The morning of New Year’s Day dawned and with flooding elsewhere in the country on the news, I received a number of messages from people declining the walk due to the forecast. I had walked the route four times beforehand, gradually modifying it because of the amount of mud! The final route was almost completely different from the original I had in mind, but we started and finished at Knowl Hill, as planned.
A stalwart number of brave souls assembled at Knowl Hill and we walked via Linden Hill Wood and up Bowsey Hill without any rain. However, at the summit of the hill, there was a torrential downpour, but undeterred we continued on to Warren Row, where we decided to omit the loop onto the horse gallops and returned via Bowsey Wood onto Seven Stars Lane having completed the majority of the walk successfully.
There were several people who had not been on the New Year’s Day walk before and a few guests and visitors to St Mary’s too. The weather may have been damp and overcast, but conversations were sunny and bright with fun and fellowship were had by all.
See you next year.