Duffield circular via Quarndon 8 miles (23/08/21)

Members present :A.Dulson ,J.Hickling P.Cotterill, M.Sadler ,H.Jones R.jones ,A.Sear, R.wilcock,T.Robinson ,D.McDonnell D.Martin ,B.Mulrenann K.Maguire (13) We met at 1045 at Duffield Stn where Phil tryed to secretly put a cake in my car with out Mac noticing the fact he carried it from Birmingham like a takeaway pizza in front of Mac We started the walk by ascending across Chevin golf course before joining a track over fields to join a road passing Hazelwood spring and then fields down to the Ecclesbourne railway line . We made a group decision to wait for 5minutes or so for the steam train to pass Much to the annoyance of a photographer who had come to get a shoot of the train and found 13 of us standing in way After seeing the train we followed paths across fields alongside the Ecclesbourne river . Stopping for lunch on a bridge by the Kedleston estate After lunch we ascend up to Quarndon via arable fields before our final descent across fields back to Duffield Our refreshments where to be taken at the White Hart We celebrated Mac's 80th with a version of happy birthday and the cake which he new all along wasn't a pizza the pub did provide a sparkler for it So after a short speech from Mac and a card and gift voucher from the group drinking continued to celebrate this big birthday for Mac We were also joined by John Roberts ,Mick Farkas and Derby Dave Thanks everyone for making Mac's birthday walk special and to Phil and Mary for organising the cake A.Dulson