Rambling
I don't know if rambling is as popular in other countries as it is in the UK, but when we pulled into the car park at Ticknall, somewhere along the A50 in the direction of Derbyshire and Staffordshire, there were at least three other groups there, as well as the hoi polloi with dogs, in couples, with families and so on. Ticknall is one of those brilliantly picturesque villages which you find all over England. Walsall, where I live, is one of the Black Country Towns in the midlands, with an industrial past, but within one hour in any direction you can be out in the most wonderful countryside. You can drive through it, but if you really want to appreciate it, you need to get your boots on and walk. Today was a Leisure Walk, only 7.3 miles. The main walks, on alternate Sundays, are about 10 miles but I have given those up because for the last three miles I tend to keep whining, 'Are we there yet?' and I think Its irritating to the other walkers. So there you are, walking, nattering, along a path by the edge of a hill and you look and there are about a dozen deer, peacefully grazing. Beautiful.They don't even look up as you pass, just keep on munching. 
This is what a well designed stile looks like. It's low enough to climb over easily, and there are two 'handles' to grab onto, its well built, and solid. Well done, someone out there in Derbyshire. If stiles are badly designed and rickety it takes ages to get a big group over, and everyone has to stand about waiting, breaking the flow of the walk. Some stiles are very badly kept, and some farmers put barbed wire across the top, can you believe. 
Morning coffee at Calke Abbey - or half an early lunch as it was for me. Thank you Tony for the lovely coffee. What's good about rambling? Well, if you like walking, you get taken to places you never knew existed. The walk leader with have reccied it beforehand, so you're not going to get lost. It's always chosen because it's a nice place to be. Our system of car-sharing means that if you're lucky you can be a passenger and contribute to the petrol instead of driving back when you're knackered. You feel so virtuous when you're walking seven miles that you feel you're allowed to have a Mars Bar (this could be why I never seem to lose any weight as a result of walking). There are always interesting people to walk with and talk to. Today we had a group of about 22, most of whom I knew, all of whom I really enjoy their company. Kevin told me about his new role with the Lichfield Players, Mark and I discussed world politics, John told me about the demise of his cat, I discussed implants (teeth) with Glenys, and the trip to Chester in May with Peter, Keith told me about the Scilly Isles and Molly told us about the notable landmarks as we passed them. Walkers are nice people. When you stop for lunch, it tastes fantastic. And finally, when you get home and get into a hot bubble bath, the sensation is divine.
Today we stopped at Calke Abbey, and I had eaten half my sandwiches before someone reminded me this was just the coffee stop, and not lunchtime. So when we stopped at Staunton Harald reservoir an hour or so later, I felt perfectly justified in buying a sausage roll. Now normally you'd think, yeah, ok, you had a sausage roll. But this wasn't just a sausage roll as we know it, it was the queen of sausage rolls, with real meal, tasting of pork and sage, hot and flakey, just out of the oven, and it was delicious. Thank you, Penny's Cafe. As I said, walking makes you enjoy your food more, not that I could enjoy mine much more than I already do.
There are other ways to spend a Sunday - but this one is pretty good.
My group is the Walsall branch of the Ramblers Association, but there is one near you, if you look online.
This is what a well designed stile looks like. It's low enough to climb over easily, and there are two 'handles' to grab onto, its well built, and solid. Well done, someone out there in Derbyshire. If stiles are badly designed and rickety it takes ages to get a big group over, and everyone has to stand about waiting, breaking the flow of the walk. Some stiles are very badly kept, and some farmers put barbed wire across the top, can you believe. Morning coffee at Calke Abbey - or half an early lunch as it was for me. Thank you Tony for the lovely coffee. What's good about rambling? Well, if you like walking, you get taken to places you never knew existed. The walk leader with have reccied it beforehand, so you're not going to get lost. It's always chosen because it's a nice place to be. Our system of car-sharing means that if you're lucky you can be a passenger and contribute to the petrol instead of driving back when you're knackered. You feel so virtuous when you're walking seven miles that you feel you're allowed to have a Mars Bar (this could be why I never seem to lose any weight as a result of walking). There are always interesting people to walk with and talk to. Today we had a group of about 22, most of whom I knew, all of whom I really enjoy their company. Kevin told me about his new role with the Lichfield Players, Mark and I discussed world politics, John told me about the demise of his cat, I discussed implants (teeth) with Glenys, and the trip to Chester in May with Peter, Keith told me about the Scilly Isles and Molly told us about the notable landmarks as we passed them. Walkers are nice people. When you stop for lunch, it tastes fantastic. And finally, when you get home and get into a hot bubble bath, the sensation is divine.Today we stopped at Calke Abbey, and I had eaten half my sandwiches before someone reminded me this was just the coffee stop, and not lunchtime. So when we stopped at Staunton Harald reservoir an hour or so later, I felt perfectly justified in buying a sausage roll. Now normally you'd think, yeah, ok, you had a sausage roll. But this wasn't just a sausage roll as we know it, it was the queen of sausage rolls, with real meal, tasting of pork and sage, hot and flakey, just out of the oven, and it was delicious. Thank you, Penny's Cafe. As I said, walking makes you enjoy your food more, not that I could enjoy mine much more than I already do.
There are other ways to spend a Sunday - but this one is pretty good.
My group is the Walsall branch of the Ramblers Association, but there is one near you, if you look online.
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