Day Walk in The Cotswolds

With the start of a new year people often decide to make changes to their life. For some this change might be joining a gym, for others is might be joining an outdoor group like ours. To give new faces the chance to meet members of the group we try and arrange a social event and day trips early in the new year. A day walk in The Cotswolds is how we decided to open 2009.

A total of 9 of us met at the start in Bourton-on-the-Water for our 10 mile walk. It was my first outing since twisting my ankle badly before Christmas and the hiking boots just didn’t feel right so I used the approach shoes. I must invest in some new boots before next weekend’s trip to Snowdonia!

Leaving the town we went through the churchyard, continued on the roads until we finally arrived at the footpath. Making good progress we soon found ourselves passing through Lower and Upper Slaughter, both very quiet and peaceful on this Sunday afternoon.

At just over half distance we arrived in Naunton and decided to stop for a drink at the Black Horse Inn. After removing muddy boots and entering a couple of tables magically became empty as another group of walkers with dogs left the pub. We were not allowed to eat our packed lunch in the pub so some of us had a drink and then went outside to eat. Harjit and I decided to order something quick from the menu, I plumped for the pea soup washed down by a Guinness.

Refreshment stop over we continued on, plodding through the sticky fields with the light slowly fading. At a little before 5pm were back at the car park. We said our goodbyes to the other cars and then 6 of us piled into my MPV and as usually happens most drifted off to sleep. Finally we arrived back in Hammersmith just before 7pm and went our seperate ways.

It had been a good day out, I arrived home muddy but thankfully dry. Let’s hope it’s a sign that 2009 will be a great summer.

Gary

Trip Report – SantaLash

Never heard of SantaLash? It’s an annual pub crawl that attracts over 1000 people, all dressed as Santa. There is an entry fee which helps raise money for a chosen charity. This year a few members of The London Adventure Group decided to take part.

The chosen charity this year was Street Kids Rescue which supports orphans and abandoned children in South East Asia.

Since the event is becoming more popular each year the organisers decided to split the pub crawl into a Northern and Southern route. We purchased tickets for the Southern route, the registration meeting point being The Slug & Lettuce, County Hall. Once registered everyone is assigned to a team of about 100 Santas. We were Team Joseph, led by a couple of cute girls complete with a bell or two to keep the team in order.

Our first stop on the pub crawl was The Stage Door on Webber Street. When we arrived another team was still there but they soon departed when their leader got their attention with what looked like a long straight hunting horn.

We spent about 30 minutes in each pub before moving on. Our second pub was The Union Jack on Union Street. By now my long white curly beard was beginning to itch slightly and the wig was making my head hot! It was good to get outside again as we made our way to the third pub. It’s amazing the reaction you get wearing a fancy dress costume in London. Cars toot their horns and passengers yell comments from open windows. It seems a silly costume puts a smile on people’s faces.

The third pub was Belushi’s at Borough High Street. There was a DJ playing and we seemed to spend a little longer at this pub, long enough for me to start taking some photos.

Harjit, Gary & Jen

The next pub was also on Borough High Street, another branch of The Slug & Lettuce. This was a much larger venue where more than one group seemed to mingle. Finally team leaders called their teams together for the final walk to the final venue where all teams from the North & South route would meet, SEOne where they had a live band as well as DJ.

The party went on to 3am but most of our team left a little earlier. It had been a fun evening that had hopefully raised plenty of money for the chosen charity. If you would like to see more of our photos from the evening you can do so by visiting our Facebook group, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=18487823214

Gary – The London Adventure Group

Trip Report – Weekend in Antwerp

We like to organise a European city break from time to time and Belgium is a country that appeals, both because it’s a short distance to drive from London and also there is the fact that they have good food and beer!

Our ferry from Dover left about 40 minutes late which added to the fact that continental Europe is an hour ahead of us meant we did not arrive at our hotel until almost 2:00am. Breakfast we were told would be served up until 10:30am so we could at least get a decent sleep.

I was up early to move the car across the river to a free car park which gave me the chance to explore the city a little on my 30 minute walk back to the hotel. After breakfast we donned our coats and began our tour of the city in what was biting cold weather.

Our first real stop was the house where the painter Rubens spent much of his life and died. It is now a museum and there were examples of his paintings as well as those of others who worked under him. An audio tour explained some of the exhibits and rooms. The audio commentary explained that when Rubens’ first wife died he decided he could not live like a monk and so took a 2nd wife who was only 16 years old…..he was 53 at the time!

Other sights we visited during the day were the diamond district and the main squares, the most well known of which is Grote Markt where they have an open air ice rink in the winter. Another square had a Christmas market and there was also a ferris wheel close to the river. We made a few stops during the day, taking refuge in warm cafes where we enjoyed snacks and hot drinks, though I could not resist a Westmalle Triple to start.

