub.

Thanks for your time.

Chris Hill