Photo Gallery of Coast to Coast walk

 

Day 19 – Hawkster to Robin Hood Bay - last report

As the day was such a short one the urgency to get an early start was not on us but even though Michael had said departure would be at 10am we were all ready to go by 9.30 and headed off. We almost took a wrong turn towards Whitby through a paddock but rectified that and hit the coast for our last stint into RHB along the cliff tops with views of the very serene sea considering the thunder and lightning of the previous day. Many photos of cliffs, sea, completing walkers and eventually Robin Hood Bay itself ensued. Our walk led us down the street that our accommodation was in and although we were to be in two establishments they were next door to each other. We advised the B&B operators of our arrival and headed down to the water for the toe dipping and stone throwing rituals with our added one of cracking open the James Cook Brewery ale and bottle of red wine supplemented with Stilton Cheese and biscuits all at the water edge. Rain started and shortened our festivities so we headed back in RHB central and the music and dancing, it being Saturday. The rain sent most of them indoors and the very small pubs, all 3 of them in the lower part of RHB were packed to the rafters. So, with no room at the Inn, we headed for the quaint but excellent fish and chippery for combinations of Haddock, Cod, mushy peas, chips and pickled onion – delicious.

I made the comment to Paula that if you could duplicate Robin Hood Bay anywhere it would attract large numbers of tourists but it would be impossible under modern building codes to build in the quaintness of narrow, steep, cobblestoned, winding streets with houses that are on top of each other yet separate. I was shocked to learn that the sea wall, built to save the old village, was too late for that much again of the village that had already been claimed by the sea.

So it is with sadness that this walk comes to an end but it will be great to look back on it and the achievement that three completed all the walk, one all but two days, another all but 3 days, one who achieved more than anyone expected considering the knee operation just prior to start and the regret that one did not get to the starting point. All will have different recollections and views but we all will go away feeling that we have achieved a milestone in our lives. I am sure it is the same for everyone who attempts it and the friendships are only strengthened by such an undertaking no matter what one’s ability is at the start.

Now off for a relaxing time to recuperate.

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it"

as inscribed on a bench seat in Robin Hood Bay UK

Day 17 – Blakey Ridge to Egton Bridge

The walk continued around the moors and the first feature that we came to was "Fat Betty" a stone structure just off the road. It was explained to us that tradition required visitors to leave something and in turn collect something from Fat Betty and as this only occurred as we approached I was left pondering on what I had that I could leave. I saw that many others had left sweets so I left a foot print and took away a load of rubbish hoping that Fat Betty would appreciate the clearing of her sight.

The next remarkable event was "The Mooning on the Moors"!

Whilst crossing the moors it occasionally happens that a call of nature must be answered and it was on this day that two unusual events transpired to occur simultaneously, and that was the 'call', for two of our female companions, that nature makes. The second was a wish that Wayne & Roger had been expressing for some time. As the ladies headed off on another track we assumed that it was their 'call of nature' and of course took up a position of watch – not unlike Meer cats. Roger suggested that would it not be amusing if one of the planes that we had heard, but not been able to see, came roaring over the hill at low level. It was at that precise moment that Wayne exclaimed and gesticulated in the direction that we were look at the Tornado jet fast approaching at an altitude not much above our own. Of course this was the second wish, and with great joy, we watched as it approached, flew overhead and disappeared over the ridge behind us, but of course, to do this, we had swivelled around and were now facing, for a brief moment, in the opposite direction. Eyes averted we resumed our Meer cat lookout once again.

Later the RAF reported a mooning event on the moors.

Our arrival at Egton Bridge was via a circuitous route due to railway bridge works at Carr End and we approached the town from a direction that had us going back from whence we came. Our destination, on the other hand, was well received and although we had three rooms that were all very different the atmosphere and the dining were outstanding. Michael even had his wish to throw his frizbee forfilled after tea on the large lawn at the front of the residence. Barb & I once again ended up in the roof cavity with a bathroom that did not allow for 6 foot of person to stand and have a shower but I reluctantly had a bath and was impressed with the high flow of water rather than a slow fill that I had so often experience before - quite enjoyable.

