Walk the Path - 2

Sunday

It was a lovely morning and the crowds quickly built up ready to set off. It’s always the same on Sunday when people want to get going and are often reluctant to wait for their allotted start times.  Not that it matters really.

There were some comments about the pace set by our leaders. This happens every year and we have tried to work out the best way of resolving the issue, which is why we give everyone their own map and stress that although there are walk leaders people should go at their own pace. Our leaders are there to lead whilst the back markers will be walking at a much slower pace. The problem seems to be that when people set off in a group they feel compelled to stay with it, so can end up getting ‘dragged along’ whether they want to or not. Everyone has their own natural walking pace and what might seem fast to some will be slow to others. We will give this issue some more thought,  perhaps have a ‘strong walkers’ lead group with a ‘gentle walkers’ group as well as a ‘dog group’ - might be worth trying.

The lunch spot at Eversely is idyllic (top three pictures) and everyone enjoyed their lunch by the river – thank you to Masdar for the use of their site. From here the final stretch is a very rural and walkers can appreciate how much the River changes from the small trickle it was at its source in Rowhill to a much more impressive river where it joins up with the Whitewater. The final part of the walk is through Swallowfield Park - this is private land but we were given special permission to use this stretch which is really very nice (bottom picture).

The walk ended at Swallowfield Parish Hall with a welcome sit down and some refreshments.  I would personally like to thank each and everyone of you for being so obliging and completing my yellow evaluation forms - your comments have all been read and noted. From all the feedback received so far I think I can safely say that the event was a great success and a good time was had by all!