The Magnificent Seven

Today was the first day when all of the team and crew got together for the first time. Rachel, Sam and I walked 10 miles; Alex, Pauline and Sandie walked a couple of miles, and Geraldine cycled 8 miles (still nursing her broken toe). Then we all met up for a pub lunch and a bit of a chat, at the Queens Head in Burley, in the middle of the New Forest.

It was a beautiful, sunny, spring day... t-shirt weather. The 10 mile walk was not particularly demanding, being quite flat, but was very enjoyable, mostly through forest and scrubland. We had New Forest ponies for company from time to time but, despite Rachel's best efforts, they weren't very friendly!

Alex, Pauline and Sandie (aka The Support Crew) used their 2 mile amble to start some planning of their own, and over lunch we discussed their ideas and some of our own. Everyone now has a much clearer idea of what this challenge entails, and their role in it. Also, Rachel seemed pleased with the completion of 1/6 distance in a good time on her first training walk.

As we were starting our tenth mile, we were delighted to find that the locals had been out, preparing the way for us, including putting up signs warning motorists to watch out for us! We were having a lot of trouble trying to take a photo of all 3 of us plus the sign, so were grateful when a helpful passing motorist stopped and offered to take the photo... he seems to have done a reasonable job!

The route for the 10 miles is here.

We've half planned another get-together for sometime in April, date to be confirmed.