CYHA NEWS

The Monthly Newsletter of Chelmsford YHA Local Group

September 2001

Sunshine and Sausages in Shropshire

"Shropshire is set for a bank holiday weekend of warm sunshine... shoppers have been stocking up for a mass barbecue with supermarkets across the county reporting record sales of sausages, burgers and chicken drumsticks... millions of cans of beer have been snapped up" - this was the main story in the Shropshire Star the day after Jim went shopping for our barbecue at Clun Mill. It may not have been just us, but we certainly got through our share. Clun Mill was a wonderful place to stay, an interesting building in a beautiful location. We enjoyed walks on Offa's Dyke and the Shropshire Way, and visits to Bury Ditches and Stokesay Castle... full story in next month's newsletter...meanwhile, see some pictures from the weekend.

Viper Walk

A balmy summers evening found some half dozen of us negotiating unexpected road closures and arriving a little tardy at the car park opposite the Viper pub near Mill Green. Undeterred we strode off into the woods on the start of our walk. Luckily for the few brave souls who'd ventured out in shorts, the paths weren't too overgrown. The odd nettle-sting and boot full of corn seed was rewarded by an beautiful view of the setting sun. Skilful navigation and immaculate timing from Dave had us arriving back at the pub just as the light was fading.

Ali

Epping Forest Cycling Weekend

We cycled out of Chelmsford, picking up various people along the way until there were 13 of us. Stops included ice creams at Fyfield and pub lunch at Moreton. Climbing the steep hill into Epping, Jim's gear cable failed, but he was still amongst the first to the top despite ending up in top gear. So Jim had to go to a bike shop while the rest of us went to a tea shop.

But we arrived at Epping Forest hostel on schedule and in sunshine, in good time for a sumptuous meal and plenty of beer at the nearby pub. The warden was also in the pub, so we didn't rush back!

On Sunday we took our time over breakfast, hoping the rain would clear, but it didn't. So we got steadily damper through the morning. By lunchtime it was dry, and Nigel got a second puncture (bad luck, especially since it was his birthday!) But the delay had a good side - while we were waiting a passer-by told us they were about to start serving tea and cakes at the Navestock church. We sat in the marquee sampling delicious homemade cakes before carrying on. A drink at the Leather Bottle in Blackmore quenched our thirst before the last few miles back to Chelmsford. A splendid weekend, thanks to Jim for leading us.

Dave P

(See some more pictures from this weekend)

Sheringham Weekend, North Norfolk

The Bure Valley Railway is a 9-mile steam-operated narrow gauge railway built along the route of the old East Norfolk railway between Wroxham and Aylsham. Being narrow gauge, there's also room for a footpath/cycleway running alongside. Ian, who in his spare time works on railway projects for Norfolk County Council, had arranged this outing, and when we arrived at Wroxham station we were most impressed to find two whole carriages with "Reserved for Chelmsford YHA" written in the windows. After our ride and a visit to the workshop, we took the complimentary bus (also arranged by Ian) to Blickling Hall, where we dispersed to explore the gardens, the hall and of course the tea shop.

Tom walked back the whole length of the line; Jim, Marion and I just the last 3 miles, whilst everyone else let the train take the strain. The track-side footpath provided the perfect opportunity for taking pictures of passing trains, rounding off an interesting day.

Dave P

Trudi asked me for the children's thoughts on the Sheringham trip.

Suzanne types the following-

I liked going to the dinosaur park. I did lot of things. I went to the beach. I played in the sea. I looked out of the holes in the dinosaur. When I went to the beach I drew lots of things in the sand.

Sebastian said "The hostel had nice beds."

Cliff and Suzanne

Sheringham - The Bromham Family Highlights

Having arrived at Sheringham YH very late on Thursday night (a day early), we felt our way into consciousness far too early the next morning. Eventually, thinking that the kids were thankfully still asleep, Robin creaked his way down from a top bunk, but had only reached the middle rung of the ladder when a bright voice chirped: "Where are you going, Daddy?" More was to follow...

Given the hot weather forecast, we had decided to head for the beach, so after a sumptuous hostel breakfast, we headed off for the best beach in the area, at Wells-next-to-the-Sea. Miles and miles of golden sand met our gaze as we stood surveying the scene...with one exception. A monstrous sand dune reared it's head out of the beach, about half a mile from the steps down to the beach. With resigned smiles, parents followed kids as they capered their way towards the target area. Memorandum: We really must buy larger rucksacks for the kids...its such a tragedy to see all that energy wasted!!! The sand dune was a big hit - especially if you like surfing down sandy slopes with no clothes on (for further information please contact Kimbal and Nathan Bromham). As Robin, Teazle (the dog) and I stretched out exhausted, the children fanned out. The order was "DIVIDE AND CONQUER"; the booty was 3 new friends, 4 biscuits, a few crisps and half a sandwich...which Teazle gratefully finished up after it had become covered in sand. Then we had lunch.

