The New Inn, Clapham - Friday 8th June 2007 - Avoiding the Norber Erratics and the Game Cock-up

It's a beautiful warm summer's day. The first arrivals at the New Inn, Clapham are Alan, Mike, Steve, Martin, Paul and Fred arriving between 12 and 1.00pm. Alan's soon booted up and ready to go off on a walk,...... minded of last year's lunchtime session!

However, the others suggest at least one pint(oh yeah!) and some lunch (said Fred). Anyway, we needed at least an hour to debate where we should walk. Two or Three pints later (approx. around 2.00pm) we decide on a walk from the pub around Norber (as suggested by Steve's friend Richard) and set off up Church Avenue where Fred stops at the local outdoor shop to replace his sartorially elegant knotted hanky for a more practical baseball cap. It's very warm walking and we decide to cut the walk short and miss out the delights of the Norber Erratics (see map) and anyway Fred and Martin soon decide to give up when we reach the crossroads with Townhead Lane and Crummack Lane.

Four of us carry on northwards along Crummack Lane and soon Steve spots a crate of Coke in the side of the road which appears to have fallen off the back of a lorry. (Not one to miss an opportunity!). Further on we spot some workers rebuilding a stone wall and Paul asks them if they have lost any Coke (to very puzzled looks!). Near Norber in what looks like a sheep pen we spot an odd collection of what looked at first sight like Dinosaur eggs. (see photo). Anyone any ideas? Answers on a postcard please.

We carry on and turn right towards Wharfe crossing over the clapper bridge at Austwick Beck. It was warm and the seat by the wall looked inviting so we stop for a rest and a swig of water.

We watch as two dogs cool off in the beck - but unfortunately their lady owners didn't join them! After a while we then carry on down Whitestone Lane towards Wharfe. Everyone, by now, was getting rather thirsty and looking forward to refreshments at the pub in Austwick.

Unfortunately, the Game Cock wasn't open and as we left the pub muttering about this outrage we meet Dave, Roger, Pete and Chris on their way for a walk in the direction we had just come from.


At the end of the village we reached a gate on our right with a footpath sign to Clapham. There was a much needed cooling breeze as we cross the open fields parallel to the road back to Clapham where we arrive around 5.30pm.

There's just time for a quick wash and brush up in time to partake of a few more pre-dinner pints of the excellent Copper Dragon's Golden Pippin. Soon, the final members of our party John K. and John M. arrive. Dinner is at 7.30pm.


As usual we leave the experts to choose the wine err. . that means Mike and Dave.

Pete chooses an appropriate point to call the OGWWE committee to order .... and to check everyone's paid their dues.



Mike proposes a toast to Pete for organising the event this year.
and then more wine is ordered ...

John and Dave seem to be deep in conversation (Muttering about the Three Peaks perhaps?)



Overheard conversation Pete talking to Chris (actually recorded on my mobile phone for some bizarre reason!) -" .... the Yorkshire Dales answer to crop circles... People from the local pub" What was that all about guys?



After dinner we retire to the bar for coffee. The discussion then begins about what to do for Saturday's walk. So the question is - who started the suggestion of doing the Three Peaks? Anyway that someone suggested that since we're here we had better do it. Only John M. says he has done it. Adding comfortingly that it was 18 odd years ago and that you needed to start early!

There then followed a lot of "well I'll do it if he does it", "No way I'm doing it" and other assorted various wimp outs followed by a few more beers. Finally, after yet more pints of Golden B****cks the 3Peaks suggestion is put to the vote. Seven stout souls raise their hands (although by this time some of them didn't know what they were voting for). We thereby form teams A and B comprising: A Team (Three Peaks):- Chris, Dave, John K., John M., Mike, Paul and Steve and the B Team:- Fred, Roger, Alan, Pete and Martin.

A member of the A team (obviously still reasonably compos mentis!) then arranges to call the breakfast lady(whose gone home) to ask her to do extra breakfasts. Whereupon, people start sloping off to bed muttering about getting up at 6.00am etc. This prompts Martin to retire to the car park to retrieve his new custom made banjo and start the evening's entertainment. 3 Team B members and 2 (foolish) Team A members stay on to join in the sing-song (and yet more pints!)- not much is recalled after that.

See the full set of pictures here.........