Sightseeing largely over we returned to the hotel and asked reception for a recommendation about where to eat locally. The recommendation was a fish restuarant which was empty, not usually a good sign. The food was good though, as long as you liked fish as this was all that was on the menu. Most of the group had mussels, some for starters as well as main course! The choice of beers was limited though, most of us picking Jupiler.

Meal over we went to find a bar. Andrew and Sian had made their own way to Antwerp early and were in a bar somewhere near the cathedral. We tried to join them but by the time we reached the area they had returned to their hotel. We finally settled on a bar with room and ordered some drinks. The table soon filled up with empty bottles of Chimay, Duvel, Orval, Westmalle and fruit beers too. We left the bar at 12:30am when they were about the close.

After breakfast on Sunday we decided to leave Antwerp and stopped off in Ypres for a late lunch where we finally met up with Andrew and Sian. There was not time to visit the war cemeteries and so we headed to Calais for our ferry home, taking advantage of the duty free on board.

It had been good to escape London for a weekend away before Christmas. Hopefully we will get the chance to visit another European city soon.

Trip Report – Glastonbury Guy Fawkes Carnival

In the South West of England they have their own special way of celebrating Guy Fawkes, by putting on amazing illuminated carnivals. One of the biggest of these is The Glastonbury & Chilkwell Carnival which took place this year on Saturday 15th November.

We left London that morning, arriving in time to check in to our hostel before watching the Australia v England rugby game, the less said about that the better. Some of us had a pub lunch and bought some alcohol before returning to our hostel which overlooked the parade route.

Finally the carnival started, signalled by a group of bikers on Harley Davidson’s revving high which was loud in the narrow streets. The next couple of hours was a feast of colour, lights and music as float after float passed by. The amount of effort that had gone into the floats was as usual, amazing! There was a huge range of themes, ones that stood out included an amazing Ghost Train and one called Cleopatra.

Glastonbury Carnival

When the carnival was over it was replaced by the sound of drummers below our kitchen window. Jen and Carolyn had both bought a lightsabre and drunken fights broke out before finally everyone retired to bed.

On Sunday three of us decided to get out into the fresh air by walking near Bath. The others kept warm and dry seeing the sights of Bath, mainly the insides of coffee and cake shops!

It had been a fun weekend and I have no hesitation in recommending the carnival to anyone.

Trip Report – Maggie’s London Night Hike

Maggie's London Night Hike

Ranmali had originally emailed some of us in the group asking whether we should enter a team for this charity event. It was clear that there was enought interest so we submitted a team and began to raise some sponsorship for this worthy cause.

By the day of the event there were 8 of us in total gathered outside City Hall for the 10pm start. It took longer than expected to register and after a short diversion to a bar we finally set off sometime closer to 10:30pm. The first stop was at Somerset House where we queued for a LONG time to get our cards stamped and collect some of the refreshments on offer.

It was a beautifully clear evening, many of us wearing just a base layer or T-shirt.

Before long we had arrived at stop 2, Horseguards Parade. The girls seemed keen to chat to men in uniform and one entered into the spirit of the event by posing Charlie’s Angels style with Jen and Caroline!

Charlie's Angels

The route really covered a wide variety of London sights with further stops at places like Battersea Power Station, the Maggie’s London centre, and The Royal Geographic Society. A highlight for me personally was probably witnessing the sunrise at Wellington Arch.

The final mile or so seemed to take forever but finally we were back at City Hall tired but in good spirits. The organisers had bacon butties waiting for us at the finish as well as a souvenir medal for finishing. Hopefully the charity will raise lots of money, our own charity page will remain online until December so please do sponsor us if you can spare a few pounds.

Gary

Cycling in Richmond Park

Cycling in Richmond Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As it was a lovely sunny day, Jen and I decided to head out to Richmond Park to do some cycling.

Jen hired a bike and was then kept waiting when I had trouble changing the chain on my bike.

Finally we set off from Roehampton Gate for a lap of the park, stopping a number of times to look for geocaches.

Richmond Park is always a popular place for Londoners and with the good weather it seemed everyone had decided to flock here.

As well as other cyclists we saw joggers, horse riders, and even a few people playing polo! Whilst I’m quite happy to hike for 25 miles I found getting back on a bike for the first time in ages harder than I expected. Sure it was a hot day but I was consuming more fluids than I expected. 

We are both keen to do more cycling so you can expect more events on the programme soon.

Trip Report – Canoe Trip River Wye

We left London Thursday night, finally arriving at Lucksall Campsite in Holme Lacy just as it was getting dark. Once the tents were up most of us decided to drive to Hereford to get some supplies and to sit down for a curry.

Friday morning we packed the tents away, used the camping stoves to cook breakfast and after washing it all down with a coffee sorted out our canoes. Hereford Canoe Hire had an office on the campsite so it was easy to load up our gear in the waterproof barrels and get on the water quickly.