Later that evening, the rest of the gang started appearing at the hostel. As the children multiplied, the talk turned to what to do the next day. Exploring the steam railway emerged as the popular choice, so the following morning at around 10:30am, we arrived at the station. Sheringham is at the end of the line, and boasts a steam museum, housed within a railway carriage. At the time we were there, there were also TV cameras filming a period drama, and people in wartime costumes wandering about and posing, so there was plenty to see. At 11:30am, with much hissing and steam, we were off, all the way to the other end of the line, at Holt. We decided to walk the mile and a bit into Holt, had our lunch, and rather hurriedly climbed into a hose-drawn bus that would transport us back to the station. For our 2 boys, at least, this proved to be the highlight of the day; sitting right at the back, they had a perfect view of proceedings as the driver's mate ran after us with a large bucket and shovel, scooping up the prodigious manure that marked our progress. "What happened when the bucket was full?", Kimbal wanted to know! The children watched avidly to find out, but mercifully, we reached the station first.

Our final day, we headed for the Dinosaur Park, 10 miles west of Norwich, with Cliff, Kay, Susanne and Sebastian. With 10 foot high fences and only one entrance/exit it was ideal. Inside we found a kids paradise. Climbing frames, cargo nets, aerial walkways, and slides of all descriptions, a bouncy castle, go-carts, crazy golf, trampolines, tree-houses, and of course dinosaurs. As we settled back to watch Robins body slowly disappearing up into the belly on one 30 foot specimen, we were content. The sun was shining, the children had their prisoner, and we had our lunch.

Charmian Bromham

USA Coast to Coast

More words of our trip to San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, the Pacific coast, Boston and Cape Cod.

Having seen the marvels of Utah and Arizona a couple of years ago I was prepared for some more outrageous mouth dropping views but the first view of the Yosemite valley as we drove in took the breath away. My guidebook of US parks states that it 'offers more startlingly beautiful scenery than perhaps anywhere in the world. An array of breathtaking waterfalls, sheer granite cliffs, imposing rock formations…a panorama of unparalleled beauty'

The Yosemite falls, which plunge 1 km down the sheer rock face and are the biggest falls in North America. The granite monolith of El Capitan towering 3,500 feet above the valley floor and the imposing bulk of Half Dome reaching up to 8,800 feet and a whole array of other peaks, domes, waterfalls, forests and valleys.

There was a stunning view from each of the walks we did, never have I been on walks with such huge rewards for so little effort even though the 100 degrees F temperatures did slow us down a bit.

San Francisco is a lovely city. The Golden Gate Bridge and the whole bay area provide a fantastic backdrop with the open ocean beyond. Some facts about the bridge: enough concrete was poured into the tower supports and anchorages to lay a 5ft wide path from San Fran to New York and the suspension cables contain enough wire to circle the globe three times!!

Our drive up highway one from San Luis Obispe to San Fran was along some dramatic and rugged coastal scenery, the road hugging sheer cliffs with lovely views of the ocean. One time we spotted a group of whales migrating north to Alaska and a beach full of elephant seals basking in the sun.

A bit later on the Atlantic seaboard driving from Boston to Cape Cod near or through Braintree, Weymouth, Kingston, Plymouth, Sandwich, Yarmouth and Truro we passed through gentle wooded countryside that could have been Surrey or Sussex. The National seashore at Cape Cod was pretty with miles of unspoilt white beaches and was/still is the play area of the Bushes and Kennedys and close to where JFK junior crashed his plane and his uncle Teddy drove his car off Chappaquiddick bridge.

Boston was interesting and full of 18^th century buildings which played important parts in the struggle of the soon to be United States against the 'evil and oppressive British Empire'. But it did have a load of good Irish (not too republican) bars where we got to know Samuel Adams, revolutionary hero and top brewer.

I hope this gives an idea of what Jane, Jim and I got up to but you really must come along to the forthcoming slide show and be amazed!!

Dave J

Good luck to Karen!

I've handed in my notice at work and am quitting my job on 19th Sept -I'm going to be a full time student again and am doing a 2 year course at Writtle College in Landscape and Garden Design. I'm so excited about it !