Tawe Trekkers Newsletter - Monday 12th April 2010

There's a few items in this week's newsletter so please read on. Could I please bring people's attention to the issue of Rambler's membership, covered at the end.

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Tawe Trekkers Forest of Dean Weekend - 16th to 18th April

The Forest of Dean trip is next weekend!

If you're stuck for a lift, or have spare space in your car and are able to take someone, please call me, Doug on 07766652837, preferably early on this week. I can then make sure everyone's ok for transport.

Please ensure you bring a sleeping bag and towel.

People will obviously be leaving and arriving at various times on the Friday, but the plan is to have food at the pub where we're staying at about 7:30 on the Friday night (and Saturday night).

Saturday's Walk

On Saturday I'm planning a walk from Goodrich Castle (3-4 miles from the pub/bunkhouse). We'll walk from Goodrich Castle, and follow a loop along the banks of the River Wye, passing below Coldwell Rocks and the great cliff of Symonds Yat along the way. The walk is 8.5 miles long but is fairly flat so no strenuous climbs!

Sunday's Walk

On the Sunday I've got a walk lined-up which starts at the bunkhouse and follows a route through Astonbridgehill Enclosure (an area of attractive woodland) and Ruardean Hill, where we can get a good view across the Wye Valley to the Malverns and Black Mountains. This walk is 6 miles long.

Address and contact details for the bunkhouse are; The Jovial Colliers Inn and Bunkhouse, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, GL17 9PP. Tel 01594860068 or 07078946578.

If there are any issues or questions about the weekend, please call me. Looking forward to seeing a good crowd from the Tawe Trekkers and Black Country there!

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Pub Quiz - Tuesday 13th April, and Regular Pub Meet - Thursday 15th April

Bob will be Captain for Team Tawe Trekkers at the pub quiz in the Westbourne on Tuesday night. The quiz will start at about 9, but be there for 830. Call Bob on 07981 963681 for more details.

The other pub related event this week is our fortnightly meeting at the Brunswick on Thursday (15th) from 8 onwards.

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Night Out - 7th May?

It's dawned that it has been a while since our last night out; I don't think we've met socially as a club (outside the Brunswick) since Christmas or New Year.

Could I suggest then that we meet for a drink at the Pumphouse (in Swansea Marina) at 8pm on Friday 7th May? Hopefully this will be an opportunity for people to catch up with each other, and a bit of social consolidation for the group!

The date/venue is only provisional at this stage so please get back to me if you can't do this date and we will aim to send out confirmation with the next newsletter.

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Ramblers Association Membership - No more Mr. Nice Guy!

Although people who walk with the Tawe Trekkers have received messages on this subject before, we still have a problem with people not taking out Ramblers membership. This is not going down well with the Ramblers!

If you walk with the Tawe Trekkers, you need to join the Ramblers Association to become a valid member. (Those new to the group can try two or three walks without membership, but thereafter are required to join.)

If you are a walk leader or on the Committee then it is a statutory requirement that you are a member!

Other clubs will not let people walk with them if they don't have a valid membership. We have taken a more laid back approach (maybe that's our problem!), but if the problem persists in the TTs then we will be forced to consider similar measures soon!

If you don't have a membership then please take one out as soon as possible, preferably before your next walk. You can join easily at www.ramblers.org.uk, remember to state your local Group as Tawe Trekkers.

There are concessionary rates and help available for those who think they will have difficulty paying the £30 per year.

I don't want to have a go at anyone, and I'll concede that as Chairperson I'm not entirely blameless for letting it get into this situation in the first place!! However, if you could cooperate with us on this one and get your membership sorted out ASAP then it would be much appreciated.

If you're unable to use the web for any reason, or want a paper application, or have any other questions or issues around membership then please call me, Doug, on 07766652837.

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That's it for this week, see you soon!

Cheers,

Doug