Discussion Forum - THAMES VALLEY GROUP Long Distance Walkers Association

I've delighted to see Martin has kept up his 100% record of getting in the photo-coverage of the national 100. I've just got the latest Strider, and there he is with Chris in photo 14. Congratulations, Martin!

Would like to do the Aylesbury ring on 8th August. many thanks to you and Sara for a great BBQ and thanks to Sara for running me back to the car too.
Cheers jan

Hi All,

Can I say a big thank you to all who took part in the walk and BBQ today. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did. Can I say a special thanks to Sarah for preparing and cooking the food and to Pat, Margaret and Linda for supplying tea, coffee, pimms and/or cake. I hope I did not miss anyone.

We will do it all again next year.

Hope to see you soon.

Kind regards,

Mathew

Oops. The date for the Aylesbury Ring walk should be 8th (Eighth)of August.

My mistake.

Sorry

Mathew

Hi All,

I know a few of you are interested but this is open to all. We are going to walk the Aylesbury ring on 03-Aug.

The Aylesbury ring is 31 mile circular route through the fields and villages around Aylesbury.

If any one cares to joins us we are aiming to set off from Wendover Library car park at 07:30.

Let me know if you would like to come along.

Mathew

Sorry if you tried to get on the website in the last 24 hours and got some nasty error message. It was my fault - I typed one wrong character in a file - d'oh! Anyway, it's OK again now. I think.

Jeff passed me this update from the Ramblers. In the current economic climate it gives us something to think about.

"The rights of way network is facing the biggest threat for many years, as highway authorities cut staff and maintenance budgets, and prepare for larger cuts to come. The Ramblers must act decisively to ensure that the impact of these cuts is minimised."

The full article is here.

Hi Mathew

I would be happy to walk the Aylesbury ring on August 1st or to walk it on the Saturday. We can discuss this at your BBQ

Off to walk the C2C from Saturday back on Saturday 10th July in time for burgers in a roll.

See you soon mate

Not many takers for the Aylesbury ring walk. Who fancies doing it on 1st August? I am open to suggestions but I think it would be good if a few of us could do it together. If you do not want to miss a social walk we could do it on a Saturday. If we can fix a date I will ask if anyone from BBN would like to join us.

Hi All,

I am leading a short walk (12ish miles) from Wendover on 11-July. After the walk I have arranged for us to have a BBQ in Wendover woods. Everything has been arranged with the forestry commission supplying the cooking facilities. So that I do not over/under order food I am keen to know numbers.

The social walk starts at 9:00 the BBQ around 14:00. Non walking family and friends are welcome. I have also extended the invite to our friends over in BBN territory.

There are more details of the day and my contact details at:

http://www.thamesvalleyldwa.org.uk/programme.html

I hope to see many of you there.

Mathew

Hi Mathew
Good Idea, Just let me know the dates

Gerry

I am in, Mathew. Let me know date please. Ta

Hi Mathew Not sure which barbecue you are referring to so please let me have details via lashwell@tiscali.co.uk. I am interested in joining you but depends on dates. Great idea and thanks.

Hi All, I am going to walk the Aylesbury ring this summer and wondered if anyone would like to join me? It is 31 miles circular route through the villages around the edge of Aylesbury town. I am told it is easy going.

I have not planned a start/finish point or a date so I am open to suggestions. There are more details on the route via the website below.

www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_id=19

If you are interested get in touch or see me at the summer BBQ on 11-Jul.

All the best,

Mathew

Thanks for a lovely route and a lovely day out - and for the wonderful cakes.

Really enjoyed walking the 20 - LOVELY route - even better than last year's! And you carefully arranged that we didn't even get wet (as the forecast had promised) - thank you and well done!!

Ran the 20 mile route yesterday and had a lot of fun. Congratulations on running this event so well, and thank you to all the organisers, marshalls, route planners, and all those who hekped with preparing and setting up all the checkpoints and great food and drink - as well as at the finish. Seriously good event. I'll be back.

Best wishes,
Sarb

Hmmm, interesting...it looks like Tony is covering a similar route to the one I took for my walk in 2005. Tony's walk is much longer at 444 miles. Mine was a mere 276 miles, but I did it all uphill, from South to North, which is obviously far more difficult than doing it downhill. Honest!

This evening I sent him a CD of my route (maps, photos & pubs) together with a nice letter offering assistance. I'm tempted to join him as he passes through the Chilterns this summer.

i might be interested if you twist my arm

There is no FREE all day parking in Watlington anymore. The start for the social walk on Wednesday 24th March remains unchanged but the parking has been changed to The Carriers Arms pub. Go passed the entrance to the town centre car park and you will find the pub just 50metres along on the left. Please use the far end of the parking area. Teas and coffees are available for those that would like it when we have finished. Look forward to a lovely walk with you.