We are now contemplating the end of the journey with mixed feelings.

 

Day 16 – Chop Gate to Blakey Moor (Lion Inn)

 

Our initial climb,  once we had been transported back to the C2C track, of about 130 metres brought us back onto the moors proper and another 70 metres over a couple of klms  had us reaching 400 metres.  Most of the day saw us skirting around the heads of valleys dropping off the moors and eventually we reached a disused railway line and we continued along this for the balance of the day.

The rail had been established for the iron ore extracted from the hills/moors and it came as a surprise to learn that the moors had been a source for iron. When we were within sight of our day’s destination, namely the Lion Inn, we were following two other groups and we all overshot the turnoff – should have looked at the map.

On entering the Lion Inn two things immediately struck me, how dim it was inside after the clear skies of the day and the lowness of the doorways. I say doorways, but many were just openings and it was after passing through about 5 areas that we came to the office and were able to book in. The others were directed through a door leading out towards the back of the building whilst Barb & I were lead to a narrow stairway leading off one of 5 dining areas up to a landing that had 3 rooms off it.

 

Our room contained a double and single bed with an attached ensuite with sloping roof such that the bath it contained was impossible for anyone over 4 feet to stand up in. No shower. Even with this shortfall it had lots of atmosphere and although we were over the dining area was not noisy. It was a challenge to get my pack up the stairs as even without a pack there was a warning to watch your head, in fact, almost all openings between rooms had head banging warnings.

As we had arrived early in the afternoon it gave us the opportunity to have a few games of cards.

 

Day 15 – Ingleby Cross to Chop Gate

 

Coming across the farm land the previous day we were presented with our entry into the next of the three parks that we were traversing on our walk across England, namely The York Moors. So it was with no surprise that we were climbing after only a couple of hundred metres after leaving The Blue Bell Hotel, our overnight accommodation. A large zig followed by an even larger zag took us to the beginning of our moorland experience. The first comment is that moor lands are not one exceedingly large flat ground but more a series of undulating areas interspersed with valleys most of which are neatly marked out paddocks/fields. We climbed to around 300 metres and for the balance of the day dropped down and then reclaimed altitude over 4 more peaks.

We were fortunate to have relative clear skies and so had excellent views of our proceeding day’s walk as well as country that we were traversing and views of the sea were there in the very distance and had to be confirmed by binoculars. It was a good opportunity to view just how close villages are to each other and we were also overlooking a large industrial area and wind-farm construction site.

Near the end of the day’s walk we came to a stonewaller working on replacing the stones in a wall and he was up for a chat. We learnt that the cost of the walls is outside the scope of farmers and most wall construction is undertaken at government expense and that the walls are really just there for show. He said that the period of most construction of the walls was in the 1850’s with the employment of the Irish escaping the potato famine and they worked for food only.

We started to see a lot of grouse and some with chicks. Signs told us that it was nesting time and that walkers should restrict themselves to the formed paths, which I must say, were very well constructed with large flag stones and lots of steps on the up and downs.

Our final section required us to ring from the Wain Stones for a car to pick us up and take us two miles off the track to the Bucks Inn at Chop Gate (off our map). Thirty minutes later we came to a road and Wolfgang, the publican, was there to cram the 5 walkers into his car for the short trip. Wolfgang turned out to be an Australian citizen who had taken on the pub only 17 months earlier and was re-establishing its reputation. His hospitality was very warm and encouraging and he gave us a good overview of the area. He was able to answer my question of the meaning of the obelisk on a distant hill which just happened to be a commemorative to Captn James Cook who was born and educated nearby. It was with some surprise that Dorothy presented Michael with a bottle of James Cook ale, a gift from the publican of the Blue Bell, our previous night’s host.

