Ron

Etal Castle - Tiptoe - Tindal House - Etal Castle

Overcast, but brightened up later. Icy, slushy snow.

Ron, Sandy, George B, Ashley, Mike and Michelle

Carol - shopping at the Metro Centre

Evelyn - injured hip

Bernie - watching the Toon draw 2-2 with West Ham

Warmer and drier than anticipated - the snow was wet. The walk was about 8 miles but Ashley had to do the extra mile to retrieve his spectacles. Reckoned there was a 20% premium for the snow - it was hard work, especially crossing a ploughed field.

A horse enjoyed nibbling on Sandy's buns. Ron's navigation went wrong early on and we had to back-track after climbing up a fair way. Also wandered off the path in the middle of a field. There was a private bridge that was not there, a holy well, and two very friendly people from Alnwick. There was a memorial to M.E.J. who died in June 1993.

The lunch-stop (chalet?) had two streams running through it. There was a lot of dust and mud on the floor, nevertheless it had three coat hooks. There was evidence of very high flood levels. A huge tree was lying on its side in the river. There was a gazebo and a tennis court at Tiptoe Farm. There were lots of snowdrops - artfully surrounded by snow! A large number of educational signs, and many footprints in the snow.

After the walk we went to the Black Bull in Etal, and found witches everywhere.

Wildlife: Swans, mallards, gosanders, cormorant, herons, buzzard, redwings, long-tailed tits, pheasants, grouse, blackbirds, barn owl, rabbit.

The Sun Inn, Morpeth. Slowest ever service. Time was passed by having a discussion about the Eurovision Song Contest.

 February group

Etal Castle

Unusual seat

The Wrong Hill

Old Bridge

Alternate group

Snowdrops in the snow

River Till

I know something

Ashley

Swan on Till

Natural Seat

Snowy path

Flood

5-star chalet

Stile to Nowhere