tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post2605479165829597862..comments2024-03-28T11:16:38.801+00:00Comments on SWC - This Week's Walks: New Year's Day Walk, West: Cookham CircularAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11395064086819994526noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-92023179742706298042018-01-02T00:14:11.117+00:002018-01-02T00:14:11.117+00:00
Never mind fireworks over the London Eye, the bes...<br />Never mind fireworks over the London Eye, the best way to see in the New Year is always on Marcus’ New Year’s Day Walk, and so it proved once again this year. After the excitement of an electric train ride out of Paddington (“GWR Electrostar” - goodbye to noisy three car diesels!) we set off in cloud and occasional slight rain, but w=the-skies-brightened-around-lunchtime as we had our champagne on Winter Hill and thereafter we had at least some sun. Our festivities were fuelled, as per usual, by two bottles of bubbly manfully carried our walk poster, who thus earns triple brownie points with gold bars, and we also shared some nice nibbles and a fine view. There was then the pleasant walk down to and along the river to Cookham, only slightly marred by some slippery mud on the riverbank. <br /><br />The idea of having a late lunch to give us time for the champers was a good one. Luckily the booking at the King’s Arms had been made for n=12, the exact number on the walk. Very tasty food - including an all-vegan nut roast - and friendly and attentive service made for a convivial end to the day. <br /><br />Most then took the train home but four of us set to walk in the moonlight to Cookham. It was a big bright full moon but unfortunately was still low enough in the sky to be hidden by the wooded ridge on the far side of the river. Having failed to persuade my companions to dawdle and wait for it to rise higher, I hung back and was rewarded by it peeping over the ridge about 20 minutes later. Another walker then joined me and we had more nice moonlight before sadly surrendering to the glaring lights of civilisation.Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314024151810191831noreply@blogger.com