CYHA News

Castles and Monkeys

Another month passed full of fun-packed activities. Whilst Dave and I were sweating it out in Death Valley (see pictures), some 15 of you were swinging about on ropes in Suffolk (see Marion's report below). On our return we joined in with the Medieval frolics at St Briavel's Castle (see below for details).

We've had a wonderful crop of articles this month, including Ian's poem in praise of Woody's Top (below), and I've had a tough job editing to fit them in. Anyone anxious to read about Jim cycling through Holland and Belgium will have to wait until next month, but it will be worth it!

Ali

Monkey Business

It was a damp and drizzly day when 15 of us gathered in a gloomy Thetford Forest to go aerial trekking. I had ordered the rain especially to make things more challenging for the group, and I'm sure everyone appreciated the softer (and muddier) landings. For the uninitiated aerial trekking involves climbing up rope ladders then crossing from tree to tree by means of an ingenious (and progressive more difficult) selection of high wires, Indian bridges, scamble nets, spider's webs, bosun's chairs, trapeze crossings and swings. The best part of all was the zip slide to take you back down to terra firma - though I'd still like someone to explain to me how to come down the zip without ending up on your back being dragged through the mud!

There were six stations, each with a variety of strenuous crossings. It took nearly 3 hours to complete the course, but which time we were wet, very muddy and very tired. But also very happy. The big grins on everyone's faces told me they had all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We headed for the café for some much needed refreshment, to talk over our exploits and compare aching muscles.

Some people had surprised themselves by completing the course when they admitted they "don't like heights". The Stirrup Crossing was voted the hardest on the course, while leaping across the Tarzan Swing the most nerve-racking obstacle. I recalled the moment Tim, who made most of the course look easy, got twisted in the scramble net and needed to be unravelled. And Ian, who came down the last zip slide so gracefully that he ground to a halt and was left dangling. And Mike's carefree leap across Tarzan's Swing. Oh happy memories from a great day out! Who wants to go again?

Marion

The Lincolnshire Loucher

When I was bound apprentice in famous Lincolnshire,
Full well I served my master for more than seven year
Till I took up to hostelling as you will quickly hear;
O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the hostel of the year.

As me and my companions were setting off for beer,
'Twas there we spied the walk leader, for him we did not care,
For we can wrestle and fight, my boys, and jump o'er anywhere;
O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the hostel of the year.

As me and my companions were drinking four or five,
And taking on 'em up again, we lost our way a while,
We took the route again my boys, and thro' the woods did steer,
O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the hostel of the year.

We took a trip on the on the bicycles, and then we cycled home,
We took us to a boozing house, and a round of three or more,
a round of four or five, my boys, but I could not tell you where,
O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the hostel of the year.

Success to every gentleman that lives in Lincolnshire,
Success to every Loucher that wants to drink a beer,
Bad luck to every walk leader that cannot find his way,
O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the Hostel of the year.

With apologies to names, withheld for legal reasons!

Ian

Medieval Weekend

St Briavels is a beautiful 12^th century castle set in the wonderful countryside of the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. The best part is you can stay there and all you need is YHA membership!

Saturday saw a walk from Chepstow castle along the steep forested valley sides of the Wye drumming up an appetite for our authentic medieval banquet that evening. We arrived back at the Castle just as night was falling in time for our meal from a 15^th century cook book. This was found on the web by Jim who helped me prepare this 'traditional' dish which was chosen for its relative simplicity, we had rejected some of the dishes such as roast blackbird, sparrow stew, peacock soup and live cooked geese on the grounds that Sainsbury's seem only to stock more conventional fare and we were not sure how many blackbirds would be needed to feed 20 and Jim did not fancy spending half of the evening plucking them! Anyway the meal seemed to work and there was the usual rush for second and third helpings!

Sunday was wet so we abandoned plans for a large walk and very lazily drove to Symonds Yat rock to look at the famous view. For England it was pretty good but a bit small when compared to Yosemite (see various reports in this and previous back issues!). From there we went to the world famous sculpture trail in the forest where we saw some arty sculptures which were full of hidden meaning - so well hidden in fact that some would say they were a load of bo*****s or something like that. The best one was the huge fir cone and acorn cup - it was assumed that the 10 foot acorn itself had been eaten by one of the giant squirrels that live in the forest with the largest tooth fairy community in the area.

A good weekend and I hope the new members that came along will come back for more!

