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Hello everyone and welcome to the first working day of spring!
There's lots going on with LDWA London this week, so go and get a cup of tea, pretend you're studying essential business emails, and read on...
1. A new "Trip Away" to the Lake District.
LDWA London is delighted to announce that in addition to the two weekends away we're already running (i.e. Derbyshire in September and Comets in November), Godfrey (with Paul and Chris) has agreed to organise a late spring / early summer "trip away" to the Lake District.
The most likely dates are sometime in the period 17 - 27 June.
There will be a variety of accommodation options but in order to start making arrangements:
if you are potentially interested in joining this trip to one of the UK's finest hiking destinations, please could you contact Godfrey (gdocallaghan@gmail.com) by the end of a week on Friday (Fri 1 April)
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to express interest (no commitment at this stage)
All the details can be found by clicking this link
2. Consider the constitution!.
At the last LDWA London AGM, we agreed a new constitution for our Group. This has been published on the website now, and can be viewed by clicking this link.
3. Curry and Comets (Nov 2016 weekend away)!.
As you know, we are running an astronomically-themed walking "weekend away" to the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Herstmonceaux in November (details here).
I have written to everyone who expressed interest in this event but if you think you expressed interest
and have not heard from me, please let me know by email at london.walks@ldwa.org.uk (or reply to this Update email)
4. Pop Up to Sevenoaks on Tuesday (YES - that's TOMORROW!!)
In a late addition to our programme, Rod has kindly decided to run a short-notice "pop up" walk on Tuesday 22 March (tomorrow) to explore Sevenoaks and its environs.
It's a slightly shorter walk than normal, at 11 miles, and being midweek, may not suit everyone. But if you're itching to be out and about, or have a day off work, then what better way than this to celebrate the equinox and stride into spring? You can even have a leisurely breakfast, too, if you like, as the walk doesn't kick off until later than usual. Just be at Sevenoaks rail station at 11.00 tomorrow (Tuesday) morning if you'd like to join.
And - as a general point, if other LDWA London members would like to organise more of these "short notice" walks, which won't appear in Strider, then the Group Committee has agreed that provided they are organised by an LDWA member for LDWA members, we will will promote them in this weekly update and (if time) on the website.
So if you feel like adding a bit of sponteneity to our programme, please send details (along the lines of those included for Rod's walk, below) of your "pop up" walk to london.walks@ldwa.org.uk and we'll do our best to promote it.
5. Easter excursion to Leatherhead on Saturday
As if the excitements of Sevenoaks weren't enough for one week, then we've also got a great walk coming up on Saturday, too. On this occasion, Keith will be leading a linear jaunt from Leatherhead to Dorking, checking out the Mole Valley and Leith Hill along the way.
Note that Easter has made its mark on this walk - trains run from Waterloo not Victoria as advertised in "Strider" bercause of holiday engineering work, and because of likely Easter crowds at the pub, we're recommending you take a packed lunch with you.
Last year, Keith led one of the most successful ever LDWA London walks - with 38 participants. So if you'd like to check out what Keith has got that clearly none of the rest of us possess, just be Leatherhead station at 09.05 on Saturday.
6. Autumn 2016 walk leaders
Believe it or not, we are already starting to think about the autumn walks programme (i.e. September - December 2016). If you think you might be interested in leading, take a look at our walks programme (click here) to check out the dates that are currently free and then drop the walks secretary (i.e. me) an email at london.walks@ldwa.org.uk to let me know what date you might like to lead. No details of your walk are needed yet - only a date. Full details would be needed by the middle of May.
Don't worry if you've never led before - drop me a note and I can explain what's needed.
Thanks you! Wthout our volunteer walk leaders, our Group simply could not exist.
7. "Thank you" celebration for Leaders and Marshals last week
And finally! Just when you thought you were going to have to go and get another teabag - one more thing..
Last Thursday, 17 March, as trailed at the AGM in February, at the Cross Keys, Gracechurch St , the London Group committee took great pleasure in inviting the 2015 walk leaders & Founders Challenge marshals to a meal & a drink to say a "thank you" for their contribution to the group: without them the group would not be thriving! About 24 people attended and everyone had a very enjoyable evening. It was of course St Patrick's Day & downstairs in this former bank was (to put it mildly) a hubbub! but in our spacious private upstairs room (thanks to Catherine for organising) we had relative peace & quiet - or at least all the noise was self-generated!
So as well as the satisfaction of being involved in something worthwhile, interesting, and hugely appreciated by large numbers of people, walk leaders and marshals do occasionally get the occasional, more practical, pat on the back, too!
Checking out the cosy intimate atmosphere of the "Crosse Keys" Wetherspoons last Thursday
Well - you will definitely have finished your cup of tea now and will be struggling to maintain the pretence of fascination in your work emails. So I'll sign off at this point and wish you a great week.
The details of the "Pop up" walk TOMORROW and the Leatherhead-Dorking walk on Saturday are, as always, on our website and are reproduced below.
Adam
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!!! POP UP !!! Sevenoaks Circular
Tue 22nd Mar 2016
Event Details:
Event Details Updated
This is a short-notice "Pop-up" midweek daytime walk - not included in "Strider"
Route
Meet Sevenoaks Rail Station. Sevenoaks is well served by fast and slow trains from London Charing Cross and Waterloo East; with some trains from Cannon Street, and also Thameslink via Kings Cross, Farringdon, City Thameslink, and Blackfriars. Day return with a freedom pass and network rail card is only £2.95 A “pop-up” stroll at 3mph; not more than 11 miles in beautiful Kent countryside far from the madding crowd with hills and fine views via Knole Park, Seal Chart, and Ightham Mote; returning via the Greensand Way to Sevenoaks Station by 1600. Bring your own lunch (may be possible to sit at tables outside), or eat in the National Trust café at Ightham Mote; bring National Trust cards if you wish to visit the property briefly
General Notes
Some steep but short ascents and descents; some mud and wet patches in places when walked on 14 March but hopefully drying out fast in this current dry spell. Unlike longer weekend walks, this walk will start at Sevenoaks at 1100 to allow time to cross London after 0930;
Contact
Rod Smith Telephone number 079 0512 5820 (please note phone number in case trains are delayed)
Leatherhead to Dorking via Leith Hill AMENDED TRAVEL & LUNCH
Sat 26th Mar 2016
Event Details:
Event Details Updated
UPDATED 18/3/2016: *** New travel arrangements because of engineering works at Victoria Station *** New lunch arrangements because of likely Easter Saturday crowds at pub
Route
Meet Leatherhead Stn (*** WATERLOO 08.24 or Clapham Jct 08.32 - NOT Victoria as advertised in Strider) Along the Mole Valley to Norbury Park and Ranmore Common to The Wotton Hatch p.h. (www.wottonhatch.co.uk) &/or picnic (10 ml). Then Friday Street, Leith Hill for tea , Bury Hill Lakes and ascend to the Old Pilgrim Trackway towards Dorking Stn
General Notes
***NEW LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS: Being Easter Saturday, the pub at the lunchtime stop (the Lincoln Arms) is likely to be extremely busy - so please bring food with you
Contact
Keith Lane Telephone number 07843 020525
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