Quantocks walk
When ten intrepid Longwell Green explorers set off for the wilds of the Quantocks today we didn't think we would be ending the day eating soup and cake in the walled garden of a medieval chantry at Kilve - but we did!
In fact, when I drove over to pick Miriam and Alan up in Easton, the heavens opened and I thought I would have to get a message out to the fellow explorers to call the event off. In the spirit of Captain Scott and his Antarctic team we decided to brave the monsoon that was descending on Bristol - and the happy shoppers waiting at Ikea!
We passed Bridgewater and stopped off at Nether Stowey. I also sailed past a tea and coffee van too quickly so the explorers went without a coffee boost. We found the car park which turned out to be a little way from the pub and waited until the fellow explorers turned up. The weather improved and the skies became blue as we walked past the thatched cottages and into the wooded coombes.
The way was led by captains Neil and Peter, although Peter did most of the navigating. The explorers pushed on into the woods and up the coombe aided by Neil and his chocolate buttons. A couple of times there were a few squelches. Captain Neil occasionally forgot his navigational duties but luckily Peter was on hand. Lunch time was held going down a hill where we found a very long log. Unlike the Antarctic team the Longwell Greenians had plenty of provisions and indeed Captain Peter had wine glasses and wine - which was not why Captain Neil fell off his log!! Meanwhile Alan and Miriam drank some tea from a tranchea* that they had brought with them.
We left the woods and walked over the top of the Quantock ridge with young foals and ponies running around the top. We had views to Minehead and across to Wales and then over to Bristol and Glastonbury and realised how lucky we were to live in such a wonderful location. We walked on and had a pitstop later on where I reminded everybody about snakes! We also mentioned the man from Porlock who had detained Coleridge on a trivial business matter (dope) whilst writing Kubla Khan!
Anyway we had a nice descent into the car park where we said goodbye to Peter. The hungry explorers then made their way to the pub - and rather like Captain Scott found it was closed and we were hungry! Still we pressed onto Kilve and took a turning towards the sea, where we found a tea house in an 18th century house attached to a medieval chantry house. We sat in the garden (somewhat chilly - like Captain Scotts exploration team!) to eat our soup, cake and beverages. With some twisting of arms Neil managed to get the tired explorers to come and see the sea. At this time of the day it was real 'Neil' weather, i.e. dry but blowing a gale, with a cool chilly breeze as we gazed over the beach at the sea rolling in.
It was a superb day out - the best yet! Neil's sledge (I mean car) made it just about home.
I look forward to arranging another walk in the future and also picnic. Thanks to all who came for a really lovely day,
Neil M
* Anyone able to provide a definition of this word gets a small prize -Ed