I would like to enter the Tour de Trigs this year. This is a team event, requiring three people. The event takes place 5th/6th of December, starting in Banbury, North Oxfordshire. Google Tour de Trigs for the web site. This is a 50 mile challenge with the majority of time spent navigating in the dark, good test of skills. The cost for a team to enter is £60 per team. Does anybody fancy this ??
Please let me know

Gerry

Tony Hewitt is planning another "Across The Grain" walk in June & July this year and has asked for assistance in route planning. His letter outlining his plans is here.

Would someone - or more than one - like to reply? You could post your message here. I think last time he said he was happy for local members to join him along the way so he might like some company too.

Hi Yvette, sorry this answer is delayed but I just got back from a fishing trip in Spain, my computer has problems with your e-mail button, but I have no problems with switching to the October date, so switch away...Paul.

Hi Paul (Holroyd)
I was unable to schedule your walk: 'Ashridge and beyond' for 13th June. (I ran out of time, sorry.) Would you be available to lead this walk on 31st October please? Please contact me at my email address if possible.
Regards
Yvette Burnell

Chris McDowell, Northumbria LDWA Group Secretary has asked us to let as many people as possible know that they have decided to cancel next Sunday's walk from Dufton (Cumbria) due to continuing problems with the weather and road closures. I doubt if many TV members were planning to go - though you never know - but just in case, you now know it's off!

Hi,

Thanks for the replies all. Unfortunately am in another event on April 11th, so can't attend to walk route then. Will see how training goes closer to the date.

Again, thanks for the helpful info,
Sarb

You might be interested in this article from the Ramblers' magazine "Walk" about the threat to our footpaths from local authority budget cuts.

You can see what the route desciptions look like so you can get an idea of what you'll need to do on the day. Take a look at previous years here.

No, the route isn't marked at all.

You'll be given a route description at the start, so you have to read this while running along - this requires concentration. In my experience, the more care you take, the sooner you finish.

If you are a LDWA member, then come along on the 11th April to pre-walk the route. The route description will be available on-line a few days beforehand: grab this as soon as you can and study it.

But always use the route description issued on the day in case of last-minute changes.

Let me know if you have further questions.

Definately requires navigation on the move, no signposts!

Hi there,

I'm thinking about joining you for a run this year - the 20 mile version. I was wondering how well signposted the route is. Would it be possible to run without constantly looking at the route details, or would one have to pretty much navigate as you go along?

Would be grateful for your advice.
Thanks,
Sarb

Hi Maureen
I am glad you enjoyed the day, we were lucky with the weather, and you can't go far wrong with a walk in the Chilterns. Chris Lloyd clocked the walk at 19.2 miles, so a bit longer than I thought, but I think the majority of people were back at thier car by 4.30pm.

best wishes

Hi Gerry,
Thanks for a great walk - really put us through our paces with how many hills? Scenery and company as always great. Did you get a final mileage

Sunday 13th June
'Ashridge and beyond'Ca 18 ml
0900 Ivinghoe Beacon car park SP 964159
Explorer 181
Last chance to practice before the Lake District
Picnic Lunch

Hi Paul,
Thanks for looking. Would you be able to lead on 13th June? If yes, please would you give me details of the walk straight away (if you have them or just the location and GR of the start and distance with picnic lunch is enough) as the deadline for inclusion in the Strider is up.
Thanks

Sorry Yvette, available for most dates, but that day I will be returning from the Nijmegan military march in Holland. Any other free dates?

Please will you lead a walk on 25th July? I require the details within the next 2 days please.

PS. Congratulations on leading the smallest group ever!! Feel much better about the one I led with only 3 walkers now!

Available to lead walks.

COME ON YOU LOT if you havent led a walk before then pull your finger out & HAVE A GO.
Yvette is having trouble getting people to lead.
It isnt difficult & we are all nice people( well, most of us)!
We always allow for 1st timers" inexperience & you do get a sense of achievement

I walked 12mls in deep snow today & had a great time, all by myself. Arent I wonderful!

It's snowing in Oxford at 4.10pm

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE and thanks to all of you who did the festive walk on 20th December 2009. The Children in Need collection raised around £40 so a very good first effort. Thanks to all who donated.

The walk tomorrow (Wednesday 6th) is unfortunately threatened by adverse weather conditions. If the snow forecast for this evening arrives I will not be able to get there so please check with walks leader before setting off on either 01491 411011 or 07776 126663.

