The Westerly Owners' Association - South Coast Group

Winter Walk and Soup Kitchen – Bolderwood

Considering the awful weather which had accompanied our events throughout what - for want of better words - we might call the summer of 2008, we didn’t think that too much could go wrong with a totally land-based event in February – a little rain, perhaps in the worst case, but nothing that could keep everyone on their moorings. But we had underestimated the bad-weather fairy again. The week preceding the event was apparently the snowiest for 20 years.

In fact, the snow in the New Forest was much lighter than in many other parts of the country – for example 12 to 14 inches in Leatherhead. Unfortunately, the motor-home we were going to use as our base for the event was – guess where - in Leatherhead on the day before the event! It was touch-and-go driving down on the Friday afternoon, but at last everything was checked and ready, and we set off to Bolderwood in bright sunshine on the Sunday morning.

Some 25 stalwarts (including 5 children) plus two dogs braved the near-zero temperature and made it to Bolderwood car park where we had set up the soup kitchen.

Hot tomato and mushroom soup with crusty bread was distributed before the walk began. Most did the two-mile walk, which takes in the deer observation hides and many were lucky enough to see some deer.

On return, more soup or teas and coffees were served up, and talk turned to boats and plans for the coming season. A hiccup occurred when the gas bottle ran out and we did not have a gas bottle spanner on board to change it. This was eventually sorted and we were able to continue.

This event was a first for the SCG calendar, and it was very pleasing to see so many new faces; almost half of those present had not attended a WOA event before. We have a number of new events lined up for this year, including some mid week and we look forward to seeing lots of faces, both new and old at these!