tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post6980248219987885441..comments2024-03-29T13:33:35.228+00:00Comments on SWC - This Week's Walks: Saturday Walk - Ashurst to Eridge - Last chance for bluebellsAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11395064086819994526noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-72650374829962003082019-05-05T00:05:38.213+01:002019-05-05T00:05:38.213+01:00There was apparently another walker on the early t...There was apparently another walker on the early train, so n=22 in allWalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314024151810191831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-31758774753056517882019-05-04T20:43:24.666+01:002019-05-04T20:43:24.666+01:00Dire warnings on the weather forecast about winds ...Dire warnings on the weather forecast about winds from the Arctic and “feels like” temperatures of 6 degrees put me in a rather grim mood as I set off for this walk. But in fact it was not a bad day at all. Sunny for the most part, with a cool breeze when exposed to it, but warm enough in shelter, of which there seemed to be a lot. Then after lunch a series of showers when the temperature seemed to drop by ten degrees, but these never lasted long. So w=sunshine-with-some-chilly-showers-later<br /><br />20 were on the specified train, with one early starter revealing herself later, so n=21 in all. The countryside was full of the joys of spring, with lots of wildflowers, and there were several bluebell woods, all fading but some - especially towards Eridge - still producing decent amounts of blue. One big surprise was a profusion of bluebells on verges, all of which were still in full flower. <br /><br />Arriving at the pub in Speldhurst I was a bit nonplussed to find the group all sat inside: I had decided it was warm enough to dine al fresco. But the showers started as we ate, so inside turned out to be best after all. <br /><br />Attempts to order food at the bar were repulsed, so we had to endure the unhurried rituals of the bringing of menus, the taking of drink orders and the delivery of drinks before we could be admitted to the privilege of choosing our food. Two of our party who arrived late and went direct to the bar, posing as private individuals, had ordered and received their food by this time. But when, over an hour after arriving, our food emerged from the kitchen it proved delicious and generously portioned. <br /><br />Mid afternoon we got a text saying Burrswood, the intended tea place, had gone into administration. This was a surprise to me, as I had tea there only two or three weeks ago. Warned, we took the short cut to Groombridge and several who had planned to do the shorter circular walk to Ashurst did the now shortened main walk to Eridge instead, which was nice because it meant we all stayed together. The Crown Inn in Groombridge did tea in pots but only I got a pudding, because I had the clever idea of asking before the bar staff realised there was a big group of us. <br /><br />The walk down to Eridge past Harrison Rocks was very idyllic, far more idyllic than I would have dared to hope when looking at the forecast: except, that is, when it rained, which it did once or twice, with sun swiftly returning. <br /><br />Several got the 5.50 train, but five of us stayed to have a sunny outside drink at the Huntsman, then dinner inside, before getting the 6.50.Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314024151810191831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-83705073985364262272019-04-30T21:43:56.487+01:002019-04-30T21:43:56.487+01:00CorrectedCorrectedWalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314024151810191831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-1680092091069104622019-04-30T20:27:25.557+01:002019-04-30T20:27:25.557+01:00Arriving Ashurst at 10:57 (according to National R...Arriving Ashurst at 10:57 (according to National Rail website)?Tonynoreply@blogger.com