 

Day 14 –  Oaktree Hill (Lovesome Hill Farm) to Ingleby Cross

 

This section was through farming land and although it had the quaint lanes, hawthorn hedges, small stream crossings and of course stiles it was probably the least interesting so far. We did learn that the farmers are paid by the government to leave the flowering plants alongside the tracks and walkways rather than crop the whole lot. One or two must not being paid as this had us walking along the very edge of cropped land which usually meant slipping and sliding due to the rain and clay soils.

One farmer had tizzied up the stile that was on his property with tallons of gloom warning walkers of the dire consequences if they left any gates open. It was also not long after this that we had to cross a railway line the old fashioned way ie over the tracks. As we had seen the speed of the very fast trains it was with very appropriate caution that this feat was undertaken. On relection, it was a day of challenges as later on we had to also cross the A19 which happens to be 6 lanes wide at the crossing point, fortunately it had a median strip that we could shelter on half way across.

The village of Ingleby Arncliffe was reached at lunchtime but after consultation with a teacher supervising school children in their playground we learnt that there were no shops and headed on to our destination another 200 metres on. The pub was open but did not serve meals at lunchtime but the publican kindly made us some soup.

 

Day 13 – Richmond to Oaktree Hill (Lovesome Hill Farm)

This was described as an easy day and looking at the contours it certainly seemed flat and only challenging in the length; of 13 miles (23Klms). I thought that it might have been a bit boring and comments had been made to me that this would be the case, but not so. As we walked out of Richmond we first crossed the River Swale which was flowing at a very fast pace and we had a new & different view of the Richmond (Riche Mont) Castle ruins as we looked up from that low level. It was certainly well placed to defend an aggressor.

I think we were all surprised by the rabbit population evident as we passed playing fields and parklands in the early morning. A slight misinterpretation of the maps had us climbing up onto a hill which afforded us some excellent views but required a bit of corrective navigation through an Army exercise area (no red flags flying fortunately) but caused us to only see from a distance what I assumed were further ruins of a place of interest. Our way now became ever muddier after the recent rains and from this less often used "Wainwright way" we returned to the allotted course and discovered that many feet make paths even more slippery. The growth that was a result of the recent warm weather and rain made the vegetation far taller and encroaching on the path and although most of it only caused moisture to migrate to us there were very tall stinging nettles and with diligent use of walking poles we were reasonable able to deflect them and their sting from our bare legs, but more of that later.

We re-crossed the river and proceeded down a good path with only moderately high grass and spied in the distance a Beach Umbrella but to our surprise it was not someone having a picnic in the rain but rather a checkpoint point for runners in a tri-athalon and, joy of joys, there were 200+ participants. We had only continued about 200 metres before the first runner passed us and we offered our encouragement not knowing that within a minutes or two he would pass us on his return. Then the procession escalated as more and more runners passed us and then returned. It was becoming rather congested so we retreated to a nearby road before coming back to another point on the track but at least at this time it was wider and we could negotiate the runners better.

Our journey took us to the small village of Streetlam that had won the 2006 "Yorkshire Village of the Year" award and we set ourselves up for lunch in a commemorative shelter covering a Well located on a road intersection. The village has a churchyard burial ground that contains the remains of one Henry Jenkins who is reported to have lived to the ripe old age of 169.

While crossing various fields we came to a refurbished bridge over a small stream, I placed my poles against the railing whilst getting my camera out and in a split second over the rail went one of the poles. A quick dash to the downstream rail saw the pole float past but the retrieval seemed impossible with steep banks lined with metre high stinging nettles. One attempt proved a waste of time and a quick dash to the other bank saw a mad dash through the prickles position me downstream around a bend awaiting the eventual arrival of said pole and a successful extraction. Cost - stinging legs.

