efog-blog
Camping / Cycling / Walking weekend in Suffolk 24th/25th July.
Keeping fingers crossed for good weather, we loaded cars with camping gear & bikes and set off for Sudbury. After several circuits of the Sudbury one way system we found our way out of the town to the camp site where we were signed in after the owner’s grappling with our confusing mix of people, cars, bikes & tents and began to set up our small tent village. During this performance, Charlie (Val’s nephew) plus bike arrived courtesy of his parents.
Bikes sorted, the six cyclists set off leaving Steve, the only walker, to do his own thing. Down the road, first left and, surprise, surprise, a big hill! This surmounted, we followed the back lanes to lunch stop at the famous old town of Lavenham. Leaving town we passed an army surplus store, an emporium ‘not to be missed’ by Charlie, so we wandered round observing the minutiae of warfare while Charlie was kitted out with a camouflage suit, courtesy of Auntie Val. Fortunately Parviz had an empty pannier to transport it all. Forward again through the beautiful Suffolk countryside, with undulating lanes and golden cornfields, via Preston St Mary and Monks Eleigh back to the campsite. Approx 31 miles. Showers, an excellent meal at the local pub (The Brook Inn) followed by a dodgy walk back in the dark and variously origami and a search in the grass for the bits of our gas lamp, which decided to self destruct, filled the evening.Morning, and what’s this? Drizzle? But it soon cleared into another beautiful day. Packing up camp, the cyclists set off again, this time into town to pick up the old railway track (and lose each other in the process). Eventually we and the track were united and we had an easy ride to Long Melford where we partook of the most expensive cup of tea ever! Those who read the menu first just had an ice-cream – cheaper!
Here the group split, with Ken, Val & Charlie taking a relaxing ride back to base while Duncan, Parviz & I carried on to Glemsford, which turned out to be on top of a big hill. At least we had a wonderful view from the churchyard where we had our lunch stop. Oh, well! it would be downhill on the way back we thought. Silly! Our route back via Foxearth and Temple End felt like it included most of the local hills, but eventually we arrived back at the campsite to load up bikes.
Excellent campsite (Willowmere), beautiful weather, good rides, what more could we want (except for better leg muscles!)
Ann
Camping Weekend at Debden House Campsite - 10th/11th July, 2010.
Our annual camping weekend at the Debden campsite on 10th/11th July was different this year, in as much as we weren’t all crammed in our tent drinking home made wine, whilst keeping out of the rain. Even so, it was still very enjoyable.
We set up the tents on a very crowded site. In fact to make one camper not feel too lonely, we completely surrounded her tent with our tents. As usual we walked to the Forest Gate pub, Epping, for lunch. It was very pleasant to stroll in the cool forest, but the full sun offset this at other times on the open horse rides.
When we returned to the site, the lone camper got her own back, or rather was on her own back, sun-bathing topless! Unfortunately she covered up before Paul was able to have words with her about her conduct.
At about six o’clock the barbecue was ready for the group to start incinerating their food, and because food was on the programme, the EFOG party was twice as large as during the day. The food finished, it was games time - boule, and funny shaped ball caught only with difficulty.
The night’s sleep wasn’t the most peaceful I have encountered, as exuberant campers entertained each other with gay banter and screams of delight, accompanied by loud music of a thumperty, thump variety. Oh well!
Breakfast was very entertaining. You had a choice of four or eight cooked items. I ordered two breakfasts - a four item, and an eight item. There it was on the order slip - 4 x bacon, mushroom, tomato, and egg, and 8 x sausage etc. When I was called to collect the meals I was confronted with four breakfasts of bacon, mushroom, tomato, and egg, and an argument between the man who wrote the order and the woman who served it up. Fortunately she hadn’t started serving up the eight plates of food. Gill had the same trouble when she ordered a double portion of bacon.
After the lack of a night's rest it was decided only to do a short walk as we were tired, and it was getting very hot again.
Peter G.
The 50th and Final Tanners Marathon - 4th July 2010
Members of EFOG met up at the Leatherhead Football Ground in Surrey before 9 a.m. on Sunday, 4th July, 2010, for the 50th and final Tanners Marathon. I can only write from the checkpoint perspective, but it was a really successful day. EFOG had quite a few members participating this year and I am pleased to say that the 4 who entered the 30 miles finished in under the allowed time (10 hours). Congratulations to Duncan, Sue C., Jim and Parviz for completing the 30 on such a hot day. Congratulations, too, to Ken, Chris and Fergus who finished the 20 mile course in under the 8 hours allowed, and to Ann who did the 10 miles on her own! Well, there were plenty of others in it, but she was the only one from our Group!
Peter, Fred and I were helping on checkpoints. Peter and I have helped on checkpoints for many years now, but we have never known it as crazy as this one. As it was the last Tanners, everyone came out of the woodwork to enter! We were first taken to help on checkpoint 1, which is always really busy as the groups of competitors have not had much time to spread out. We were helping with the drinks there and it was continuous making up squashes, filling up bottles with water for the competitors to fill their water bottles, and washing-up the plastic cups - Fred’s really good at that!
