OVFM Ramble 2011

Best Ramble Ever?

 

With the threat of rain and a number of loyal ramblers not able to attend Deborah and I were expecting a low turnout for Sunday”s OVFM Ramble…how wrong we were!

More than a dozen enthusiastic walkers joined us at Andrew”s Wood for the gentle stroll to Shoreham. When Deborah informed me she”d baked cakes to help the merry band on their way I laughed at her naivety. “These people are athletes, they treat their bodies like temples, you won’t find them scoffing buns!” How wrong I was, even Mike T, normally a paragon of virtue, was tempted by Deborah”s buns, and if you think that”s an excuse for some double entendre you”re very much mistaken!

When Anna and Chris arrived looking bright eyed and bushy tailed our party was compete. Esteemed director and producer Anna and director of photography Chris had only called “wrap” on the filming of epic movie “Blitz and Bananas” the day before so it was a particular pleasure to have their company. After many months of long days and late nights spent bringing the ambitious project to completion all that remains to finish the film is the little matter of editing!

Champing at the bit we set off for Shoreham with a song in our heart and a spring in our step through woodland and meadow, up hill and down dale, through gate and over stile. We spotted numerous butterflies basking in the warm sunshine and as we ambled along Deborah introduced us to the joys of using a magnifying glass to explore the finer details of nature.

The view from the chalk cross on the hill above Shoreham was breathtaking and it was a tranquil place to rest and contemplate awhile. In fact Mike T could only be enticed to continue by the promise of ample refreshment in the village. This viewpoint was an ideal place to survey the horizon with the help of Jane”s powerful binoculars while Jo busily snapped away with her camera recording the unfolding tableau.

Eventually we had to drag ourselves away from this lovely spot and wind our way down the hill towards the village. The challenge of two stiles was met and overcome by the superb teamwork of the group, teamwork not unlike the well polished efficiency witnessed at the Royal Tournament I thought, when a gun and carriage is transported from one end of an assault coarse to the other at great speed!

After looping around the old mill, over the bridge, past the vineyard and through the churchyard the OVFM ramblers were ready for their lunches. Some sort refreshment at the excellent pubs, others at the Station Tearoom and the rest of us in our trusty packed lunches.

As previous ramblers to Shoreham know one of the highlights of this village is the fabulous cream teas served up at the church every Sunday 2-5pm in August and the first Sunday of September. The homemade scones and cakes are delicious, the ladies are lovely and friendly and it”s definitely THE place to be on a sunny summer”s afternoon.

With lashings of tea and cake duly polished off it was time to wend our way home, delaying just long enough to investigate the sale at the allotments and provision ourselves with fresh garden produce that was just too good to miss. Thanks must go to Chris for helping carry my particular load of runner beans, onions, courgettes and cabbage!

The climb back over the ridge seemed steeper than I remembered and with the sun beating down like something from Laurence of Arabia it was certainly hotter Thankfully the OVFM team spirit kicked in again with Anna distributing refreshing water, Freddy leading the way, Malcolm drawing on his vast experience to keep us going and Hugh and Ann entertaining us every step of the way. Special mention should also be made of Barbara and Len Walker who certainly lived up to their name! Barbara not only completed the ramble with ease but did the last mile in just her socks! Now that”s what I call style!

Thanks to Brenda, Freddy, Jo and Mike, Jane, Malcolm, Barbara and Len, Hugh and Ann, Chris and Anna and of course Mike.As far as I”m concerned together you made it the best ramble ever!