When we arrived in Danby Wiske (don't you just love the names) we headed straight for the White Swan pub for a pint as we thought that we had earned it having travelled through all that mud. Well one turned into two and so appropriately fortified we crossed over the bridge over the London to Edinburgh train line. On one of our maps we had spied a pathway that was directly to our overnight accommodation about 2 klms away and it would save us about a kilometre. So off we went and, although it was overgrown, we had met two Dutchmen at the pub who had walked it in the opposite direction that day and given a good report. Michael was a little dubious so I said I would lead and off we went. The 'public footpath' was VERY overgrown and I found that in my shorts I was soon doing battle with metre high stinging nettles but suitable numb from 2 pints of ale I ploughed on almost without a sting, or so I thought, until we emerged onto the final laneway to our overnight accommodation. As we sat down to remove our muddy and wet boots the 2 pints had started to wear off and when Barb offered yet another pint of Hobgoblin Ale I took it and consumed it with haste and the stinging miraculously stopped.

Once entering the lovely surroundings of the Lovesome Hill Farm B&B and knowing we were to be feasted with a roast for tea all was well.

Quote of the day - 'I don't feel pain --- unless it hurts' Wayne

 

Day 11 – Reeth to Richmond

 

I'm starting this report with the quote:-

"Loneliness is a form of social chicken pox in that people can tell you've got it and don’t want to get too close in case they get it. Unfortunately, putting yourself in quarantine only makes loneliness a lot worse.

One way of combating loneliness is joining your local ramblers club. It won’t stop you feeling lonely but after being caught on a ten-hour ramblethon with some of the nation’s dullest people, being alone will suddently seem a lot more attractive."

 From “Never Push When It Says Pull” by Guy Browning.

 

As always the weather was the utmost consideration as we set off from Reeth as it was raining and looked as if it would be a day long affair. The walk started along the River Swale as we left Reeth. A notice stating that low branch trimming along the river was underway as flood mitigation became obvious when branches low on trees were obvious a source of restricting the flow of the river when it is high. The rain overnight had swollen the river and you could see how the low branches were potentially a restriction on flow. We had seen , further up, flood damage to the restraining walls along the river bank.

Why the quote at the beginning - well I did not think that you would get this far and it was too good a quote to go unread. Rest Day is almost over so off to bed and an early start in the morn.

 

 

Day 10 - Keld to Reeth

 

The Keld Lodge turned out to be a free house (Pub) and it got Barb's vote as the best accommodation of the walk so far. We ate in, no choice really, and all agreed that the meals were excellent, the beer good, serving a Yorkshire ale called Black Sheep. Mentioning sheep, it has been evident along our walk over the last few days that lambing was not long ago and most ewes have two lambs at foot. They seem to be very use to walkers and except for the lambs the sheep are completely unafraid. It is amusing seeing two lambs approach the ewe from opposite sides and then dive under her jabbing to stimulte the milk and often raising the hind quarters off the ground.

The walk from Keld is normally over the hills and allows inspection of former mining operations, from extraction to smelting, mainly lead, but as the whole party were undertaking this section it was decided that we would take the advice of the publican at the Keld Lodge and take the low road and follow the River Swale to Reeth. The route certainly lead us through delightful country and it was interesting to see how many of the paddocks had stone barns which we assumed were for housing fodder and perhaps sheep during colder times.

We saw our first partridge and it explained the sighting of a number of barrells that we had seen along the way as they were being used as feeding stations. When we saw the partridge there were ducks and a rabbit also availing themselves of the free feed at the same feeiding station.

We reached a small village called Muker at 10.00am and decided to go in and have a morning tea, but unfortunately it was not to be. The fields leading in were abounding in buttercup, clover and white flowers and they were reserved for stock for winter feed. We were asked to walk in a single file so as to make the smallest impact to preserve the growth for that purpose.

