Here they are!

68 people walked today! We are an informal group of friends who go walking on Wednesdays. There is no formal structure, no committee, no one pays any money but we turn up week by week and go for walks.

Usually there are between 20 and 30 long walkers and 15 - 20 short walkers. Today we all did the short walk uphill by the Haltwhistle Burn to Cawfields Quarry where you see the group. We returned by Lees Hall Farm which has our accolade for the muddiest farm track we know........ The weather was clear, crisp and cold with bright sunlight (not the photographer's friend).

Back at the Comrades Club we enjoyed a buffet lunch with lots of chat. There were one or two awards. Mine was for Forgetfulness - the recce where I left my keys in someone else's car at the begining of a linear walk, when my car was at the end. I realised 7 miles out of a 14 mile route. There was a happy ending.

It's been a very happy day. Now it is bitterly cold and we need to settle down for a warm night at home.

PS If you want to see more of the happy faces, go large.

PPS. I can't resist adding a poem about today - thanks to Keith

The Christmas Lunch
The walkers come from near and far
and gather at the Comrades’ bar.
A lively and a cheerful bunch,
They’re waiting for their Christmas lunch.
But why go to the Comrades’ Club?
It’s famous for its lovely grub!
With lunch so tasty and abundant,
tea and dinner are redundant.
So sit down, don’t get in a tizz
Because you’re stuck on Audrey’s quiz.
Then come embarrassing awards,
with jokes, and everyone applauds.
They raise a laugh, perhaps a tear,
the things that happened through the year.
If you enjoyed it please remember
to gather once more next December.
Meanwhile your boots can do the talking
Don’t forget to Strictly Come Walking.

Keith Brunton
Christmas 2013