Fantastic varied walk in excellent company. Thank you

I'm not sure whether Wendy's comment relates to the East Malling walk since Network Rail were digging up the level crossing at Wateringbury and blocking all access to the Medway. I'd started the walk a few minutes late and never managed to catch up with anyone, so unless someone cares to reveal how they evaded me it was just 1 on a day of hazy sunshine . Apple blossom and a smattering of blue flowers in the coppiced woodland were never going to compete with the Knebworth walk in the bluebell stakes, and the roadblock at Wateringbury meant that I skipped the entire stretch around the Medway. As it happens I was able to take a timely No.7 bus to Teston and resume the walk there. After a brief pit stop at the North Pole it seemed defeatist to finish before 2pm so I tacked on an extra loop around Manor Park before returning to East Malling. The number of tea places for this ending might soon be doubled as there were signs of a new artisan coffee shop taking shape opposite the King & Queen pub.

Sorry we missed you, Sean. 5 of us got off the train at East Malling so6 people in this walk today. When we got to Wateringbury, of of the Network Rail workers (later identified as "Oh, it was Steve...") sent us on a non-existent diversion. You might have hopped on the bus before we arrived back at Wateringbury crossing about 10 minutes later. The "no pedestrian" sign had given us the wrong impression - they were letting people through at intervals when it was safe (or providing free taxis to take people the long way round). We stopped for lunch at outdoor tables by the river at the Ramblers Rest then continued along the route to Teston through fields of buttercups, horses and sheep. At Teston, we were directed to an alternative pedestrian level crossing about 100m to the east, accessed via a footpath through the field). Along the afternoon stretch, most of us stopped in the rear garden of the North Pole for a leisurely drink and 2 later stopped for dinner at the King and Queen. I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk. The woodlands are lightly dotted with bluebells, the orchards are in flower, and buttercups in the fields by the river.

8 congregated at the station. The day started cloudy and cooler but turned sunnier and hotter

4 contenders for the Olympic Speed-walking Team had booked a table in the Tickled Trout and were not going to miss it. They sped ahead Fshoom! Meanwhile, the remaining Olympic Ambling Team did what thy did best. They ambled, maybe a little too fast for competition but a good effort. They stopped in the Railway, just to see what it was like. Ok I guess. We sat in their scruffy so-called garden. There, cider was drunk and banter exchanged with a rival waking group.

On the way to the ‘Trickled Tout’, walker no. 9 caught us up, (missed the train).

We reached the ‘Tout’ in time to wave the fast 4 off and drank more cider. Someone got some chunky chips, 2 of which fell Mr Tiger’s way.

Then on, in baking heat, eschewing the charms of the North Pole (‘sigh’), on, on, until East Malling was reached. Here the back group headed for the church, where tea and homemade cakes were on offer, while a pianist tinkled the (hopefully imitation) ivories.

There was still a bit of time before the next train so we paid our respects to the King and Queen. (It’s a pub, innit).

Another GDO.