We walked to Gunnerside arriving at lunchtime and decided that a restaurant meal was our reward for having completed over half of the Coast to Coast distance. Once again food was great and I had Wheat & Walnut bake which came with salad and a baked spud in its jacket. The name does not give a true indication of how nice this was as the wheat and walnut also had onion, tomato and was covered with melted cheese all washed down with a Yorkshire beer called 'Great Shunner'. As we left the rain commenced and our walk into Reeth was mainly in light rain. We came across teams of young army recruits doing a 40 mile hike for the day, yes that is correct, 40 miles (64 klms).

 

Day 8 & 9 - Orton to Kirkby Stephen via Crosby Garrett (and a rest day)

 

Paula & Dorothy decided to give this section a miss so off the four of us went into yet another day of great weather. This was the day of coming across many other walkers as it was still part of the Queen's Jubilee long weekend. The first group were a mum and her two teenage children and it was not long into the walk when Barb was once again called upon to administer her skills in the foot department as the mum was losing her big toenail. Altogether we must ahve seen at least 5 different groups during this section and one by one they overtook us and disappeared into the distance which was a help as it gave us an indication of the way ahead.

We stopped for lunch and about an hour after proceeded on without evidence of any other walkers. It was at this time that I realised that the map I was using and Michael's had different routes so I put mine way but it was also when we took a path less travelled. When we realised our mistake we were at the village of Crosby Garrett and the adventure really started. Some children pointed out a path that their father had recently mowed to remove the Stinging Nettles so that walkers of the C2C  could use it. This lead to a field and we were off again but at this junction our map ran out and we went o the next page which was slighly different in it grid reference. Some assumptions turned out to be incorrect and we had to retrace our steps before proceeding along narrow road leading to Stepen Kirkby. We added about 3 kilometres to our journey so it was with great relief that we finally made our diestination and a lay day.

Part of our day's walk included some moor land and at one stage I observed a small animal jumping over low bushs and assumed that it was a stoat or weasle only having viewed a few seconds of it.

The town of Kirkby Stephen has a narrow main street and a set of traffic lights with three streets converging at them. Due to the pending Gypsy gathering for their annual horse trading festival we were witness to a stream of Gypsy vans passing through the town past our accommodation. This caused quite a holdup in the holiday traffic as it passed through town but the typical horse drawn vans were a pleasure to behold.

Kirkby Stephen was also were Stuart, Paula's son, joined us for the day and he has decided to walk with us until the weekend so our party has grown to 7 for the moment.

Day 5  Grasmere to Patterdale

Leaving Grasmere, which has to be one of the most beautiful villages we had the challenge of locating Michael & Paula. A short walk into the village centre to collect some lunch and then a walk up some lanes eventually found their overnight stay at the edge of the village and on our way. The road was a main thoroughfare and we had about a mile to walk before heading off and up passing a disused town water supply made in the form of a large square but now empty except for a modern walking pole – conjecture ranged as to how it happened to be there.

The climb was steady and took until about noon to reach the top where we came across a lovely tarn and it was appropriate that we made that our lunch stop. It seemed that this was a junction of many tracks as walkers started appearing from all directions, some with dogs and other just trampers.

As was the climb, the descent took several hours but on moderate graded tracks. We entered the true farming area and stopped to watch a farmer and shearers tidying up a pen of sheep and their lambs after birthing.

The village of Patterdale boasted two pubs and it was at the first that we stopped to have a local beer before trying to find our overnight accommodation. The publican kindly offered to drive us to the farm and it was with much relief that the offer was accepted and we drove about ½ mile out of town.

Tea was back into town to the White Lion for a Ploughman’s lunch(?) in my case, lasagne for Barb and various other meals for the rest.

“Choose your companions carefully, you may have to eat them.” W.C. Sellar & R.J. Yeatman

Day 4 Rosthwaite to Grasmere

We set off with our wet weather gear on as the rain had started during the wee small hours and continued for most of the day until mid-afternoon. The terminology for the various features is still a bit of a mystery to me but here goes with our progress via the map. Firstly we proceeded along the Stonethwaite Beck (Valley) for several miles before starting our climb up the Greenup Gill until we came to the Lining Crag which had some of us using our hands for better purchase. We then headed across a marshy area before starting our descent down Flour Gill and across to a further descent down Far Easedale Gill.