Once the main crowd had gone through checkpoint 1, Peter, Fred and I were taken to checkpoint 3 where we were to spend the next few happy hours! I was signing the cards with the times they came through, and had queues waiting for a great deal of the time. Peter and Fred were on the drinks, and could hardly cope. We were inundated! So much was drunk that we had to ‘phone for more water supplies - long before we actually ran out. Unfortunately it took some while for the water to be brought to us, and we did run out! Luckily the main stream of competitors had gone through by that time, and we got replenishments eventually. A lady was helping us for a short while, but other than that, we were on our own. Peter didn’t even have time to take photos! I grabbed the camera and kept it round my neck as I was determined to get some photos of our members going through. I stood up and just clicked in between signing cards, but I nearly missed Duncan! I was so busy when he came through that I didn’t even have time to look at people, and had signed his card not knowing it was him! Luckily I realized before he left the checkpoint, and managed to snap him. Amazingly, some of the photos have come out quite well - more by luck than judgement!
We were supposed to stay at the checkpoint until 3 p.m., but as there were still quite a few blank spaces on my sheet where I ticked off the competitors, we decided to stay a bit longer. We had another couple come through who had got lost. Then, just as we were packing up towards 4 p.m., 3 more turned up. They decided to retire as one had bad cramp, but with 3 of us and 2 dogs in our car (Katie and Eddie were with us, too), plus the equipment, we couldn’t take them back. We were miles from the Leatherhead Football Ground, where the marathon started and finished. We ’phoned for someone to pick them up, and hoped it wasn’t going to take as long as they took bringing us the water! We left them there but saw them later, so we knew they were still not sitting there!
It’s such a beautiful part of the country in the area of the marathon, but I am not sure the competitors had time to admire it - neither did we! There were beautiful views from near our checkpoint, which we only had time to see when we were packing up! The 30 miles course goes to Tanners Hatch Youth Hostel towards the end.
When we got back to the football ground, Ken, Chris and Fergus had already arrived after doing the 20. We patiently waited for the ones doing the 30. Duncan was the first in - in about 8 and-a-half hours, I think. Peter and I then decided to walk the dogs down a lane to meet the others. We stopped at a junction to wait, and Parviz came through first - from the wrong direction! He had got lost! Immediately after, Sue and Jim arrived - from the right direction! After 30 miles I wouldn’t have thought they could walk that fast! We had trouble keeping up with them for the final bit back to the finish! They all came in together in about 9 and-half hours. There’s a bar at the football ground, so a great deal of drink was consumed when everyone finished!
Everyone collected their certificates, and we said our goodbyes to the Tanners’ organizers. Sad it’s the last one, but it was a really good day. WELL DONE TO THE EFOG TEAM! Tanners will be missed.
Maz. 5th July 2010
A Day in Leigh On Sea - 27th June 2010
Got to Hadleigh Castle, sun beating down and it was only 9.30am. I’d left my hat at home – no-one else had – sensible lot the others!
A gentle walk to the castle ruins which boldly thrust into a wide expanse of Essex sky. The hill seemed very high above the town – thinking of the return walk! It didn’t take much to imagine what it might have been like more than 400 years ago. Distant mist added to the air of mystery.
Panoramas over what had once been very marshy wetlands, showed the ecological inheritance – rivers of water meandering round muddy looking flats, distant islands and outposts of land. Perhaps a future EFOG day?
The stroll down to Leigh was a mixture of open fields and bush lined paths, with butterflies, loads of different grasses and plants and a few pesky flies. I suppose they have a right to life as well – maybe. We had occasional stops to enjoy the views and to rest up, especially in the shady patches.
The folk festival was nicely warmed up by the time we reached Old Leigh. The music from the different bands competed occasionally but each space offered something new. I don’t think I have ever seen so many different types of Morris Dancing in one place at the same time. Troops of Egyptian, Spanish and Jive dancers added to the variety. Gill and Michelle may do some Zumba there next year. Hope so.
Some of us even managed a paddle along a short stretch of rather stony beach and we had a great picnic spot on some steps leading down to our own beach. Paul’s pastie had defrosted, my sandwich had cooked - I must remember Peter’s way of keeping the butties cool. Katie had a swim and Eddie had to be rescued when the tide came in a bit too quickly. All added to the fun.
The festival atmosphere was infectious, the enthusiasm of the artists abounding. I wanted to join in with the dancing ….. nearly lost the others a few times because my spirit was doing just that and ignoring the others. Sorry gang!
The singers also varied, from pop/rock type folk beats to soul filled melodies which could have brought tears to my eyes (even if I didn’t understand a word) if I’d been in a different (less toe-tapping) mood. The artists were happy to chat and a hurdy gurdy man even let Paul have a play with his instrument……
A great day out. Thanks Paul. And I didn’t even notice the hill on the walk back.
Pamela Fleish, June 2010
Leigh Folk Festival, 27th June 2010
Perhaps something else was happening on the day we visited the Leigh Folk Festival, for apart from ourselves, the streets were empty. Strange, in the relentless heat of what could have been a desert sun, to see sage-brush tumbling across the cobbles of the old fishing village.
From the hostelries of the town, though, came noises like the drone of a thousand bees, interspersed with the moans of humans and - just twice - cheers of excitement.
Gradually, people began to appear on the streets. Some were in tears, clutching beer cans and arguing and discussing. Others, though, were in a gay mood, frivolous and chatting, laughing and singing. And such costumes they wore - pretty dresses and skirts, colours and flowers; some even had bells on!
The atmosphere lightened and soon there was music, singing and dancing from every conceivable open space - from the largest car-park to the smallest space by the tables of the eating-houses. Such entertainment there was that day: ballad singers from Teaside, bagpipers from Sarfend, Morris Dancers from Ornchurch - even a Punch and Judy man from Gordnoswhere! And all to welcome us - seven members of the Epping Forest Outdoor Group - to the little town after our epic two mile walk from Hadleigh Castle!
Paul Ferris 30th June 2010