A White Rose Journey: York to Minden

Across the Rhine on Day 8

Latest message from our damp but determined duo:
 
Some people get a world cruise. Today we got a 3 minute crossing of the Rhine shared with 2 tractors and 2 diggers. Today has been a long one, 38km, but we have survived the downpours and are still smiling here in Varsseveld.

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Update: Day 7, rest day

The walk is going really well and we actually had a rain free day yesterday when we walked from Beesd to Kesteren. The day started with trips on three trains to move us 20 miles! We didn't wait long at any of the stations so were walking quite early.
 
It was a day for making progress towards Minden as, after about eleven or twelve Km along pleasant country lanes we had a stretch of about 20km on the bike lane alongside a fairly busy road. The scenery either side was OK and we really got going, for the first time since we've been over here.
 
The problem was that the road we were following bypassed all the little villages where a welcome cup of coffee might have been available. We found one small settlement with a bar/cafe and had coffee there as we tried to explain what we were doing. The owners, correctly, came to the conclusion that we are mad but wished us a safe journey anyway.
 
As we walked through the village of Kesteren we had to pass a bakery, so treated ourselves to a cake to have at the motor home. Having enjoyed it and a cup of tea we both fell asleep in the sunshine for about an hour.
 
We escaped last evening, into Germany where there was a massive thunderstorm with fantastic lightning. Really Wagnerian, appropriately.
 
Today is a day off in Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands, which for four days each year becomes the centre of the walking world, as 45000 walkers take to the streets of the city and surrounding villages in the world's largest walking festival.
 
We stood and watched them, heavily disguised as 'not walkers'. We're planning to be here, walking, next year though.

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If it's Holland, it must be strawberry tart and coffee

And a windmill, of course.

The latest message from the walkers tells of a windy but successful day - 31.8km bringing them to Beesd, with their total now standing at 135.5km, more than a quarter of the way!

The strawberry tart and coffee were today's essential fuel, and contemplating the lock in the photo provided a welcome respite on the day's trek - Dutch waterways are busy, it seems.

Wifi remains elusive and expensive, but it's great to see our duo, or someone using their phone, making such good progress!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Safe ashore, but far from dry

A message has arrived from a rain- and wind-swept pair of walkers this evening, with 32km under their belts and a White Rose bush that won't be needing any extra watering tonight.

These views of Rotterdam at the start of their long Day 4 will hopefully be supplemented tomorrow, along with a fuller account of their first steps on the European mainland. The carrier pigeons are refusing to fly, so we're making do with photo messaging from the trusty mobile until a wifi hotspot can be found.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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White Rose afloat

In a wireless message from the Humber Estuary, the White Rose to Minden crew have sent news of their last day on Yorkshire soil (for a while, anyway).

Following a waterlogged Day 2, all the walkers were more than happy to complete the York to Hull section of the walk successfully on a much drier Day 3, with jubilation on arrival at the shores of the Humber (pictures to follow soon, possibly via carrier pigeon). 

Logistical support from the Territorial Army servicemen from Doncaster proved invaluable, demonstrating that it isn't only an army that marches on its stomach. Regular readers of this weblog may already be aware of the value placed on timely and appropriate confectionary. Carrying extra footwear was also a boon to some weary walkers, apparently, and the presence of a backup vehicle to act as backstop in busy traffic was much appreciated, so thanks are due to the enthusiastic TA crew.

Tomorrow, our walkers disembark alone to begin the next stage of their journey. We wish them bon voyage, and hope to read first-hand of their progress across Holland. Keep those pigeons coming.

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(Little Weighton,England) Wet, wetter and very wet, but we completed stage 2..... with the help of bacon sandwiches!

We were expecting rain today and we weren't disappointed. We woke to rain; we drove to the finish in rain; we transferred to the start in rain and we set off in rain. All the expected walkers arrived to start.

I'm not sure which was worse, the water falling from the sky, or the water thrown up by some of the passing vehicles.The country road we started along was  a quiet, almost traffic free lane last time we walked it, but today there was a huge amount of traffic on it. It's not very wide at the best of times, but flooding along the sides of the road made it even narrower. If we moved onto the grass verge, some drivers drove through the puddles and some of them weren't too careful about the spray they caused.

Our escorting TA soldiers, again, did their best to keep us as safe as possible.

Nearing the hour and a quarter mark, someone, with detailed local knowledge, suggested stopping at a roadside cafe which was a short distance ahead. It was suggested that we might have a short break to use the toilets and maybe, perhaps have a little something to keep us going. The little something turned out to be bacon sandwiches and one of our number had two. Don't worry Bernard, your secret is safe with me!

Actually, after a stop and something to eat Bernard usually shoots off at about mach 2, but not this time. Perhaps he overfuelled.

