Family Walk
Saturday, 23rd September, 2006
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Keith and Cynthia Wenden provided an excellent day out for The Family Walk and the weather was good to us too.
As with all walks run by West Essex Ramblers the leaders "walk out" the proposed route, usually a week or so in advance of the day, and are able to ensure the route has no impediments to walking it.
Keith and Cynthia did a little extra by going to local schools where they gave posters to advertise the walk; obtained a children's Quiz Sheet from the Ramblers' Association; prepared notes of interest for the children which Keith gave verbally to the children as we walked; and finally, brought a bag of balloons along which were given to the children at the end of the walk.
Many thanks for a lovely day.
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Click photos below for larger image
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Click below for larger image as specified
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Some commentary on the photos,
which is also a reflection on the walk
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Saturday 23rd September and a family walk assembles at Chingford Station. The children are given a puzzle sheet (curtesey of the Ramblers' Association) to fill in if they wished - note the child sitting with his mum on the pavement hard at it!
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Having set off and only covering a few streets we are quickly onto Epping Forest land walking pass the golf course (only just seen in the photo) where we stop while Keith checks the childrens' observation on the fact that all the golfers dress in a red top.
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This is how the dads ramble with a buggy and child, while the ladies take a casual stroll.
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Having ascended Pole Hill we reach the point where interestingly the Greenwich Meridian effectively slices the hill in half. Looking North, behind the crowd, the Western Hemisphere is to the left and the Eastern Hemisphere is to the right. Whilst patiently waiting at the photo call the group had a perfect view (except for the haze) looking over Canary Wharf, The Gerkin and other prominent buildings of London.
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The group followed a steepish narrow windy track whilst the children were given the opportunity to "run" down a mud slope. We were walking north and then curved to the east.
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One child took a tumble and poured out his anguish on the subject but soon composed himself and carried on enjoying the day.
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Now EVERYONE was told at Chingford Station not to walk in front of the leader but perhaps it was OK for the children to RUN off ahead to do a spot of tree climbing.
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Well - what are puddles for?
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We have crossed the Sewardstone Road, south of Sewardstonebury, and we are on a bridleway going east and it is a little busy with horse riding.
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Keith knows a little side track off the bridleway and so we sneak down a very narrow twisted trodden path through the trees (which is going south).
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We came across an a gathering of sticks which ressembled a make shift camp and the children amused themselves at it.
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The path quickly brought us to Connaught Water where we paused at the water's edge.
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Some bread appeared for children to feed the water fowl and then we are off again (heading west).
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We left the lake and we were soon to reach the corral where Long Horned cattle were penned.
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We passed though a kissing gate and passed by the cattle which virtually ignored us - they being very engrossed on eating the grass.
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So, the group made its way up the hill, out through another kissing gate at the top of the corral and we were soon at the Butler's Retreat where the walk seemed to end, probably because some stayed for a drink and others made their own way back to their transport.
Here there was a balloon for each child!
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WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY!
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