The Doddle Along Gang

Sunday 30th April, 10am, Raholp, Downpatrick.

January 22 Atchie Giants ringFebruary 5 Stranmillis PeterFebruary 19 Stricklands Glen Alan and ClaireMarch 5 Liz and Tony Castle WardMarch 19 Connswater Ken with Louise and John April 2 Anne and Michael. to be arranged April 16 Belvoir Jill April 30 Lough Money

next walk May 14 Randalstown Kate

May 28 Newcastle Alan and ClaireJune 11 Mourne Park AtchieJune 25 Orlock KenJuly 9 Lady Dixon Park Irene and BrianJuly 23 Annn and Michael to be arrangedAugust 6 Ballyhornan Karan August 20 Kate to be arrangedSeptember 3 Liz and Tony. to be arrangedSeptember 17 Meelmore Alan and ClaireOctober 1 Loughshore Antrim. PeterOctober 15 Louise and John to be arrangedOctober 29 Oxford Island Karen and Atchie November 12 Islandhill Alan and ClaireNovember 26 Quoile Irene and BrianDecember 10 Christmas dinner

The Donfanaghy Revellers

The walk on Sunday 2nd April Billy Neill Playing fields, upper car park.

Photos from Connswater 19th March

photos from Castleward WALK

Stricklands Glen,

Meet 10 am

Leader: Achie Jan 22nd

Malone House, Barnett's Park.

The Giants Ring Drumbo

Shaws Bridge

Christmas dinner at Chef and Manager

1 Looks as if Irene is busy keeping - ** Guess what is being said between then both

2 Claire looking merry on the Sherry

3 Judith wondering how she got involved witxh this mottley crew Note -no drink in your hand (must be a first?)

4 The wee old man (alias Famous Grouse) looking happy as ever and hiding from camera

5 Who wakened Ann out of her sleep

6 - Michael Puzzled -- wondering when his steak is arriving

7 - John Dissapointed cause he met santa at the last christmas party over Scrabo and got a present from him

8 - Karen What a party and she really knows how to let her hair down --(nice)

9 - Our lovely Louise getting familiar with the Newtownards way of things

9 - Peter looking cool and casual

10 - Kate - Has'nt changed a bit since the Sunday school socials

ANSWERS ON A POSTCARD PLEASE -- *** winner will be announced in 2033 at the AGM

DECEMBER 18th - Atchie / Alan

Hillsborough Forest -- D

Hillsborough Forest --

Somebody's put their foot in it ? Bloody dogs

Someone looking down from above on Peter

These pair appear to be enjoying the day

Chris is about to measure the size of the feet or pick toenails

Tide bank

6TH NOVEMBER

HILLSBOROUGH FOREST 10AM

LEADERS CHRIS and MARGARET

The lake

Hillsborough Fort

Dellamont park, Killyleagh

5th JUNE - Leader Bryan

Blackhead Lighthouse & Path walk (Whitehead)

Walking route - A relatively short walk of approx 90 - 120 minutes (depending on the chat) and taking in the views - A delightful walk taking us up to the top of the cliff by a choice of paths

An option was taken by individuals when we reached the Lighthouse of returning back in the opposite direction

Some decided to return via the coastal path to starting point --

Others decided to return inland passing Whiterock Golf Club onto Island Magee road and walking back to the starting point (car park)

We enjoyed the good weather with sunny intervals and moderate breeze

Great views from top of the cliff and lighthouse (well worth the effort) and across Belfast Lough on the lower coastal path

An enjoyable walk was had by all

Walk on Sunday 22nd May

Leader Achie - . Killough.

St John's Lighthouse

Walking route: South along coast to St. John's Point then back by Point Road.

Killyleagh area with Ann & Michael 8th May

Killyleagh - The Hans Sloane Trail - YouTube

Click below to listen to the poem

Mary's Stile killyleagh where baroness dufferin wrote her poem the irish em - YouTube

Along the Quays and netwalk

GARVAGH FOREST 24th April Leader Kate

Garvagh is a village in County Londonderry,

Deer \ Deer

Sunday 10th April

SILENT VALLEY --Leaders ALAN & CLAIRE

An enjoyable walk was had by all, weather was pleasant and dry for everyone to enjoy a picnic afterwards

Nothing much else to report except apart from me keeping Alan waiting two minutes for my arrival at his house to get picked up for the journey ( apologies Alan) but I still can't understand how we arrived twenty (yes twenty minutes early) at the Silent Valley car park????

However this gave ample time unwind and get the tea, coffee, cakes set up for the arrival of those Doddlers who could make it along

Sure enough an enjoyable cuppa was had by 'almost everyone' the red squirrels kept everyone amused as they fed in the immediate area,

Getting carried away with the country life Brian Burrows drew everyone's attention to a the beautiful , clear call call of a cuckoo from among the forest

This was amusing but especially dissapointing for Brian especially when it was the ring tone on my mobile phone

The call was from a couple of 'Doddlers' who were trying to find the entrance to the Car Park so Alan explained the best he could to redirect the couple - While waiting several minutes the cuckcoo sounded again and alas it was the lost doddlers calling again ! So this kept Alan busy either guiding them or confusing them to get them to our location and meeting point ?

ALAS several minutes later The black Hyundai Kona arrived to a great welcome and applause from the Gang.

Maps in hand as we crossed the river - and a bit of confusion? as the rock on left of screen displayed the arrow pointing in the wrong direction - however Atchie did offer to turn the stone to suit but common sense prevailed and we soon found our way out through the wooded area

O arrival the air was somewhat blue from inside the car and divorce proceedings were mentioned on more than one occasion (both before, during and after out lovely walk and picnic)

The bronze couple perhaps had a hang over or a sleep in from their recent return from Tennerife, but soon we all got underway along the boardwalk into the forest to enter the valley

During our picnic the holiday photos emerged taken on the beach -Several people had difficulty identifying (M who was very brown, verging on black- simply because they were not looking at her face and I'm not talking of the odd couple peering out from the tan) others were wanting a copy of the photo sent to their phone ---- I'm still waiting to hear the cuckoo call with reading glasses on hand