January 2012 - Surfleet & Surfleet Seas End
Following the perfunctory photographs outside the Ship at Surfleet Seas End, Rodney led the 22 (no subs) along the top bank of the River Glen, near its confluence with the Witham, crossing the sluice bridge and past the brightly coloured properties on the riverside.
Spalding golf course was soon reached, fortunately the golfers not causing too much of a distraction to the ramblers, and taking the tunnel under the busy A16 and the field-side path the Crown at Surfleet emerged. Unfortunately this pub had no real ale on at the time and so also passing the Mermaid, which was closed for a couple of weeks, the trekkers crossed the road walking on the opposite side of the river and past some grand old willow trees. The Riverside was open thankfully and soon pints of Bombardier, Hobgoblin and Abbot, all seemingly in peak condition, were thirstily downed.
Returning to the Ship the Elgoods Pageant was shortly taken off and the Cambridge replaced with a fresh barrel. The Fulstow Village Life, a dark beer and just right for the time of year, was in excellent condition and proved very popular with the Fen folk. An excellent lunch and pub and beer gossip rounded off a most enjoyable day on this, Fenland Branch's 10th year of pub walks. It was most fitting that Rodney and Heather, founder members, should lead a similar walk to that which they started back in 2002.