Walk Report

Staines to Ruislip Manor, Thursday 22nd February 2018
4 walkers, 17.5 miles - leader Godfrey O'Callaghan
Four group members turned out for the walk from Staines, but not to Ruislip Manor as planned, for along the way various other destinations were introduced. The day began cold and inhospitable and the landscape was a bit that way too as it had little going for it for the first hour and half. But when once we were clear of industry, waste and motorways the sun came through and things, and the scenery, improved quickly and the walk took on the aspects one might associate with a path alongside a winding river course in level country. There were delights such as long stretches of snowdrops, a protected sun-bathed seat outside of golf course club house (presumably for members!) and the kind of light and reflections that abound around water. A pop up is, perhaps by definition, unrehearsed with no recce having been done and is in some sense a route into the unknown - for the leader. Most walks are probably a route into the unknown for everyone else. By Uxbridge Dave was in need of a Wetherspoons and so he went on his way. Then Chris from Woolwich announced he had his walking legs on and begged to increase his pace, aiming for a destination unknown, even to himself at that point. Shortly after Paul and your author turned for West Ruislip station as Paul had a ticket to the opera. So we never reached Ruislip Manor at all. Such is the flexibility of a pop-up. It was my first and I think I like the idea. I had lazily estimated 16 miles but Paul's digital mileage calculator showed it to be 17.5. But it was a pop up.

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