They battled through blizzards, torrential rain and deep mud but the walkers now have the satisfaction of knowing that they have raised the magnificent sum of £3,481 for four Winchester charities who help the homeless and vulnerably housed. Much of this amount will also attract Gift Aid so the total will be in excess of £4,000.
Blog of The Walk
Day 8: Ampfield, returning to Sparsholt
From President Gill Steel:
What a formidable group we are, we are! After 8 days of hard walking we have between us circumnavigated the boundary of Winchester District and learnt how cold and miserable as well as delightful and fun it can be to be on the road. However, we all had homes to go to and baths to soak in.
Now that we have completed our marathon it is with great pride and thanks that I say to all who have walk and all who have supported the team around the route, my heartfelt thanks. My admiration goes to Jo for her sterling effort of walking the whole distance which is a huge achievement as well as the hard work put in beforehand over many weeks by Jo and Myra in sorting out the route and for Pam Grosvenor’s help with the same.
I know that many of you have helped in other ways than walking such as providing transport and refreshments. Some of you have press-ganged all sorts of friends, neighbours and relatives into parting with their money – which was the whole point of our effort.
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Back where we started – where have the last eight days gone? See if you can spot the slide where the walkers are looking for a “comfort stop”.
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To pause on a slide just “mouse” hover over it.
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Day 7: Horton Heath/Durley to Ampfield
These photos will not win any sympathy sponsorship – the walkers look as if they are having too much fun! However, Jo mentioned that they were in a queue in a Ladies, not a field this time, and someone donated £5 when she heard what was happening.
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Day 6: Boarhunt to Horton Heath/Durley
From Pam Grosvenor, SI Gosport & Fareham:
Having had two days walking with Winchester club members I’d like to congratulate the club on a very successful project. It really ticks all the boxes – it’s for a really worthwhile cause, and it has involved a lot of club members who have displayed their manifold skills in organising the event, publicising it, getting sponsors, dropping the walkers off or picking them up and recording the results on film or website. Best of all it was fun to do. We had wonderful views of the Hampshire countryside, especially in the snow on Tuesday. We saw the emerging spring flowers and listened to the birdsong as we walked through the woods. Often potential members tell us they want to do something hands on. Well this was feet first rather than hands on and all the better for that. As an added bonus I’m sure the walkers are all fitter that they were!
I feel very privileged to have taken part in such a worthwhile venture. Thanks to President Gill and all the Winchester members for including me in those sections of the walk which are in the Gosport/ Fareham district.
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From Gill Steel, walking on sunshine:
Well I drew the lucky straw – what a lovely day for a 7 mile walk led expertly by the trio of Pam Grosvenor (Gosport & Fareham Club); Myra and Jo with Kim and I tagging along for the ride. What a difference a day makes. Gone on this walk was winter and nearly so nearly here was spring – there were lovely crocuses and daffodils, the ground was mostly dry, the sun shone and the animals were frisky – as you can see!
We made good time and arrived at Durley Church by 2pm and that was with a stop at a lovely watering hole – The Cricketers at Curdridge – highly recommended – I shall certainly go back for a meal!
What this walk has shown me is that walking with friends is not only a pleasure but is good for the soul. We learn more about each other and our lives and have a jolly good laugh as well. We were definitely walking on the sunny side of the street to-day.
Our thanks to John and Glenn for acting as chauffeurs!
Good luck to Jo, Myra and Sonia for tomorrow.
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It’s all smiles and shades as the sun shines on Jo, Kim, Gill, Pam and Myra at the start of Day 6.
But, no time for sun-bathing – it’s off on the trail again …
… until we reached the end of the road.
Only two more days!
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Day 5: Denmead to Boarhunt
Some interesting facts:
On this day last year the temperature was 18ºC! One of our walkers is over 80.
From Carol Forse:
What a mixture of weather. Snow, howling winds, ice, blue sky and sunshine. It was great to have Pam from SI Gosport and Fareham joining Jo, Myra and me today and thank goodness she did as I had to pull up 3 miles before the end due to a blister. Oh, the joys of being diabetic. I am so sorry everyone. I am very disappointed at not being able to walk on Thursday but I will try my hardest to do Friday . Rumour has it that there will be home-made, sugar- and fat-free cakes ( ho ho ) at the end of the walk . On behalf of all the remaining walkers, please, please be generous with sponsorship.
Anmore looks more like Aviemore!
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Day 4: Bramdean Common to Denmead via the Bat and Ball at Hambledon
Jo, Carol, Sonia and John picked up the (bitterly cold) baton today. Gina should have been with them but she has hurt herself skiing.
From Carol Forse:
Thank goodness we are Soroptimists; nothing will stop us when we are on a mission, not even a blizzard! Things can only get better someone said today. I think we also said that on Day 1. Our thanks go out to whoever invented thermal underwear! Why did I have The Bee Gee’s “Staying Alive” in my head? It certainly helped walking to that beat. Once again though, our thoughts go out to the homeless . How do they stay alive in these conditions? Still time to sponsor us; we have forms available.
The pictures tell the story!
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Day 3: Brown Candover to Bramdean Common
From Gill Steel:
Day three saw five resolute walkers striding out across the rolling downs between Brown Candover and Bramdean – Jo & husband Glenn, Gill & husband John and John Elder, Anna’s husband.
It’s surprising how interested in the weather you become when walking 11.9 miles across country. To-day was dry with a cold wind at times. The sky looked threatening for tomorrow but it simply glowered to-day.