Dave J

St Briavels Trip II

Just as dusk was falling, we arrived at St. Braviel's Castle. The castle looked forbidding and menacing. Gathering up our courage, this was a youth hostel after all, we ventured through the enormous front door, complete with portcullis. We half expected it to crash shut behind us. As we were the first to arrive, we explored the castle. The girls were allocated the Chaplain's room and the Hanging and Guard's Room were where the lads were to sleep. My sister, who isn't used to anything less than four star accommodation, pronounced the Chaplain's room far too cold, and the windows draughty. This simply would not do, stone castle walls should be better insulated. So, she marched me off to reception where she managed to negotiate Isobel's room (on account of her asthma which is apparently brought on by the cold). The local pub beckoned for a spot of warm cheer, so we all trooped off, ate a hearty meal, drank and chatted until reinforcements arrived. There we met an American tourist who belonged to a historical re-enactment society back in the States. He had a keen interest in medieval castles and such things and was staying at St. Briavel's for the personal, if somewhat cold, experience.

I don't think I slept a wink that night, the room was warm enough but I'm sure that Isobel whoever she is, was still around. A bright Saturday morning found us half asleep and bleary eyed but the enthusiasm of the group was unstoppable. After a rather unusual breakfast of fish fingers and beans we departed for Chepstow and a walk along the Wye Valley. The sun shone, the countryside was glorious and it was good to chat to everyone else on the trip. The views of the Wye Valley were wonderful but I must admit that parts of the walk were hard-going with slippery wet leaves underfoot. We had to climb 365 ancient worn stone steps at one point, and venture through a field of cows (they might have been bulls!) but the effort was worth it. Lynn left her walking stick behind and she and Paul trooped back to recover it. Personally, I would have bought a new walking stick but Lynn and Paul obviously prefer their walking across the hills and not down the high street.

When we got to Tintern we rewarded ourselves with tea and scrumptious cakes. I don't know how Gerry can eat chocolate cake AND cream and still stay slim. Life just isn't fair. At this point, most people went to have a look at 11^th century Tintern Abbey which fell into ruin after the 'Dissolution of Monasteries' in 1536. They then walked the four miles back to the hostel. We decided to go sightseeing instead and drove back to Chepstow to take a look around the town and go shopping. Chepstow caters for tourists; there's the magnificent castle, a museum, gift shops, pubs and cafes.

It was getting dark again by the time we returned to the hostel. It was too early for dinner, so we settled down for read in a very attractive hall snuggled up to a cosy fire and a nice bottle of red wine. I ventured into the kitchen in search of tea and discovered that dinner was being prepared. I 'volunteered' to help, only to find that I was assigned to peel a small mountain of onions. Some of our American friends complained about the intense onion fumes. So, teary eyed someone found a novel use for a broom handle. It is amazing how effective a broom propping open a door can be in dispersing smell of onions. Dave J. and co. cooked a pork and almond feast according to an authentic medieval recipe. Later, after dinner, a few people dawdled off to the pub, whilst others sat about chatting about anything and everything. It was all very sociable and enjoyable. I didn't really want to go to bed but eventually my sleepy eyes could no longer resist the lure of another cold night in Isobel's room.

As predicted no peace that night either. I have never before had cramp in both thighs whilst in a sleeping bag that I couldn't get out of. It was probably an indication of how unfit I am but perhaps it was Isobel's revenge.

Christina

AGM - The Essential Highlights!

The group's Annual General Meeting was held on 23^rd October. We started with a thank-you to Jim for stepping in as acting secretary. As Lorna has now moved to Leicester she will be unable to continue in her former role and a vote of thanks was proposed for her more than 10 years service to the group (someone commented that you get less for murder) and wishing her well for the future.

Dave J gave a very entertaining Chairman's Report highlighting the group's return to normal outdoor activities in the year after foot and mouth, reminiscing on all the wonderful places we've been to. Unfortunately much of the second half of the year had to be based on hearsay as Dave managed to incapacitate himself in a spectacular falling-down-the-stairs, vertebra-cracking kind of way. We are all very much relieved to see him back to his old self.

Jim gave an excellent Secretary's Report. We have some 13 new members since the last AGM of which we have seen nine on more than one trip or event.

Dave P gave the Treasurer's Report with the confession that in spite of his best efforts we have again made a small surplus. However this is likely to be absorbed in the coming year as the YMCA have put up their room rent for the first time in 10 years! Current membership is at 78, slightly down on last year but still very high. If you had been away on every trip in the last year you would have been away a total of 38 nights at a cost of £16.59 per night, including all food, transport and accommodation - what a bargain! If you had been on every trip in the last 11 years (as Dave very nearly has) you would have spent about 1¼ years away from home. Other items in the accounts included the cost of our very own domain name: www.chelmsfordyha.org.uk.

Election Of Officers: With the addition of Jim as the new Secretary all the other committee members agreed to stand again and this was unanimously carried by the meeting.

The full minutes of the AGM are available here, or copies can be obtained on request from the Secretary.