It would be remiss of me not to remind you about the Annual Outdoor Gathering, the AOG, which takes place from Friday 24 July to Monday 27 July at Warwick University. It is the highlight of our calendar and a wonderful opportunity to meet members from every corner of the country. This year’s programme is particularly rich. There are seventeen walks, three garden visits, two cycling activities and, last but by no means least, two history and heritage outings. It is a fabulous weekend and if you have not already booked your place then I would heartily recommend doing so. It is always a pleasure to see familiar faces and to welcome new ones.
Reading through the recent walk reports, I noticed that the East Kent group had organised a figure of eight walk. This caught my attention because it had never occurred to me to plan a walk in that format. I believe theirs was a genuine figure of eight although it could just as easily have been two back-to-back, there and back linear walks. It set me thinking about the different shapes our walks can take. Most of us default to the classic circular route. Others prefer a linear walk with public transport providing one of the legs. On walks like that my preference is to take the public transport first. It avoids the quiet worry of having to meet a fixed timetable at the end of the day when legs are tired and conversations are flowing.
It made me wonder whether there are other types of walks that we have not yet explored. We have the coastal out and back, the ridge walk, the woodland meander, the urban heritage stroll and the long-distance trail tackled in sections. Some groups have experimented with hub and spoke walks where a central point is used as a base for shorter loops. Others have tried themed walks such as rivers, churches, industrial heritage or even local food. One of the strengths of the GOC is the sheer variety of landscapes we cover and the creativity of our walk leaders. There is always something new to try.
Whatever shape your walks take, I hope you enjoy what I consider the best season of the year. Spring gives us longer days, kinder weather and the sense that the countryside is waking up around us. It is a perfect time to be out with friends, old and new. I look forward to seeing your photographs and reading your reports on the website. They are a reminder of the breadth of our activities and the enthusiasm of our members.
I wish you many good miles in the weeks ahead.
Gans pub bolonjedh da
Anne C.
