Popped out... back later

LRWG is taking a bit of a breather at the moment - finding new walks, helping members become new walk leaders, and planning exciting things for the future. 

So, the One Step Beyond blog is having some time out too.  The walking group, though, is still open to new members - if you like what you've seen of former glories here and want to find out what's on these days, there are contact details at www.lrwg.org.uk.

Meanwhile, thanks for reading-up about our past adventures, and happy rambling!

One of our earlier muses, posing in 2005

As it flows...

While us ramblers'n'amblers are taking a break to pore over maps and polish our boots, here are some happy reflections on what we get out of walking. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (crazy name, crazy guy), the originator of the concept of 'Flow', has this to say on what's so enjoyable about hitting the trail:

Walking is as simple a use of the body as one can imagine, yet it can become a complex flow activity, almost an art form.  A great number of different goals might be set for a walk.  For instance, the choice of the itinerary: where one wishes to go, and by what route.  Within the overall route, one might select places to stop, or certain landmarks to see.  Another goal may be to develop a personal style, a way to move the body easily and efficiently.  An economy of motion that maximises physical well-being is another obvious goal.  For measuring progress, the feedback may include how fast and how easily the intended distance was converted; how many interesting sights one has seen; and how many new ideas or feelings were entertained along the way.

The challenges of the activity are what force us to concentrate.  The challenges of a walk will vary greatly, depending on the environment.  For those who live in large cities, flat pavements and right-angle layouts make the act of walking easy.  Walking on a mountain trail is another thing altogether: for a skilled hiker each step presents a different challenge to be resolved with a choice of the most efficient foothold that will give the best leverage, simultaneously taking into account the momentum and the centre of gravity of the body and the various surfaces – dirt, rocks, grass, branches – on which the foot can land.  On a difficult trail an experienced hiker walls with economy of motion and lightness, and the constant adjustment of her steps to the terrain reveals a highly sophisticated process of selecting the best solution to a changing series of complex equations involving mass, velocity, and friction.  Of course these calculations are usually automatic, and give the impression of being entirely intuitive, almost instinctive; but if the walker does not process the right information about the terrain, and fails to make the appropriate adjustments in her gait, she will stumble or will soon grow tired. 

So while this kind of walking might be entirely unselfconscious, it is in fact a highly intense activity that requires concentrated attention.  Walking is the most trivial activity imaginable, yet it can be profoundly enjoyable if a person sets goals and takes control of the process.

Nicely put, Mihaly : )

A misty start to the new year, 4 January 2015

In Loughborough on Sunday morning the temperature was -1°C, and the pavement was so icy that even walking up to the railway station for the start of the day's walk was a mini-adventure. We all managed to get there without slipping over, and met up with the crowd. Fortunately the walk itself, along the canal to Zouch and back, proved rather less treacherous!

Therewere nineteen of us on the walk, and the mist made for an atmospheric setting as you can see here from Yvonne's photos. Louisa was leading, and had made sure we could warm up from the freezing fog by booking us into  the Old Rose and Crown for Sunday lunch - and a very good lunch it was too! Then after lunch we reversed the route back to Loughborough and the canalside Boat Inn for the usual post-walk refreshment.

A special welcome to everyone who was on their first walk with LRWG - we thought it was a great start to the year and hope to see you on another walk soon!

A snowy end to the old year, 28 December 2014

For the final walk of 2014 LRWG headed off to Keyworth in South Nottinghamshire. Leaving Leicestershire and heading north, there was no sign of any snow - we had only had a couple of hours of it on Boxing Day which had melted before bed-time. But as we got further north we could see the white stuff appearing on the verges, then building up in the fields, and it turned out that our luck had struck again and a proper snowy walk was in prospect.

This was a very pleasant walk of 12.5 miles which was mainly flat, and in places we were walking in undisturbed snow which was several inches deep. This is what we get good walking kit for, and it was great to have the last walk of 2014 walking in a 'winter wonderland' of snow!

