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Autumn 2004 - West Mendip Way 30/9/04-03/10/04
Thursday 30th September (Travel down to Cheddar)
On the travel day, after a morning of torrential rain, the afternoon brightened up for the drive down. We went down in-groups. Dick, Pat & John with Paul (who they picked up at Reading). Ian, Dave, Graham and Martin. Norman drove direct making sure he got there early to have the prime bed. Pete went to see his family in Exeter before meeting us at the hostel. John Stopani was staying at a B&B with his wife, as it was her birthday that weekend.
All had an uneventful journey, though Ian's was stop start to begin with on the motorway. Dick had to take avoiding action from an ambulance at the jcn of the M4/M5 but we all got there ok.
Norman left word that he had gone to the Bath Arms and would see us there. This proved to be a good choice as it was curry night, (a pint and a curry for £4.75). We were able to feast and quench our thirst with good food and ale. Dave really enjoyed the night as he fell out of the door on the way to the toilet. John thought it was better to drink off the table, so tipped his glass over. Not to be outdone Val spiced it up with vinegar.
Friday 1st October (Wells to Cheddar)
Steve arrived at the hostel directly after his holiday in France. We all caught the 9:55 bus from Cheddar to Wells, (an expensive ordinary bus as opposed to the local busses we have used on previous walks).
Once in Wells we walked through the town towards the cathedral, stopping to look at a plaque on the pavement commemorating Mary Rand's achievement in the 1964 Olympic Games. Whilst we were doing so a lady tripped and fell, (was she distracted by a group of handsome men?), cutting her lip and shaking herself up, otherwise she appeared ok.
After stopping at the cathedral for a photo shoot, we proceeded to the start of the walk, 'The West Mendip Way' marked by a plaque on a wall. The walk climbed steadily but not hard to start with. We went via Wookey Hole, Ebbor Wood and Rocks, where we stopped to admire the view.
At this time John complained as he got some mud on his pack and was not coming again, then we continued on to Dursdon Drove, and Pelting Drove, into Priddy stopping at the New Inn for lunch. Again we struck lucky great beer and food.
Once we were suitably refreshed we carried on. The weather had changed over lunch from bright but cloudy, to grey and overcast. We carried on to Draycott flat to start with before dropping down. After Draycott it was another steady climb during which it started to rain. We stayed on the West Mendip way until Cheddar, returning to the Hostel to get out of our wet gear, and get ready for evening sustenance.
Some got wetter than others, as they stayed for another pint at the new inn. During the walk Dick slipped crossing a style twisting his Knee, not much at the time but would tell later.
Norman had stayed in Wells to look around the cathedral before walking on to Wookey Hole where he was going to look around but the staff were not very helpful. As there was no bus, he walked back along the road to cheddar.
Some ate in the Hostel others went down to the local chippy where you could eat in and have, excellent fish and chips at great value. After food it was on to the White Hart to meet the others and then the Kings Head before retiring for the night.
Saturday 2nd October (Cheddar to Weston-Super-Mare)
Paul did not walk today as he had a 20-mile run to do next week which was part of his training for his marathon run. He did get the bus to Weston and walked along to Uphill but did not see anyone.
The rest of us set off from Cheddar to walk to the end of the Way. Again it was a long climb out of Cheddar up Warrens Hill Road to meet the Way and on to Shipham where the markers were poor causing some confusion, but we got sorted in the end.
Another climb out of Shipham to Winscombe Drove coming down to the A38, up again to Wavering Down, Compton Hill and down to cross the M5 just before Loxton.
There was no where to stop here so on we went again uphill, another long drag until we met the road round Bleadon Hill. As we walked along the road the weather could be seen coming in from the sea. We quickly put on coats and got our heads down walking in a Heavy shower. This caused some to miss the path (Dick, Pat and Steve) but all apart from Norman, Pete and Paul, headed for the Queens Arms for shelter and refreshment.
Although there was no food the beer was straight out of the barrel, pure nectar. Ian, Dave, Martin and Graham showed great willpower in leaving the pub to finish the walk just getting to the bus in time to get back to Cheddar. The rest of us stayed in The Queens Arms. Dicks knee was causing him problems, the rest staying to give him support, taking the waters until a taxi was arranged to take us back to Cheddar and the Bath Arms.
Norman and Pete took an alternative way by road as it was too much for Norman going along Long Bottom then Winscombe Drove to the A38 going up the road to a hotel for lunch before continuing on to Loxton before getting a taxi back.
After a wash it was out for food. Dick, Pat and Steve went to the White Hart the others went to the chippy, the fish being particularly good before going to the Riverside Inn again for some good ale. Dick, Pat and Steve retired early as the day's exertions had caught up with them. We did not see much of John at night, as it was Val's birthday.
Sunday 3rd October (Circular walks around Cheddar)
Very grey and over cast today but surprisingly no hangovers. After another hostel breakfast we packed and loaded up the cars. Several options were taken.
Martin went for a run as he is in training also. Ian, Dave and Graham went to do the bit of the walk around Cheddar that they had missed. Norman, Dick (knee problems) and Pete walked up the road to the George.
The others took another path for a circular walk. It got very wet as the morning progressed, the aim being to meet at the hostel about 12:00 before going back to the Queens Arms for a light lunch and home. Martin had left his coat behind so we had to go back.
Ian and co were late so the rest of us set off. Along the road we came upon a bull going for a stroll, quite a site when driving down a country lane, but we made the pub without mishap. After a light lunch we said goodbye before returning home. Ian and co did not make it as it had taken longer than expected to do their walk.
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