There was a large turnout for the Twixtmas Walk, Christmas dinners still being walked off.

The weather was the murky, damp fogginess that we’ve had for a few days, and the ground is well-waterlogged, making finding good walking difficult. It’s a day when gaiters make all the difference, keeping the legs dry as mud gets picked up.

We set off down the canal. Those who know the canal going towards Lapworth will know that there are muddy sections, but actually, the mud is shallow, and wading through is often easier than trying to skirt around it. Those at the front got a glimpse of a Kingfisher – there are several who live along this section of canal.

Rather than cutting across a waterlogged field, we walked on road, where the traffic was light and slow, so that was good. We headed for Chadwick End.

We encountered flooded roads, but it was very shallow so again, easier to wade through than skirt around.

Our final stretch back to the Black Boy was along an Unclassified Country Road – these are unmade roads where off-roading often churns up the ground. This one was no exception, making it very treacherous. The only advantage is a soft landing when we had the inevitable tumble.

Back at the Black Boy a good number decided their Christmas Fayre had been suitably walked off in the 5 or so miles, and needed topping back up again.