Best wishes, Linda

Dear Duncan and Linda,
Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for a great day out. The weather was perfect, company (as always) great and the food exceptional; it made the day extra special. Thank you so much for your hospitality.

To everyone in the group have a Great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

PS - Linda any chance of your Aussie Cake recipe?

We had a great walk in the snow with magnificent refreshments at the two stops. Thanks to all who contributed to the charity of Linda's choice;the collection for Children in Need raised £40.35

That was well spotted, Paul! Thinking the photos might have been lifted from this very website I zoomed over to take a look and ready to claim breach of copyright, only to see that they're not.

So, whose are they then? I have my own guess but can those of you who've been on more walks than me this year work out who the common factor might be? Or maybe the mystery photographer will reveal him- or herself :-)

To be more specific, it's the slidshow on the Group Walks Calender page.

Just been looking at the LDWA website, have you seen how many photos there are of us lot in the looped slideshow? I even saw myself in one photo, as usual there are several of Martin!lol Merry Christmas to you all and I hope to get a lot more walks in the New Year.

Surely the mileage from your house to Mill Lane Duncan is approximately 12miles?

There is also an option to join the walk at my place at Charvil at 11.30 am . My address is 26 Gingells Farm Road, Charvil, outside Twyford, RG10 9DJ. That way you'll get both the refreshment stops and an approx 7.5 mile walk, again I can give you a lift back from Mill Lane

Dear Linda,
it is a wonderful idea and I am sorry I can't participate as I am on holiday abroad,but just my best regards to you and the whole group (tell them if you would think somebody would remember me)

Wish you very nice time!LINNA

You are probably all aware that on Duncan's walk this Sunday you will be offered both alcoholic and soft festive drinks along with mince pies etc. Since we are often accused of walking too long and too fast for your partners to be included, this is an ideal opportunity for them to enjoy our festive spirit.

The last stop of the day is planned to be at my house, 12 Remenham Hill, Henley, RG9 3EE at 2.30pm. The walk from here is approximately 4.5miles so it is an ideal time for them to join in the fun. There is plenty of parking on my drive and we can offer a car shuffling service from the Mill Meadows car park back to my house at the end of the walk. Therefore bring them along and no excuses.

It is also an ideal opportunity to remember those in our society who are not as capable or lucky as ourselves so our Treasurer or his respresentative will be collecting for The Children in Need Fund. Please give generously so that we can make a difference to someone's life this Christmas.

Any other questions please call either 01491 411011 or 07776 126663.

Maybe we will be walking in the snow so see you all then.
Linda

Good one. Thanks Tony.

I thought you might enjoy this.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=50550

Dear All
Did any of you catch the interview on Saturday with Julie Welch about latest publication: "Out On Your Feet - The Hallucinatory World of Hundred-Mile Walking" where she went into detail about her own experiences? Now that Martin has finished it I am finding it a very enjoyable read.
Yvette

Can you send me a link to this article on long distance walking as I can't find it

Just like to echo your thanks to Steve,I really enjoyed the week - end, in great company ( even the steep bits !)

Hope you can do another week - end in the lakes next year
Steve,my Wainwright list is beginning to buid up now.

Like the article,very interesting, and informative;
especially when you explore all the clickable bits
available.

My first visit to the site,think i will look in again

Can anyone help me with information relating to the White Cliffs Challenge(54 mile event)?

I am contemplating entering next month's walk and I would be grateful if any of you who have done this event in previous years could give me suggestions on accomodation plus any other information/adviice they feel is useful.

Many thanks


Peter

Four people who were planning to come on my Black Mountains Weekend at the beginning of August have now dropped out so there are still vacancies. If you're interested in joining us please contact me via the link on the programme page for more information including advice on accommodation.

I received a review copy of a book published by Readers' Digest called "The Most Amazing Places to Walk in Britain". If you'd like to read my review you can find it here.

Another "Thanks", this time to Steve for organising a great Lakes Weekend Away. Word is obviously spreading, because TV Group members were outnumbered by guests from other groups! Hopefully I'll get a fuller account into the Journal, but for now it's just thanks again, Steve, for planning it all, choosing the route each day and generally taking care of everyone and everything.

We had our first Committee meeting last night (Mon 22nd June) with all our new committee members present.
I would like on all our behalfs - I am sure you will agree with me - to record huge thank yous to the previous members - Group Secretary Anushka Howell, Walks Secretary (the most demanding of the lot!) Malcolm Howse and Treasurer Barry Boddy. The number of hours put in over the 4-5 years they held the posts were really significant, including good groundwork for the future.
Thanks again guys - but please dont disappear - we look forward to seeing you continue walking with us.
Pat Endacott Chairman LDWA Thames Valley