Our time on the top was punctuated by scudding cloud that at times enveloped us and reduced visibility sufficient to mean that the party was in danger of the first and last people losing contact. Fortunately we had breaks that allowed us to see both the track and the odd cairn.

We subsequently learnt that it is policy in the area not to mark tracks so you need to have a reasonable skill in navigating from the map.

As you descend into areas that are more suitable for farming the scenery changes with more stone walls and laneways. All the laneways and paths we have been using are either right of way or public bridleways.

At the end of the days walk we become separated it two groups one on such a bridleway and that was the last we saw of Michael & Paula. Fortunately Wayne found Dorothy, Barb and I in the village and directed us to our overnight accommodation in a Quakers hostelry. Mike & Paula where housed elsewhere.

Among the therapeutic agents not to be found bottled up and labelled on our shelves is Travelling; a means of prevention, of cure, and of restoration that has been found in all ages. Daniel Drake, Western medical & Physical Journal 1827

Day 3 Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite

This day’s walk was to be 14.5 miles or 23 kilometres and the ladies thought that this would be a good lay day and arranged to travel by bus to Rosthwaite. As it was going to be such a long walk with a fair bit of climbing it was decided to head off early and it was about 6.00 am when we began to congregate for the starting time of 7.30 for breakfast. These English breakfasts are something to behold with offerings of salmon, eggs, smoked haddock, full English breakfast of black sausage, tomato, mushrooms, baked beans, bacon & fried egg.

The walk around Lake Ennerdale, although rocky, was pleasant and although the mountains had clouds over the tops we experienced periods of sunshine and clear skies. A couple of lads from Liverpool caught up to us and we continued to see them at various times throughout the day – they are also doing the C2C walk.

At Black Sail for lunch we were surprised and gratified that through an honour system we were able to have a tea or coffee at the YHA hostel and availed ourselves of the offer – 50p for tea and £1 for a plunger coffee – luxury.

The merriment abated as we started the climb out of the valley up to the rolling high country before a descent via a slate mine with much evidence of mining over a very long time.

We were all impressed by the stone walls marking out paddocks although we later learnt that they were ordered by government officials who just drew grids on a map ignoring that some were them very high up the sides of valleys and in very difficult places to make such walls.

It was with some surprise that I learnt that we had a budding geologist in our party when having lunch and a feature opposite was pointed out to me. It was a slip of stone with a fan shape at the lower end and it was described to me thus 'that is alluvial schist rock coming down to what is described as a fan and it is this that in nature is said to be when schist hits the fan'.

Day 2 Cleator to Ennerdale

Although this was to be a short day of 9 miles we set off fairly early having woken to the sun at 4.45am.

Top up on supplies at the small store in Cleator and headed for the Hills and of course a climb. The first was from 75 up to 352 metres at a steady pace. A section of forest was appreciated and although there was low cloud we had glimpes of the towns down in the valley with shafts of sunligh passing over. The sheep appear to not be farmed for wool as they are mostly loosing the coats in a natural de-foliating manner and look quite strange with large areas of bar skin in varying colours and the remains of tufts of wool hanging off them. A ragtag lot.

On our decent we came across a short cut down, and I mean DOWN, through a forest. It was really challenging especially for those with dicky knees to start with. We meandered through a number of valleys before desending into Ennerdale which has a community hotel and our pub for the night, The Shepherds Alms, yes, not Arms. The food was excellent and rated as the best so far.

See photos in Away Walks in the Photo Gallery

Quote "The difference between landscape and landscape is small,but there is a difference between the beholders." Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) from Essays, 1844

A few quotes to start the journey: "The trouble with many travellers is that they take themselves along" John Prescott from Aphorisms and Other Observations.

