A STEP TO FARR

The September walk was organised by Neil and Ann and took place at Farr on a series of community paths. It looked like it might rain on us, but we were lucky and it stayed dry.

After leaving the community car park we soon got underway. We obviously scared the natives as this man took to his roof to escape us.

Soon we reached something that we all recognised - can you guess what it is?

From something comfortably familiar we soon got out into some more untamed wilderness.

I could tell that autumn was approaching as the rest of the dinosaurs were receding - and not just in distance - you should see some of their hairlines.

The wilderness was not that untamed, as you can see from this photo that we were not too far from Farr and what passes for civilisation here.

We weren't sure if this was an instruction or not, but we went over the bridge anyway - nothing holds us back!

More signs of autumn.

A very strange water pipe in the woods, which only proves that water can run up the way as well as down - a bit like my shares!

A tricky bit - just as well there was something to hold onto at our age.

Another sign of autumn.

A sign that an alien civilisation was not too far away - a bit like the War of the Worlds.

And we were not alone! I am not sure if they thought we were more stupid than they were.

And to prove the point!

As you can see the path was very, very, very wide - allowing 5 women to walk side by side and slag off the men at the same time.

Nice views from the top.

And another one.

No Dave on the walk, so we were able to have lunch whenever we wanted! Is that a poke of chips Ann has - if so, how did she keep them hot and why did she not share them out?

Sharon finds that her waterproof seat was not.

And she wasn't very grateful to me even though I had given it to her and it was a gift from a very arduous business trip to Finland.

Drink, eat, and be merry.

Back on the trail again and Jim has obviously eaten too much.

Group photo at a gate.

Getting close to the finish line, apart from the stragglers that is.

Luckily there were no engineers with us to inspect the bridge footings before we crossed. After everyone else went over, I took my life in my hands and followed.

As you can see, I made sure that the bridge load-bearing capacity was well tested before I risked my life.

Back to the car park and a well earned drink - gin and tonic, I think.

Sharon - after a few of them.

And Jacque!

Jim - who drinks very seldom, clearly did not approve. He was obviously thinking about how he might get her gaiters off to get her in the car.

Thanks again to Ann and Neil for an excellent walk in a place few of us had ever been.