Walk around Badminton Estate

9.0’clock Sunday morning, Sat in my chair with a cup of tea looking out of the window.

To the South the sky was bright with white clouds. To the left the skies were ominously dark and threatening another heavy rainstorm as we have been experiencing recently.

Today is the day of the first of the January Walks.

Keith Richardson and his wife Rita had organised a walk around Badminton estate, quite exciting as I had not been there before. But with the horrendous rain it threw a different light upon the matter.

My wife Sandra had already stated she will not be coming, she hates the rain and it would not be advisable to take the dog.

1/ He hates the rain with or with out a coat.

2/ I took him out for a walk yesterday and brought home a lump of Mud that did not do the drain in the bath a lot of good.

So it was up to me to support our leader.

I did not expect any others to be there, even Rita, so I thought Keith and I could walk around a couple of trees and then head for the Pub.

I set off late as normal, had to rely upon my Sat Nav. That is set for towing a caravan so consequently took the long route. I arrived, shot past a group of people gathered on the pavement. That can’t be them there are too many. Parked up easily, not many people in the village at this time.

Gathered all the wet gear (it was not raining at this stage).                          Returned to the group said my hello’s.

As per normal on our “Meets” there were more visitors than “Avons”. There were 5 of us and 8 of them. I think we can call a “Richardson Walk” There were family and Friends of friend of the Family.

Anyway we started the walk along the street past( the only Shop in the Village), [pronounced with a welsh accent]that was the Postoffice.     Turned left and into the Field on the left.

The sheep were not very happy to see a large noisy crowd enter and decide to scoot off to far parts of the field.

This was where it started to rain, donning my wet gear I caught up with the rest who had wisely started with their wet gear on.

You can see luscious green fields!

Fortunately the rain did not last very long that made the walk more enjoyable. Across flat fields past the grass runway used by those that can afford their own aircraft for Beaufort Hunt and other such events held here.

We approached the wooded area and proceeded along a somewhat muddy pathway used by farm vehicles and was somewhat muddy so one had to select their path carefully.                                                                                              

As usual on these walks it spreads out between those in the front and those at the back. This time the friends of friends were at the rear wondering why the hell did I agree to this.

The walk was over far too quickly, nothing much to report, no one fell flat on their face in the mud as has happened on previous walk, there were no styles for me to help the ladies over. No one got caught up in Brambles. Every one finished in much the same condition as they had started, except me.

I must invest in a pair of Gaiter’s that seem to be in fashion, might save Sandra job when I get home.

No Pubs in the village, so we ended up in the “Cross Hands” at Little Sodbury.

Keith and all his friends and friends of friends partook in a Pub lunch, whilst myself and a couple of other Avon embarked on embibing a pint and bid our farewells only to meet again.

The next walk in two weeks time starting from the White Hart at Oldland Common.