"I should not feel confident in venturing on a journey in a foreign country without a companion. I should want at intervals to hear the sound of my own language." William Hazlitt from On Going a Journey

Day 1 St Bees to Cleator 8 miles

Wayne selecting a stone to carry across England on the Coast to Coast.

6 congregated at Richmond on Sunday afternoon prior to the journey to St Bees on Monday to commence the walk at about 11.00am. As David had not made the rendevous on Sunday we were expecting him to perhaps be at the setting off point on Monday, but he wasn't. So after a call to Sherpa we set off in the best weather that you could expect to start a walk. After collecting our stones from the beach we climbed the cliffs and headed off to the Light-house before our walk into the rolling hills towards Cleator. On the way we had a beer at a pub that was supposed to be closed and afternoon tea in the garden of an enterprising lady who was raising funds for the community in which she lived.

During our walk we learnt that David had been unable to make the flight over and was not a starter for the walk, so it was with some saddness when we realised that we would only be a party of 6.

The Walls of Jerusalem to Lake St Clair
via
“THE NEVER NEVER”
Noel Hayward
During the seven years I lived in Tasmania the Walls of Jerusalem were known to me as being a lovely area, but as they were almost on the opposite side of Tasmania (there was no Cradle Link Road in those days) did not warrant the travel required to go walking there. After all, there were more than enough beautiful walks to do and majestic rivers to kayak on the West Coast without spending a day driving to get to the Walls. read more...

 Sunraysia Bushwalkers take to the high seas

Whitsunday walk & sail

The Whitsunday Islands are a long way North of here. The flight from Brisbane to the nearest airport of Proserpine took as long as the initial Adelaide -Brisbane leg. As a result the party enjoyed mild subtropical winter weather over the two weeks of sailing read more...

Attachments:

Past featured Report - Wild Dog Mail Trail Return Mail 2011	[Full article with photos]	106 kB
Noel's Never Never walk 2014	[The Never Never 2014]	1315 kB
Sunraysia Bushwalkers take to the high seas	[Full article with photos]	61 kB

 New President's first musings - June 2012

My surprise election to the office of Club President was akin to making a choice as to which track to take whilst in unfamiliar territory!  But for an organization such as ours, rotation of the leadership team offers real opportunity to best harness the diverse and valuable talents we are so fortunate to have within the ranks of our member base.

The breaking of the drought and increased flows in some local waterways has lifted the appeal of getting out and about seeing the wonderful array of landscapes the region offers.  There is every reason to believe the dry country will again bloom abundantly in late winter and spring.
The numbers of organized walks we can accomplish need to be matched to the expectations of our active members, whilst always having attraction for new participants.  The year will again offer one day and longer extended excursions.  With sound planning, members will continue to feel well rewarded from participating in our diverse activities.
On Sunday 23rd June we will travel to Pooncarie for a walk to discover more of the area.  Whilst a bike ride is scheduled for 22nd July, I will test the level of interest for an additional July walk when we next meet in June.
To our members soon to walk across England, I wish you every success.
I look forward to heading the Club for the year.
Dick Johnstone

Books held by the club and its members relating to walking and other related activities are categorized by State (Victoria, South Australia, NSW, Tasmania, Other), Overseas, Plants Food & Cookbooks, Technical & History and Humour & General Reading.

(For members to locate books sign in and go to members only section "Members Information" and see the list of titles as well as the location of the books.)

See these two free downloadable books on Bike Rides around Mildura & district at the bottom of this webpage.

^VICTORIA

 TASMANIA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES

HUMOUR & GENERAL READING

 PLANT & FOOD & COOKBOOKS

TECHNICAL & HISTORY

OVERSEAS

 Walking Distance

Attachments:

On Road Ride Book around Mildura	[Companion book to "Off Road Ride Book"]	834 kB
Off Road Bicycle Ride Book	[Selection of off road rides around Mildura]	2126 kB