Shirley Late Knights event report

Event - 'Wales' Weekend

If anyone has any pictures to add please send them to me!

The 'Wales' weekend this year was held in that well known East Riding of Wales - Northampton. Nick had arranged a weekend of varying activities for us which meant getting rather cold, and then wet on Saturday, an evening out on the town, and a hangover cure walk on the Sunday morning, finishing with food (and more beer!) at a pub for lunch.

I was picked up by Nick on Friday afternoon and found he had arranged a bar service in the car! Well, Mr Halstead was the other passenger, so I am sure you can imagine what the trip was like!

Anyway, an evening meal out was enjoyed by all, and Andy managed to find us as he arrived late!

The next morning saw us off to an activity centre for Archery and Clay Pigeon shooting! The weather, although sunny to begin with, soon clouded over and with the wind got rather cold, as you will see in the photos!

The afternoon activity saw us take advantage (?!?) of the change for the worse in the weather as we went white water rafting - who's idea was this again? Suffice it to say most seemed to enjoy (or should that be survive!) it and several went in the water - some more than once, and even a few did it voluntarily!

After we got back to our hotel to thaw out, most watched the rugby (dire game! - it sent me to sleep!!) and then it was in the bar then off out for a meal, and then out on the town ..... in Northampton ... ok, not your first choice of night spots perhaps, but we did manage to find a pub that stayed open till after we left at 1:30am!

The next morning everyone compared hangovers, and it was off to walk them off. This was followed by ending at a pub (more beer!) that had no food, so after a 'swift one' ... or two .... we moved on to find somewhere that would serve us. This being Mothering Sunday this wasn't the easiest thing to find for 8 hungry Tablers/41'ers, but we did find somewhere that agreed to run off a plate full of baguettes .... even if the price was .... errrm ..... rather creative!

And that about sums it up. Look at the photos below (most with captions) that give some idea of some of the weekend.


1. We all got together in the bar (where else?!!) for a 'swift one' ... or two ... or three ...	2. ... before we headed into town for a meal. Trying to decide where to eat ...	3. ... it took a while to decide ...	4. ... but finally we did find somewhere that actually let us in.	5. Richard was pointing out that he has already had 2 beers ...	6. ... and eaten 2 spring rolls.


7. The next morning it was off to the archery range ...	8. ... and clay pigeon shooting ...	9. ... where Richard was still seeing double!	10. Is that nearly a miss or nearly a hit?	11. Nick shows off what a good shot he is ...	12. ... and Barry tries to pretend he actually hit the target!


13. Meanwhile, Paul poses ...	14. Guy tries to do the same ...	15. ... and Geoffrey has a go.	16. Three frozen SLK'ers	17. Then, it was Group 1 on to the Clay Pigeon shooting. James had a go ...	18. ... while the rest of us stood around and froze!


19. You can see Group 2 on the archery range from here ...	20. ... Andy was shooting. It seems he had a good eye, but I have no record of his score	21. Others had a go. Here's Guy ...	22. ... and Geoffrey	23. This shows Andy's arrows in the target ... looks like he was using his good eye!	24. Group 2 Archers.

25. Meanwhile, Group 1 were still standing around and freezing!	26. That afternoon it was off to the white water rafting ... who's idea was this, again?	27. Alan and James look ready ... to get cold and wet ...	28. The group of us ... before we got wet ... and bl**dy cold! White water rafting ... in March! Who's idea was this again?	29. Sunday morning on the walk. Well, we wandered around for a while, only slightly lost ...	30. ... and so was Richard ... the sign says it all, really! (... or captions, anyone?)

31. We consulted the map ... but were rescued by some local churchgoers	32. James found the 'lost' footpath ... how can a footpath be lost? Surely it's the walkers looking for it that are lost?	33. We walked ... crossed a stile ...	34. ... crossed another stile ...	35. ... across the fields ...	36. ... still going ...

37. ... until we reach the canal turn! I even got on my own photo!	38. The Grand Union Canal	39. Right by the junction	40. ... and back to the pub past some fishermen on a lake!	41.	42.

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100 - Last edited 31 March 2010