It started with SHOES......Chris and Paula arrived at Clyffe Pypard YHA (attached to the Goddard Arms) in the early evening on Friday, to be greeted by a less than friendly notice to take off our shoes.....and an even less friendly landlady reinforcing the message. So we took off our shoes, passed on the offer of the 'hostel slippers' signed in and found our room, then put on our shoes to find the loo (which was outside) and took them off again to come in....this time we gritted our teath and put on the 'hostel slippers' to save our toes from frostbite. It wasn't long before the rest of the group (Nick and Judith - efficient organisers, Carol, Dave, Rob, and Steve) arrived and we cracked open Chris's delicious Dundee cake. Back from their 3 hr Friday walk they already knew the drill and took off their shoes....We dug out Adrian (our local guide from Wilts LDWA) from the bar and he filled us in on a bit of background about the area - then it was time for the bar and our evening meal - hearty fish pie and chilli followed by crumble and spotted dick!

After Chris's famous porridge and a bit of Dave's flamboyant washing up, Lonica joined us and we were ready to depart for our 23 miles around the Wiltshire country side, stopping mid morning for Paula's flapjacks and in Ogbourne St George for a marvellous pub lunch. Rolling hills and endless fields, with a bit of the Ridgeway in between, the weather was kind and the talk was of crop circles and extra terrestrial activity, fuelled by Adrian (who we think is in on the secret society). We returned tired and smiling with our 50p's ready to buy tokens that would reward us with a full 5 minutes of hot water in the outside conveniences. Then it was off to the bar for more fish pie and chilli and fish and chips and beer and wine.

Sunday started cold but warmed up nicely as we ascended sharply to Barbury Castle hill fort, for another lovely walk in the hills and the fields with a lunch stop in Avebury to admire the stone circles and eat our less-than-appetising hostel packed lunch. Before we knew it we were heading for home fuelled by the last of the cake ...a very lovely weekend with all our thanks to Nick and Judith and of course our landlady Libby.

Several White Horses were visited: Uffington on Friday afternoon, Broad Town and Hackpen on Saturday, Cherhill on Sunday.