We made good time setting off at 9.20am and arriving at Bramdean at the top of a hill (how cruel) at 2.30pm. There were times when I thought I might not quite make it to the end but as the song goes ‘You,ll never walk alone’ and to-day I was very glad of that!
Thank you one and all for walking to remind us all how lucky we are to have homes to return to, friends who support us and families who care how we get on. Keep the sponsorship pouring in for Emmaus, Trinity Centre, Winchester Churches Night Shelter and Stonham who manages the local domestic violence Refuge to remind those they help that they will never walk alone as long as these charities operate.
From a tired and aching Gill with love and thanks to fellow walkers and Arlene Fisher and Barbara & Martin Tomsett our drivers.
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From Beatriz Sampson:
You are all truly very inspiring in your energy and perseverance. I am unable to participate in the walk but will do my best to get some sponsorship. Good luck
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Day 2: Norton Manor to Brown Candover
- Home and relatively dry in Brown Candover.
Jo, Ann, Ivor and Benji, setting out on their second day of beating the bounds, are joined by Liz and Soroptimister, John. Is Ivor looking for sponsorship from M & S?
From Jo Gilbertson:
The mist persisted all day and reduced our views of the Hampshire countryside but at least there was no rain and Benji was a happier dog. However at the lunch stop he did try to get in the car!
We were not looking forward to walking on the busier roads but drivers were very considerate and did slow down.
No, Ivor did not walk with plastic bags on his feet. At the end of the walk he had used them to cover his wet muddy boots for his lift in the “rescue” car.
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From Liz Batten:
As a very unfit ‘fairweather stroller’ rather than serious walker it was very kind of the Saturday trekkers to accommodate me joining them at lunchtime for what I am sure was the easiest and most pleasant bit of the walk. I thoroughly enjoyed the exercise, the chat, the company and the beautiful scenery along the way. Benji the dog seemed to enjoy it too although he was witnessed creeping into Margaret’s car when she arrived to drop me off, hoping he might get a sneaky snooze in! The weather was kind to us, although the clouds threatened, it did not actually rain until I was on my way home in the car. In fact the sun came out briefly as we reached Brown Candover to mark our reaching the finish line and to enable a spring-like photo of the group to be taken by Glenn.
Thanks to Jo, Ann, John, Ivor and Benji for your company and to Margaret for being Chauffeuse-in- Chief.
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Day 1: Sparsholt to Norton Manor
From Gill Steel at the start of the day:
Well to-day is the day! It is of course raining but then I guess that was inevitable. Thank you to all who are taking part or helping in any way with the walk – it has been a huge amount of preparation and it will be hard work so to celebrate the end of the walk why not join us for afternoon tea at Rose Cottage on Friday 15 March 2013 – probably from 3pm onwards. Sylvia Stops will be here to welcome you to my home and if you want to bring some goodies that would be lovely – please liaise with Sylvia.
Thank you again and do keep collecting some sponsorship money!!
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From Jan Harding:
I am so sorry that my current physical disabilities make it impossible for me to join you this week of walking! I have decided to use my immediate community as a source of donations, using the beautifully produced folded card, and I am inviting them to tea on the last day of the walk.
Good luck and safe walking!
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Slideshow – Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud or Things Can Only Get Better
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From Gill at the end of the day:
Here is my take on 10.5 gruelling miles in the pouring rain!
Time flies when you are enjoying yourself so I can only assume that mud agrees with me because our 10 mile hike from Sparsholt over to Wonston flew by in 4 hours of lively chat with seven intrepid walkers plus Benjy the dog.
The Mayor & Mayoress of Winchester kindly set us off at 10 am from Rose Cottage where we left behind a fantastic send off party which included members & representatives from Emmaus, Winchester Churches Night Shelter and Stonham.
The walk is through pretty countryside but it was kept hidden behind a layer of cloud so we made a colourful band against the gloomy backdrop.
My thanks to my fellow walkers today who kept me going – Jo, Carol, Julie, Ann & her friends Ivor & Benjy, my friend Barbara & husband John who kept popping up along the route to offer support, provide transport & walk some of the way. Thank you too to Arlene for acting as the other transporter.
Good luck to everyone tomorrow. I am resting my knees listening to ‘We all live in a yellow submarine’ that might have been useful to-day!
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… and from Carol Forse:
Great bonding day today, we were able to talk nonstop, no interruptions from husbands, phones or computers. The mud and rain went unnoticed but by the end of the walk we were all relishing hot water on our poor bodies and feeling grateful that we are not homeless.
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… and from Ann Topp, speaking also on behalf of Benji:
Gill has summed up the first day very well. Yes,despite the rain and the particularly muddy and squelchy conditions, the good-humoured company of the other walkers helped the time to pass very quickly. Benji,the Jack Russell, usually a very enthusiastic walker but not liking the rain, took a lot of persuading at times to continue, but non-the-less did, accelerating considerably towards the close…and,as some speculated, spent most of the rest of the day curled up asleep. Surprisingly, he was raring to go out again when “Walk” was mentioned that evening.
Thank you to all who shared the walk with this first day and gratitude for the careful planning that helped it to be enjoyable despite the conditions!
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… and from Myra Clare, announcing the death of Honorary Founder Member Vee Coleman-Rowthorne:
I am sure you will all be sorry to learn that Vee died peacefully yesterday, 8th March at 9.50am – the very moment when our walkers were leaving Sparsholt. I am sure she was there waving them off. Vee would have been 100 in a month’s time.
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