Rain on the 11th June - Ampthill Park

Hello Everyone

The Greensand Ridge Path Challenge
Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks - The Ramblers Bedfordshire Area
Roy and Tom will be leading this popular two day 40 mile Greensand Challenge again this year on the 12th and 13th September as part of the Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks.
If you are interested in taking part please contact Roy Carter E: roycarter367@hotmail.com  T: 01234 301182 
All the details are here  The Greensand Ridge Path Challenge 

Donation to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance
A donation of £250 has been made to the TVAA following the Pick & Mix challenge event earlier this year. A quick look at the website shows that over £1,000 has been donated from the P&M since 2020 (when we began listing donations). Donations There had been donations prior to 2020, and also ongoing donations from other BBN challenge events to the Air Ambulance Service (Northants) and the East of England Air Ambulance. Thank you to all our organisers, marshals and walkers – you all help BBN support the Air Ambulance charities. You’ll see from the TVAA “thank you” that  they were called out 3,302 times last year!

Via Beata
You may have seen this in the LDWA’s August update. The Via Beata crosses the north of our region - Raunds, Stanwick, Irthlingborough, north of Wellingborough, Holcot and onwards to the Watford Gap. You’ve probably already seen the waymarks when walking thereabouts. If anyone lives in the area and would like to get involved with this project there is more information on their website. See below.
The Via Beata is a 450-mile pilgrimage route linking Lowestoft with St David’s Head, following footpaths, ancient tracks, villages, churches and open countryside, with distinctive Way Stations placed along much of the route to give walkers places to pause and reflect. The team is now looking for volunteer Walking Wardens to adopt a section of around 10–12 miles, walk it a few times each year and report problems such as blocked paths, damaged waymarkers, broken stiles or unexpected diversions.. To find out more visit www.viabeata.co.uk (How Can I Help?) or email admin@viabeata.co.uk

This week’s walks
Thursday 6th August - North Chiltern Trail Herts Section Taster
14½ miles. If you can’t make Terry’s walk on Saturday 12th September, or you don’t fancy walking 21 miles (The Trail That Chris Wanted To Do - Part 1), then this might be for you! This walk uses sections of the Hertfordshire section of the North Chiltern Trail, starting from Great Offley, taking in Mangrove Green, Cockenhoe, morning break at Breachwood Green (5miles), Whitwell, lunch break at St Pauls Walden (9 miles)  (pub tbc), Preston and back to Great Offley. The undulating route, with extensive views on good paths/tracks and no stiles, crosses the River Mimram valley twice, passes St Pauls Waldenbury, the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and St Pauls Walden Church. The walk is also great for plane spotters as planes are ever present either taking off or just about to land at Luton airport! There is some walking on generally quiet minor roads and dogs on short leads for the whole walk are welcome.
Leader: Terry Brown T: 01462 631057 / 07932 627476 E: teresabrown3891@gmail.com

Saturday 8th August - Chefs' Choices in the Chilterns
Join celebratory chefs Norman***Ramsay and Nigella Bunker for a 13½ mile walk in the Chilterns. Start: 8.30am from Pitstone Memorial Hall, Vicarage Road, Pitstone LU7 9EY. Build up an appetite and after the walk sample the delicious cakes at the Curiositea Tea Rooms. Please let Norman know if you plan to come along so he can let the café have an idea of numbers. For further details please contact Norman on T{ 01908 608667. E: normancorrin@gmail.com M: 07980 378656.
Leaders: Norman***Ramsay T: 01908 608667 / M: 07980 378656 on the day and Nigella Bunker (M: 07790 976090 on the day).

Full details of all our future social walks and challenge events can be found on the BBN website Our Walks

The more alert of you may recognise some of these jokes – for my last four months as the bringer of your BBN news I am doing a bit of recycling….……

Were do sick ferries go for check ups?
To the doc.
What happened when the boat carrying red paint crashed into the boat carrying blue paint?
The crew got marooned.
What do the sailors use when they have a cold?
Anchor-chiefs!
What kind of stories do big boats tell little boats?
Ferry tales.
What did the dentist name his boat?
The Tooth Ferry.


Gill Bunker
bbn.secretary@ldwa.org.uk


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