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Celia and Miguel's Morning Walk proved very popular and was a splendid sunny day, with excellent views from the top of the Trundle as far as the Isle of Wight and Littlehampton to the South. We also had a new guest, Shirley who we hope enjoyed the walk, as well as newly enlisted Tuula and a host of more long time members out to enjoy the sunshine. Thanks to Barbara and Isabel for some excellent photographs.
Linda, Maddie and June led us up the hills to the Harting Downs on one of the nicest days of this year. As it was a figure of eight walk several additional walkers took advantage of the "short" walk in the morning. June got snappping again at cofffee time with some very good results. The highlight for many on the walk was the sight of a new born calf being cleaned up by its mother. It tried desperately to stand for the first time, watched by another young calf and several walkers - however, the walkers had a lunch to go to, so we moved on. The other calf was unlikely to be a twin as apparently twins are quite rare among cattle. Curiously if a heifer is born with a bull brother it is likely to be sterile (a freemartin) and the bull calf will usually be a poor performer in later life. Thanks Google.
It rained before and after the walk but Den's walk from Walderton stayed dry throughout. A walk up and down past Piglegged Row, then past Watergate House was followed by a great lunch at the Barley Mow in Walderton. The service there was exceptional and the 11 walkers had a great lunch.
This day walk was hampered by a very poor weather forecast for the afternoon and we took measures to finish at lunchtime if the need arose. Jennifer led us from Compton up and over the spur of Compton Down, on past the wonderful church of St Hubert at Idsworth, under the main London to Portsmouth railway line and then up the edge of Chalton Down to the Red Lion at Chalton for lunch. With the staff photographer on sick leave, June took over and produced some great shots at our coffee stop. The muddy going, the hilly bits and a leisurely lunch all combined to cancel the return walk and we called it a day after 4.3/4 miles.
The weather was somewhat damp but Jean led us on a delightful walk over Marley Common. The mist/rain was always there but not enough to spoil the ramble up to Marley Common, through Cognor Wood to Linchmere Marsh and back for a good lunch in The Mill at Shottermill. Some of the eagle-eyed amongst us saw a deer grazing in the woods above our coffee stop, but even with its white rear end it was difficult to spot. Luckily a frog was much closer.