The sleety rain and wind didn't put off the hardy Fen folk who donned sou'westers, boots, bonnets, waterproof trousers, gloves, and anything else they could lay their cold wet hands on to keep out the weather. After the photo in front of the Durham Ox at Thimbleby Ivan led off the soggy souls across muddy paths and minor roads into Horncastle.

A brief stop in front of the Fighting Cocks to arrange departure time and the group split to visit the Thatch (Kings Head) where XB etc. awaited, or the Ship, a Marstons House had Pedigree, Mansfield Cask and a very quaffable Brakspeare Jerusalem, or the Bull Hotel, another Marstons where Ringwood 49er, Razor Back and Thwaites Bomber hit the mark. A campaigning member also visited the Red Lion, now a Sam Smiths house but sadly no Old Brewery Bitter on cask. The reason given was the cellar drop and the fact that OBB is delivered in wooden casks, in 18s, kilderkins (or as the barman said 22s - although this size of barrel is not listed in the official books of wisdom - but then Sam Smiths...). Anyway, hopefully there are plans to sort out the cellar etc. and Fenland is on the case.

Meeting up at the Crown for more XB, for some, the travellers returned to the Durham Ox for Charnwood Tasman Bay with NZ hops, XB or Black Sheep. Lunch was taken in the cosy restaurant and the organisers, Ivan, Ena, Nigel and Tom were toasted, as was Heather who had emailed in that day to say NZ was hot and windy - this news of course went down well with the clothes driers.