CYHA NEWS

Dave P

Perfect weather, excellent cycling conditions, attractive towns, the most expensive coffee in Britain, Volvos, cooking for 14 in a tiny crowded kitchen without injuring anybody, boiling in the dorm, catching an Escort with my bike (38 mph).

After not being on a YHA trip for over a year I enjoyed a treat, well done Dave and Jim! Sunday dawned another gorgeous, crisp, autumnal day, so four of us horticultural buffs, plus pooch, set off for Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury. (That's lots of different trees to you or me!) On arrival we met the world, his wife, his children and dogs galore.

What was happening? Pop concert? 'No - It's the autumn colour', was the reply. Polly died and went to doggie heaven after meeting canines and picnickers of every size and shape, many with chocolate. The humans were also equally happy. We sniffed toffee scented trees, found berries of lurid colours and posed for Alison’s photos, bums in the air (collecting wonderful autumn leaves). The only downer was missing a tea, but that's another story!

Roz

On Sunday we went walking. We travelled down by car

To Lechlade, on the River Thames, from which we parked not far.

We left some cars there waiting, and drove off once again

For Troutbridge, where our walk would start, some miles down a lane.

The day was mild and pleasant, the walk was long but sunny.

And baby Beth pulled Chris' hair, which we considered funny.

The twelve of us all made it back, although some had sore feet,

And Lechlade had a teashop, where we all had cakes to eat.

We saw: ducks, fishermen galore, swans, impressive military planes from RAF Fairford, barges and boats, wet dogs, and wide sweeping vistas - the Thames Valley is pretty flat.

We heard: very little, we were talking too much.

We ate: Sandwiches which will live on in the memory (the sandwich makers had run out of both filling and margarine, but the bread was very nice).

We helped: a boat through a lock.

And nobody: fell into the river, came to blows over politics, collapsed from heat exhaustion, got arrested for a lewd act, or was spotted by talent scouts from Manchester United or any large model agencies. A pretty successful walk, all round.

Helen

Memorable trips: New Year decimated by flu, Easter had one or two who couldn’t find the bunkhouse and slept in the car, in Skye we made the Kodak connection, Welsh Three Thousands in July had the bunkhouse from Hell, torrential rain on the bike ride to Castle Hedingham, Polish Tatras mountains and Waldy scaling the highest (Rysy) and limping off into the sunset from Gatwick.

Births and Marriages: Jade Atkinson, Bethany Strellis, and Maria Bromham were born this year. Debs & Nico got married, as did Caroline Balls (to Ken).

Injuries: Helen’s broken arm and Lynn’s achilles tendon.

Shocks: George is 50!

Good things: Hard work in the garden at Saffron Walden YH, people getting involved at committee meetings on Wednesdays, Pub nights, summer evening walks, and lots of newsletter articles.

Welcome: Waldy, Andrew, Petra, Michele, Carol, Maggie, Richard & Audrey, Gerry, Ann, Paul and everyone who joins us.

News: The subs rate goes up to £12 per year as of 1st January. The rate was kept down last year to reduce our fat bank balance, this now done. Dave J is going to audit all the unaudited accounts.

The Statistics: The total cost of all last years trips was nearly £8,500 and the surplus on trips at 1.4% of turnover. A person who has been on all 13 trips would have been away for 42 nights, staying in 10 different hostels, travelling 5,160 miles by car and spending £615.31, that's £14.65 per day for bed, travel, and 3 meals (this doesn’t include 9 people in Poland for a week). Altogether the group has travelled 83,000 miles in the year, with 587 hostel bednights (down on last year’s 622), eating 580 sausages.

The Committee: Re-elected unanimously, with the welcome addition of Roz.

Chairperson: Trudi

Treasurer: Dave

Secretary: Lorna

Newsletter: Alison

Without portfolio: Dave J, Tom, Roz, Nigel, Jim.

Late September and it was off for this 90 mile jaunt, backpacking with tent and cooking gear of course. The Peddars Way is a non-military Roman road and was also used by religious pilgrims to Walsingham in Norfolk. The AA book of Long Distance footpaths had recommended keeping the weight of my pack to a quarter of my body weight, so there was me with the kitchen scales weighing everything in sight and then producing a list with a total. I’m in! Interestingly, during the week Kings Lynn museum informed me that Roman soldiers carried 27kg!

I decided to leave the car at Diss via the Iceni village near Swaffam, walk to Knettishall Heath the official start, and then camp at Thorpe Woodlands a couple of miles into the trail. (12m - 3mph). It was great to be off. I woke early at 6am and was away at just gone 7am even breakfasting. It was a 23 mile walk to Castle Acre. I arrived at tea time but the weight was again taking its toll on my feet. The boots/insoles were just not up to the job, and the pack was a bit too heavy to really enjoy the walking. Perhaps 1/5 body weight would have been more sensible. It was nice to enjoy a pub meal and a bed.

Tuesday it was a string of buses back to the car and then Hunstanton. I stopped to look at Castle Acre castle and priory. For the squeamish the priory once claimed to posses the relic of St.Philips arm! YH at Hunstanton was great.

Wednesday it was a day pack of 23 miles from Castle Acre to Holme-next-Sea and then to the YH. Buses meant not starting the walk until noon, however I did get to Holme at 7.30pm. (3mph walking). Generally straight, it rolled as it reached the sea.

Thursday it was off to Wells-next-Sea (25/23 miles). Car shuttle resulted in a late start again but I finished at 8pm. Wet! There were lots of bird watching sites; the dunes and beach walking were love. Unfortunately the sole of one of my boots started to come off - thank God for sticky tape, even if I did look like a tramp.

Friday was a day off and it was nice to visit Walsingham, containing the national shrines to the Virgin Mary for both the Anglican and Catholic churches, a place of pilgrimage since 1061.

Saturday it was pack up camp again and off to Cromer - 24 miles. Shuttling was still a problem, but far more serious in some ways was the trouble with the continued peeling of the soles of my boots and their refusal to be taped. Walking on beach pebbles and more rain caused a frustrating day. In some ways the spirit of the walk died for me at Sherringham, the coast path even going in land. I decided to call it a day and start the journey home.

Lessons - many. The trouble was it was a bit too rushed to really enjoy the break.

Stephen Cartwright

On 10th October, Dave, Ali, Trudi and I returned to the hostel garden. I had 30 French lavenders and 5 climbers from Roz and Darren. The grass planted on the previous trip had taken very well, making the place look much tidier.

Dave and I planted the lavenders and climbers, while Ali uncovered hidden strawberry bushes. Trudi and Margaret (the warden) continued to clear the herb garden.

We got a lot done for only four people. The next weekend will be path laying next spring: date to be decided.

George’s Birthday