First of Year 2009 ........ First of the Year Run 2009 1st January 2009
It was a very cold morning when we left home to meet with David and Annie Burrett, Trevor Wild and Jane Hanslip, with sister Margaret and brother in law David. We met them outside the Falcon pub, and went in a convoy of four Sevens towards Winchester where we were to meet the others from the Club.
We were just past Newtown when Trevor's car vanished in a cloud of steam. On investigating he found that it had boiled and had pushed the bottom hose off in bits. "Open your radiator muff next time, Trevor". Mike towed Trevor's car to Jane's mother's house at Waltham Chase which was on our way to Winchester. We left the broken down car at the house and with four people piled into Jane's Seven we proceeded on our way.
We arrived at Sainsbury's car park where we were meeting the others, and at 11am some twenty Sevens left, going through Winchester to Wherwell. Here we turned right to follow the Test valley through Longparish to Hurstbourne Priors. Then it was up the valley of the Bourne, under the viaduct by the watercress beds, through the pretty villages of St. Mary Bourne and Stoke, across the A343 at Hurstbourne Tarrant to start the long gradual climb to Vernham Dean. There followed a long climb up the very steep Conholt Hill at the top of which we saw a magnificent sight. There was a very heavy hoar frost and the fields and trees were completely white. It looked it had come from a Christmas Card. The route took us along the Chute Causeway, which is over 800 feet above sea level, with everything white as far as the eye could see. Eventually the route descended again and by the time we got to Chute the frost had gone, although it was still bitterly cold. We arrive at the Cross Keys pub at Chute where we were all in one area for lunch.
I am sure that you will all join us in thanking John Pike for a brilliant route and a good place to end the run. Joyce and Mike Robinson
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