At the end of the walk we got to see an amazing sunset and retrieved our cars just as it was getting dark.  Thanks to Mark for leading our last walk of the year in such style...

Branston to Branston but not a pickle in sight!, 21 September 2014

It was a beautiful day when twelve ramblers gathered outside the Wheel Inn in Branston, Leicestershire. Unfortunately the thirteenth member was still lost somewhere in the wilds in the East of Leicestershire. Not being a particularly superstitious bunch, two brave souls stayed behind to wait for her while the rest of the group forged ahead. Happily she soon arrived and the thirteen were soon reunited at the medieval church in Croxton Kerrial - home to a Norman knight (lurking in the dark, carved on a pillar) and a dragon-headed pew or two.

A short walk along the main road and then onto the confusingly named Viking Way. No vikings were spotted but we did have to watch our footing on areas of the path churned up by off-road scramblers. Some members of the group were also distracted by the ample crop of sloes lining the path, almost audibly begging to be made into gin. Sadly no time for that (although readers may rest assured that a mental note was made for later) and so it was on to the hidden turning. So well hidden, in fact, that we walked straight past it due to the sight of gliders taking off from the nearby World War Two airfield. Perhaps it was the strong sense of wonder and patriotism at the thought of so many risking their lives to defend ol' blighty, but it probably had a good deal more to do with our guide being a little too busy regaling us with anecdotes to pay attention. No harm done, though, and a quick back-track meant we were soon on our way.

A few fields later we were greeted with snorts and squeals of delight as a host of friendly pigs came to say hello. One even forgot itself so much as to attempt to gamble around the sty like a newly born lamb! Chuckling heartily, we only had a little further way to go to the Nag's Head where its very accommodating landlord put on chips for all!

Suitably rested, watered and fed, it was across the fields and up the hill (yes - in Leicestershire!) to witness the final resting place of King John's innards (he of the Magna Carta, don't you know). Then some further clambering up moderate slopes and back to Branston for cake, hot chocolate (and beer for those who must) at The Wheel.

Wye oh Wye (Delilah?), Sunday 24 August 2014

We nearly adopted the border guard!

A somewhat chilly dawn greeted those sober enough to see it, and hot showers were most certainly in order.  Then, after the ritual downing of coffee and the ceremonial dropping-out of those too heavily-refreshed to ramble, the less delicate walkers saw that the sun had his hat on after all, convened over maps, and extemporised creatively with some rapid routage.

Our hastily masterminded tour started in the middle of a wood near Pen-y-fan, cut through brambles to the water’s edge, and took in another beautiful stretch of the Wye, which led along a disused railway line to an old Victorian railway bridge, complete with old pub, even more ancient pub-goers, and massively cute husky guarding the crisps.

After lunch beside that very fine Victorian railway bridge (we may have banged on about the architecture a bit), we climbed up to Offa’s Dyke for more fine views interspersed by woodland dense enough to prove that even short people can wallop their bonces on low-hanging branches if they’re that low.

Then, tired and bruised-in-the-bonce, we staggered back into Monmouth for tea and bara brith and ice cream and chips (why choose?), then back to the sleeping bags one last time.

If you go down to the woods today... Saturday 23 August 2014

The sun started crawling above the trees as tents unzipped one by one, camping stoves were fettled into flame and campers stumbled towards the showers.  Then, before long, the apparent troglodytes had magically evolved into booted and be-rucksacked ramblers, ready to roll.

Symonds Yat: we still don't know what a yat is, though

Hand-pulled ferry, and hand-pulled pint

Rob led us out of Bracelands and into the woods, first to bag our scenic views of Symonds Yat, and then down to the meadows.  A tactical blast from our human fog-horn (who could that be?) won us a ride on a hand-drawn ferry over the Wye, and led straight in to a rather nice pub too.

The afternoon passed in a sunny haze, which the pub may have had something to do with, and a gentle amble by a very pretty river became a stride through equally handsome woods.  Then, after a jolly meal at a reasonably nearby pub, we were all ready for bed – well, most of us were, at least.