Tuesday 25 August 2009

Circular Walk - Westminster via Greenwich

Last Sunday Hampstead member Patrick Tso Led a 17 mile walk along the banks of the Thames.



(Patrick is centre above).

Patrick kept up a fast pace, averaging nearly four miles an hour.

Ramblers normally walk above ground, but this walk gave the opportunity to go under, in fact under the Thames itself, as the group took the Foot Tunnel under the river at Greenwich.



The weather was perfect, warm and sunny.









There were 33 at the start, predominantly from the Long Distance Walkers' Association London Group but also including 4 from the Ramblers Hampstead Group, 2 from Kensington Chelsea and Westminster Group and several from South Bank Group.

[Photos and report by Jane Rosoux, with thanks.]

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Sunday 23 August 2009

Windsor Circular - The Magnificent Seven!

I have been a member of the Hampstead Ramblers for a year now. This Saturday I celebrated by leading my first Walk, a twelve-mile circular walk from Windsor and Eton Riverside Station.

The conditions were ideal, warm and sunny but with a refreshing breeze.

The route saw us walking along the Thames Path.



After three miles we stopped for a short tea break at Old Windsor Lock.



(I'm far left, checking the map.)[Photo J. Rosoux]

We walked through Runnymede, up to the John F Kennedy Memorial, (Pictured below)...



[Photo J. Rosoux]

then up through Savill Gardens to the Copper Horse Statue



[Photo J. Rosoux]

...and the long walk to the Castle itself...



[Photo J. Rosoux]

Lunch was taken at Englefield Green, where we were lucky enough to see a game of cricket, and most of us enjoyed a glass at the Barley Mow by the green.





I have to thank Richmond Group member Pat for taking the photo below.



Pictured above, with Windsor Castle at top left, Jane Rosoux, Me, Fielding (a member all the way from Virginia, U.S.A.), Gill, Angela and David.

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Tuesday 4 August 2009

25th Anniversary Picnic and Walk.

Last Saturday saw 14 ramblers gather below the Stone of Free Speech on Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath. We had a picnic, then moved off for a quick circumnavigation of our parent Heath.



Both picnic and walk were organised by John Rogers, pictured above third from left.

En route we managed to stop for some culture, in this case a sculpture by Barbara Hepworth.



The birdwatchers amongst us enjoyed seeing a Grey Heron..



The view from the Pergola was impressive too.. This is the Herb Garden.



The photos above were all taken by Jane Rosoux, doughty Walks Organiser for the Hampstead Group and photographer extraordinaire. Because she takes so many photographs she very rarely appears in one. So, to celebrate I offer you Jane not once but twice.

She is seen below in action,



And in this group photo, showing the Ramblers taking in the view over London from atop Kite Hill...



(Left to Right, Annie Lynn, Paula Bento, John Rogers, Robin Midwinter, Penny Taylor, Angela Reilly-Ripley and Jane Rosoux.)

To round the day's events off, we even bumped into an open air wedding...



We ended the day by raising a glass to the next 25 years at the Bull and Last.



Cheers!

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