Thirty-six members gathered for the first GOC mid-week walking "weekend" in Sitges, including five who had joined the club in order to join the trip. Another two happened to be there the week before and were able to welcome early arrivals.

The first to arrive were able to enjoy the Sitges wine harvest festival over the preceding weekend, and the last to leave were able to enjoy the Sitges Irish music festival and Sitges Open House over the following weekend.

The intervening week featured two full-day walks, two Rainbow tours of LGBTQ+ history and a guided tour of the Sitges museums. There was also ample opportunity to enjoy Sitges' restaurant, bar and club scene in the evenings, culminating at the Queenz Cabaret Dinner show on Friday night. We were warmly welcomed by the local LGBTQ+ association Colors Sitges Link, who led the Rainbow tours and hosted us for a welcome drinks reception on Monday and at their members' social and karaoke night on Thursday.

21 of the 24 who responded to the feedback survey reported that they would be interested to attend again next year, and 24 out of 24 that they would recommend it to others - four even offered to help to organise, so watch this space!

Highlights mentioned in their responses included:

• both walks were very enjoyable, I also very much enjoyed the dinners, the beach and the disco
• the walks were fabulous and I really enjoyed all the fantastic restaurants and entertainment
• well-researched walks and tours and opportunity to meet entertaining GOC fellow-members
• the organised walks with two walking speed options
• welcome drinks with Colors Sitges Link, going to the beach
• Monday's welcome reception hosted by Colour Sitges Link, and Thursday's karaoke evening - the collaboration worked very well indeed, and I felt more like a guest than a tourist
• exploring Sitges and the surrounding area for the first time
• the WhatsApp group to enable us all to meet afterwards
• the camaraderie and superbly planned schedule
• the clarity and precision of the organisation.

Thanks to all who attended and especially to Derek & James for their help organising and leading walks, Martyn, Gary & Patrick for their driving, Paul and David for their event reports and Colors Sitges Link for the very warm welcome!

See also individual events reports Taking the Garraf with the smooth, Sitges to Vilanova and back with optional skinny-dipping and Looking pretty in Sitges, and the Colors Sitges Link news post Gay Outdoor Club Visit to Sitges.