The group consisted of 10 of us and 5 canoes. Those with previous experience began in the back seat to keep the canoes straight. The first day was quite a short day, our destination being Hoarwithy. Once we’d arrived mid afternoon we pitched the tents and went for a walk. Hoarwithy is only a small village but they do have a rather impressive church called St Catherine’s. As luck would have it inside the church there was a group rehearsing classical music which added to the atmosphere of the place. The pub was not open so some waited in the village whilst some of us returned to the camping field to soak up the sun.

That evening we enjoyed a pub meal whilst outside the weather took a turn for the worst. Dodging the showers we returned to the tents and when the rain finally stopped we started a campfire.

Saturday morning we awoke to grey skies. It finally cleared enough and the tents were dry enough to pack away. We were on the water before 10am for a long paddle to YHA Welsh Bicknor. We made a few stops on the way on what was a hot day. Lunch was taken in a pub near Kerne Bridge.

After a good meal we paddled on for the short distance to our hostel but not before some drama. First Grant and Yuan managed to fall into the River, Yuan losing a flip-flop in the process. Then we managed to paddle about 20 metres past the hostel and had to paddle upstream back to the bank. Rachel and Harjit could not quite beat the fast running water so Grant and I took another canoe to help them.

We decided that Grant would get in the back of one canoe and I would take the back seat of the other. Switching people between canoes whilst on the river is not that easy as it proved when all 4 of us fell in and got wet. Once back in the boats is took only a couple of minutes to reach the bank and our accommodation.

We all took advantage of the chance to have a shower. Six of us were to sleep in a tipi and four had a room in the hostel. After eating the group gathered round the log burner, drank a few beers and relaxed. I had a much better sleep in the tipi than I had in a tent and felt quite fresh for the final day and the paddle to Monmouth.

We were on the water by 10am and did not have to be in Monmouth until 1pm. Richard was too posh to sit on the hard canoe seat and used a folding camping chair with its own back! Always one for a little luxury he also had a wind up radio which was very relaxing tuned to a classical station as we paddled downstream. The rapids at Symonds Yat were good fun and I’m keen to try more adventurous rapids in the future.

We arrived in Monmouth exactly at 1pm. It had been a fun trip and we were not looking forward to returning to London. If you were one of the unlucky ones who did not get one of the 10 spaces keep an eye on the programme. We will be planning more canoe trips in 2009, both in the UK and overseas.

Cotswold Outdoor Discount

Good news, Cotswold Outdoor have confirmed that they are willing to give The London Adventure Group a 15% discount. The discount can be used in their branches, when buying online or when buying over the telephone.

The discount does not apply to items that are already discounted or in a sale.

If you would like to know the discount code please email Gary. Alternatively if you would like a London Adventure Group membership card with the discount code on the back please request one. Because we do not charge a membership fee we cannot post these membership cards, they will be issued the next time you come on a trip.

Gary

New Trip Added – Boating on Norfolk Broads

This is one of our more relaxing holidays. We collect our boat The Pearl Emblem on Friday afternoon and return it Monday morning at 9:00am. The boat sleeps 6-8 people. There is a double bed cabin and 2 cabins each with 2 single beds. The lounge also has a sofabed that can sleep 2 but we are limiting this trip to 6 spaces. Other rooms include a galley kitchen complete with cooker and fridge, raised driving cockpit for good visibility, 2 toilets and 1 shower.

The trip will concentrate on the North Norfolk Broads which are considered prettier than the South. We have chosen April as the weather is improving and the area is not as busy as in the height of the summer. There are some great moorings next to fantastic pubs and restaurants and there are shops and wildlife to see too.

This will not be an active holiday, it would be suited to those who want to see the scenery area, anyone with an interest in a boating holiday and to those who want to relax and have a fun long weekend.

New Ticket Booking System

Hi,

From the middle of next week you should be able to buy tickets for our events online. The detailed event description page on our website will include a ‘buy tickets now’ button that is a link. We are using a ticketing website called etickets.to and payments are made via Google Checkout which allows you to pay by various debit and credit cards.

We feel this new system has so many advantages for both the organiser and the those coming on trips.

The organiser

Knows instantly when a ticket has been bought and has the contact details of the purchaser.

Is able to ask other questions at the sales stage that might be useful like female only dorm? Meal option? Song requests (for party trip). This means we should be able to capture more information in one email and reduce the number of emails back and forth.

The customer

You know instantly whether a trip has sold out or not.
You get a ticket emailed to you.
Buying a ticket is quicker than having to login to your account to make a BACS payment, visiting a bank to make the transfer or posting a cheque.

This new system should be working by Wednesday, we are just waiting to verify the bank account with Google Checkout. Once operational this will be the only way to purchase tickets for our events.

We have researched the market before deciding on etickets.to and Google Checkout and the data is secure. Most of us now are willing to buy flights, CD’s, books etc on the internet but if anyone has any major objections please let me know.

Thanks