We took advantage of the recent dismal weather to re-decorate our hall and stairs but, after two weeks of rubbing down and re-painting 9 doors, we were glad to head out yesterday for a local walk in the sunshine.
The weather was glorious, positively alpine with a cloudless blue sky, powder snow underfoot and not a breath of wind. We walked a local route that became a favourite during last year’s Spring lockdown but everything looks different under a blanket of snow.
Just into the New Year, I finally committed to getting back to walking with SOC by volunteering to help Ann Luxmoore by leading a second group on her walk on 7 Jan. Of course, as soon as I did so, Boris put an immediate stop to such activities with the start of the current lock-down. So, unable to write a report on a walk which didn’t take place, instead here’s the second episode of my reports on our HF holiday breaks just before the first lock-down last March:
I was joined by Sharon, Yvonne and Brian for a walk along The Shawl from Leyburn. Early snow showers improved to a sunny afternoon with great views from The Shawl on our way to Wensley.
Along with many other businesses and societies this year, we were unable to meet up for our traditional Christmas lunch. As an alternative, SOC walkers, decided to collect whatever people might have spent on their meal and to make a donation to StoreHouse, the foodbank serving the local Swaledale area run by the Influence Church. Kate kindly co-ordinated the collection and the photo shows Suz Gregory of StoreHouse accepting our donation of £515. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Looking through some holiday photos from earlier in the year on a recent wet day made me think how lucky we were back in March to go on a couple of HF Holiday walking breaks just before lockdown.
These curious sheep greeted Yvonne and I at the end of a fine autumn day’s recce of my Barningham Moor walk. Got to grab the fine days when they come along!
I realise that we have been conspicuous by our absence since the lockdown, so I thought it was time I contributed something to the Section this year, if only in the form of a walk (or walks) report.
Patrick sent a few photos from his blustery but sunny walk around the Downholme Loop.
Sadly, this was the last walk before suspension of the walk programme because of the national lockdown introduced on 5 November. All being well, walks will resume on 3 December and, by happy coincidence, it will fall to Patrick to re-commence the programme with his Brompton Loop walk. Further announcements will be made via the Walkers Google Group.
