EDRG reaches 50th Walk
Having just completed our 50th walk I think it is a milestone we should be proud of. When we first set up the group in 2006 we were not sure what sort of a sucess it would be, even on the second walk, when only 4 walkers turned up, there was a feeling "maybe it's not a good idea". We decided to carry on as there was a need for a walking group to cater for deaf in Essex who wanted to enjoy the countryside and have a reasonable walking distance for all shapes and sizes. It was also important that the walks would be in Essex area so as to avoid wasting time travelling to out of way venues. We would have no membership fee and no full committee with chairman etc and only have a handful of people to keep the ball rolling by e-mail, text and mouth to mouth. There was no problem finding walk leaders and after a slow start more people start to attend. For example the first large number of walkers to attend was on Walk no 8 in February 2007 when we had 16 walkers and 3 four legged friends, this was lead by David Keyes, who sadly is no longer involved with the walks. From that walk up to now there have only been a handful of occasions that we have had less than 10 walkers turning up.
Although we have a walk in many different parts of Essex, also slipping over the border into Suffolk and Hertfordshire, there are plenty of other places to walk in the county. People say Essex is flat but there are tough walks in Epping Forest, Danbury, Langdon Hills etc, these walks offer wonderful views of our countryside. There were four occasions when some of the group went on long weekend breaks to enjoy the delights of harder walking in Derbyshire Dales, Lake District (twice) and Cotswolds.
The walks have left me with many memories ~
Walk no. 4 Long Melford. Our leader got lost so ended up doing longer walk.
Walk no. 9 Brantham/River Stow. Rain all day and windy. Sandwich lunch in bus shelter.
Walk no. 14 Mersea. Beautiful day. Someone took a dip in the sea.
Walk no. 21 Paglesham. Record number of 19 took part.
Walk no. 29 Danbury. Ice cold day. Heavy snow just as we finished (thank god!!)
Walk no. 30 St Osyth. One of group lost car keys. Big panic but thankfully keys found by old man and his dog on the walk route.
Of course many others but the above stick mostly in my memory.
There has been three occasions when we had to cancel or abandon walks due to bad weather conditions, this is sensible as apart from accident, it's possible we would not be able to get home.
I would like to say a very big thank you to Chrissie Greenwald who has been a main person in keeping the group going. She has made sure walkers are kept informed of what is happening and without her tireless work, which she does without payment, I am sure the group would not be so successful as it is now.
It would be interesting to receive any memories from other walkers who would like to contribute their memories.
Ken No 1
Although we have a walk in many different parts of Essex, also slipping over the border into Suffolk and Hertfordshire, there are plenty of other places to walk in the county. People say Essex is flat but there are tough walks in Epping Forest, Danbury, Langdon Hills etc, these walks offer wonderful views of our countryside. There were four occasions when some of the group went on long weekend breaks to enjoy the delights of harder walking in Derbyshire Dales, Lake District (twice) and Cotswolds.
The walks have left me with many memories ~
Walk no. 4 Long Melford. Our leader got lost so ended up doing longer walk.
Walk no. 9 Brantham/River Stow. Rain all day and windy. Sandwich lunch in bus shelter.
Walk no. 14 Mersea. Beautiful day. Someone took a dip in the sea.
Walk no. 21 Paglesham. Record number of 19 took part.
Walk no. 29 Danbury. Ice cold day. Heavy snow just as we finished (thank god!!)
Walk no. 30 St Osyth. One of group lost car keys. Big panic but thankfully keys found by old man and his dog on the walk route.
Of course many others but the above stick mostly in my memory.
There has been three occasions when we had to cancel or abandon walks due to bad weather conditions, this is sensible as apart from accident, it's possible we would not be able to get home.
I would like to say a very big thank you to Chrissie Greenwald who has been a main person in keeping the group going. She has made sure walkers are kept informed of what is happening and without her tireless work, which she does without payment, I am sure the group would not be so successful as it is now.
It would be interesting to receive any memories from other walkers who would like to contribute their memories.
Ken No 1