King’s Lynn Plus

On a Tour de France theme this year, due to it being on the same day as the start of that event, several teams headed off on foot around London answering questions and looking out for landmarks that we had briefly (60 seconds?) been shown at the start!

Well I’ve never been a particularly fast walker so the pace of this one came as a bit of a shock – the timescale left us no time for dawdling around sightseeing, but we did visit some particularly scenic parts of London, taking in St James’ Park and Palace, The Mall, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, The Strand, to name just a few, plus some interesting parts that you wouldn’t normally see if you did the normal tourist type routes.  We saw the English home of tea (Twinings in the Strand), a strange white cube shaped building (aparently a work of art in its own right) somewhere near the London School of Economics, and the fountains at Somerset House (home of the dreaded Inland Revenue).  Actually when I said we saw the fountains, we actually walked right through the middle of them – most refreshing!! 

The treasure hunt began and ended on a boat on the Thames opposite the London Eye, which was most scenic as dusk fell and the lights came on.

The results of the Treasure Hunt, as far as our team went were disappointing, but that certainly didn’t spoil the day.  No-one quite had the energy for the nightclub on the boat afterwards, however!

Christine T

So who fancies themselves as a would-be Robin Hood?  Well that would be just me then!  Despite my only experience of archery being a couple of taster days, one while I was still at school and another on a Plus holiday years ago, I headed over to Sutton Coldfield to try my hand in the competition.

Most of the afternoon was spent in tuition, and practice, and just as we thought we were getting the hang of things the competition started and they replaced our nice big targets with something half the size!!  Needless to say, my score wasn’t exactly impressive, but I thoroughly enjoyed the day and somehow despite my low score our team actually walked off with the trophy - in no small part due to Adam’s expertise with a bow.

Christine T

Bit short notice this one, as most of the best parties are, but Dave & Sherrie invited everyone to a pudding party at their place in Necton on the early May Bank Holiday Sunday, with a walk beforehand to work up an appetite and a sleep-over to recover!

Well of course when we found out it would clash with the Monacco F1 Grand Prix, arrangements were made to arrive slightly early so we could catch the action before using up too much energy.

The day came, puddings were made (some of us got a bit carried away trying out new recipes), overnight stuff packed and…….down came the rain!  Off I went to Swaffham, one less for the party already as my partner Stephen had to work, watched an extremely uneventful F1 race with a predictable result.  Phone calls were made and received as the day went on with the more sensible people not fancying walking in the rain!  Four of us were left by the time the walk started – it was ok, just a little light rain, right?

Wrong!  We got drenched!  Four miles in the pouring rain, trying to avoid the larger puddles – luckily on the whole our waterproofs held out, but thank god I packed a change of clothes anyway!  We soon all dried out, and the puddings were revealed with a few drinks to help things along!

Definition of heaven?  Well it could be going to a party where there are more puddings than people!!  We were certainly going to struggle, from memory I think we had a sort of parkin thing, a cherry sponge, a steam apricot pudding, rhubarb cheesecake tart, eton mess, lancashire cheese & apple cake – thats all I can remember but I know there were more, plus a pineapple and some chocolate – and of course Dave’s home-made custard – yum!!  Washed down with a good desert wine.

Certainly a small but select party, but one of the more memorable ones!

Christine T

The next of our regular walks took us on a circular route starting at Grimston, via Roydon common, through Castle Rising and back to Grimston following Babbingly Brook (at least I think so – my local geography isn’t brilliant!). 

Expertly navigated and led by Dave & Sherrie, the walk saw us walking through woods, over streams, taking our life in our hands as we crossed two main roads (one of which was the extremely busy A149 – twice!).  Lunch stop was at the Black Horse in Castle Rising where some good food was enjoyed by all.  I wasn’t going to have a pudding – it was the others, they made me!!!!

We saw some wildlife – some of us saw a live deer, then on the way back Sherrie found a deer of her own, in a slightly less pretty state, on a foray into the trees!

A pretty tiring route this one, I am sure Dave told us 7 miles before we started, Sherrie corrected that to 8 as we walked!  So exhausting in fact that we felt the need to stop at the pub in Grimston for refreshment before heading back to the cars!

Christine T