Reminder - Your LDWA needs you for Y 100 Sir Fynwy
Friday 22nd May to Monday 25th May
Volunteers needed for Headquarters
As usual our volunteer weekend will involve a subtle blend of walking, waitressing, Wetherspoon’s and Welsh. London Group will be helping out at headquarters and there will also be time for a Social Walk.
The event starts and finishes at Chepstow School NP16 5LR less than a mile from the Railway Station. It is about a 2.5 hour Railway journey from London Paddington.
Chepstow is a historic border town with an imposing castle, which was built just after the Norman Conquest to keep the Welsh under control. Both Offa’s Dyke National Trail and the Wye Valley Walk converge on the town with plenty of opportunity for interesting walks.
Monmouthshire has been particularly affected by recent flooding so it is not clear yet how this will affect the 100. The checkpoint in Monmouth has had to be changed and one can only hope that there are not more serious obstacles such as damaged bridges etc. It is however a stunningly beautiful area. Even if it dries out we can expect walkers to be blistered, exhausted, deluded and in need of plenty of TLC.
We may need a few volunteers to help out before the start of the event from 7am to 10am on the Saturday mainly with general duties. We will be free the rest of the day for a Social Walk.
London Group will then be on duty from 10am Sunday morning to 10am Monday morning. This period will be split into 3 shifts so volunteers can catch some sleep.
Our duties will involve greeting and supporting returners, sorting baggage, helping serve food, clearing tables, emptying rubbish, monitoring loos and showers etc. Our multi-skilled forces have faced many challenges in the past and I am sure our legendary grace and humour will be a great asset. What better way to finish the 100 than to be meeted and greeted by our Luverley London Group. Just hope it stops raining!
Accommodation
There will be a room set aside at headquarters for volunteers, which will be available from Saturday 8am until the finish of the 100. You will need sleeping bags and mats. Unfortunately the school is not available on Friday night.
This means either travelling up early from London on Saturday morning or finding accommodation locally. Chepstow is a fairly small town and it looks unsurprisingly to be pretty booked up. One possibility is Newport which is only 20 minutes by train from Chepstow. Not quite as quaint but there is plenty of affordable accommodation. I am staying in the Queens Hotel, a Wetherspoon’s, which may appeal to some more than others. It is very central and only 150 metres from the Railway station.
Transport
Cheap train tickets usually come available 3 months in advance. I will provide information nearer the time. If you are travelling by car and have places available that would be great.
Walks
There will be a chance for a Full Social Walk on Saturday. This will be a circular following both Offa’s Dyke and the Wye Valley trails, passing the atmospheric ruins of Tintern Abbey. The beautiful Wye Valley will make a nice change from the Capital Ring.
Programme
Friday 22nd May
7pm London group meet up for meal (tba)
Saturday 23rd May
10am Watch start of 100
11am onwards SOCIAL WALK
Saturday night will be free for sleeping
Sunday 24th May Shift 1 10am to 6pm
Sunday/Monday Shift 2 6pm to 2am
Monday 25th May Shift 3 2am to 10am
(There can be a little flexibility depending on how many of us there are)
Monday 25th May
Short social walk (tba).
In spite of overnight duties on Sunday/Monday this should be a great weekend away in a very beautiful area with a chance to support our London group champions.Can you resist the call?Please contact Susanne Waldschmidt if you are interested. I will then send out an application forms.
susannewaldschmidt@live.co.uk
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