Walk Report

Founders Challenge Marshals' Walk, Sunday 18th September 2011
14 walkers, 26 miles - leader Gordon Parker
14 people met at Boxhill & Westhumble station & transferred to Steer's Field. The excuse given for their non-appearance by all those who had walked the Surrey Tops the day before was blown away by Mike Ratcliff who joined us after 4 hours sleep - Respect!
1 person opted for the shorter route; the remainder set off down the vertiginously steep slope to take a social approach to the 26-mile challenge. Making steady progress throughout the day we paid homage to the Founders at the Pitch Hill Toposcope, agreed a few clarifications to Don Bolton's excellent route description and agreed what a wonderful walk this is. Our numbers were reduced by fraternal blisters & a super speedy Dad answering to his responsibilities , so there were only 9 of us at Dunley Hill Farm where we paused in the middle of a field to let a herd of cows - and their bull! - cross our path...
All went well until Tanners Hatch Youth Hostel when the leader's brain switched off with the result that we spent some time with the owls and bats and all arrived home an hour later than we had expected. These marshals will certainly empathise with the participants on the 23rd October.

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