Saturday 9th March 1957.
Exeter Canal It was decided that this should be an afternoon
outing. When I awoke it was a dull, overcast morning and I thought
that there was little prospect of venturing out that day - a
view which  was shared by Uncle Jack and the
rest of the Crocker family at breakfast. I went down early to
Gandy Street where I met some of the party and, over coffee,
we discussed prospects for the afternoon. It was decided that,
despite the weather, we should make a start in the afternoon.On
my way to the bus station after lunch, I met Tony who told me
that his geology field trip had been cancelled, because of the
terrible weather, and he wanted to come with us! The rest of
the party turned up at Paul Street bus station and we took the
bus to Alphington. When we arrived it was still raining but we
took the narrow lane down to the Canal and proceeded along the
near side towpath. After a mile we saw some of the university
boat crew practising. Conditions were bad for them and we greatly
admired their tenacity in face of the weather. We passed Countess Wear and ultimately
reached Turf. Here we took some photographs. I then looked for
the path which follows the Exe estuary but found that this was
so muddy as to be impassable. I was by now fearful of venturing
further into such open, windswept and waterlogged terrain and,
when we found a good track which would take us back to Exminster
station, everyone agreed we should take it. A train was due in
half an hour so we took shelter, ate our sandwiches and retreated
from the Exeter Canal very wet.
After forty three
years I commend the member of the University staff who cancelled
Tony's Geology field trip. He or she showed wisdom and foresight
of the very highest order in not venturing out on that dreadful
day. I can clearly recall the conversation that took place in
the warm coffee bar in the Gandy Street building that morning.
It sticks in my memory because I was half hoping that they would
opt to go to the ABC Savoy instead. But it was not to be. Two
of the girls wanted to keep to the original plan and no one else
would lose face by suggesting an alternative. That was typical
of the coffee bar in Gandy Street. From there everything seemed
possible and easy. It did occur to me on the way home that the
events of this day might have a detrimental effect on the numbers
venturing out on future walks. But I immediately dismissed such
thoughts. I had noticed that the lively conversation amongst
the party had never ceased for one moment, No one had complained
of the rain and the cold. It had all gone unnoticed. We did go
to the cinema as well! The same two who had insisted on no change
of plan were equally insistent that we all went to the ABC Savoy
that evening. |