After walking along a 3 mile road with only one bend in it, so it felt more like 5 miles we arrived at a small settlement called North Cliff. At this point Don, of 'Waggon Wheel' fame, announced that he was ready for some lunch. He was one of the few not to have a sandwich at the cafe, so a halt was called. At this point the weather was improving and wet weather kit was being removed.

After a short off road section we tackled the last five kilometers of which five were up the steepest, highest climb of the walk. Some of the Ta guys decided to run up some parts of the hill, steady determination got all the walkers up and over to the finish at Raspberry Cottages as the rain started falling again. We were safely in the cars before the rain became very heavy.

The last Yorkshire stage is tomorrow and takes us to the ferry terminal in Hull, then it's just the two of us in Holland.

Some great news. We are not sponsorless, Geoff has become our first donor on www.bmycharity.com/awhiterosetominden  so thanks Geoff for getting us started. Perhaps more people will now donate to give us some more encouragement.

This is the last post from home. Future ones will depend on us finding WiFi sites. Failing that we should be able to send something from the phone. We'll try to keep you posted.

 

 

 

It's that way,

 

'It's that way.'

'No It's that way''

Posted via email from A White Rose for Minden 'It's a long way'

A great send off at the Mansion House and a flag parade through York, we're finally on the way. Even the weather was great.

Day 1 and we’re up and running, well walking really.

The send off at the Mansion House was really good, with the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Brian Watson presiding, as the Lord Mayor is in Germany.

Wonderful refreshments, ok it was coffee (or tea) and cakes, were provided as everyone mingled and introduced themselves or chatted. This could have gone on for ages but the Deputy Lord Mayor decided it was about time to get rid of us and so called the gathering to order. He wished all the walkers a pleasant journey and presented us with a letter of greetings, from the Lord Mayor to the Burgermeister of Minden.

Mr Ian Roger of Roger’s Nurseries of  Pickering,  presented Chris with the rose tree, which the nursery has specially prepared and donated, and which will be carried to Minden to be planted at the monument marking the battle’s site. Apparently David Patch, who actually looked after the rose bush,’ guarded it with his life’.. Thanks David, a great job.

Yorkshire flags were presented to all the walkers by the Yorkshire Ridings’ Society,   then everyone wandered down to the Mansion House steps for photographs before forming up behind the British Legion Banner and the Yorkshire flag, this latter carried by non other than the the Deputy Lord Mayor himself, and marching through the city centre, causing traffic chaos on the way, of course, to Walmgate Bar.(What a long sentence that was!) Here the walkers continued on their way eastwards whilst the city escorts went their various ways.

 

A very steady start, possibly the walkers were handicapped by too many buns at first, but the speed soon picked up, thanks to a downhill section at Heslington.

A long flat section then led to….The Waggon Wheel Stop. The treats were supplied by Jean in to celebrate a recent birthday, just over 21,

A section on a busy road with no footpath gave the young TA Riflemen, who were walking with us, a chance to shepherd us along and keep us safe, which they did very well. We know what the sheep at a sheepdog trial feel like now!

A leisurely lunch was taken in the garden of friends of two of the walkers before a final, and unusually quiet,  push to the cars, and home.

 

Everyone seemed impressed with everyone else with an amazing average speed of 5.5 kph (3.43 mph) being maintained over the 24.2 km(15mile) day.

Tomorrow will be hillier, but who will have survived today to start again tomorrow?

 

 

 

Top:     The 'official'  bit of the send off with the Deputy Lord Mayor of York and some of the guests.

Middle: Chris carrying 'the rose'. We didn't expect it to be quite so big.

Bottom: Ready to start the real walking. Just inside Walmgate Bar, York.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Didn't find fame on Radio Leeds but had coffee with the Lord Mayor and got invited back.

I think we might have been misinformed because we went to Leeds to take part in something with Radio Leeds. We tried to make sure we had answers to likely questions, then found, when we arrived, that Radio Leeds was not involved at all. All hopes of stardom shattered.

We did, however, meet two fine fellows from the Rifles Regiment who will be walking with us from York to Hull. Well actually, one of them will, the other was 'filling in' for his friend who had a pressing engagement elsewhere. Sorry lads I didn't write your names down, so I'll have to give you a mention on Thursday.

These two guys were about to set off to walk from Leeds to York where they will meet up with the rest of us on Thursday. The Lord Mayor and her husband were at the Civic Hall to wish them, and us, a good trip but the boys couldn't set off until we'd all had coffee, cake and a good natter with the Lord Mayor and her husband. Well, it's what you do isn't it?

Eventually we waved the boys off on their way and we must have behaved because we got invited back, after the walk, to show the Lord Mayor the pictures. We might even get coffee and cake again.

We hope the boys had a good walk today (actually this is Tuesday's entry but I'm typing it on Wednesday)  and tomorrow. See you in York for ...well actually...coffee and cake! This is becoming a bit of a a recurring theme, because, I happen to know that when we arrive in Hull we're going to ge greeted with...yes, coffee and cake. It probably explains why we don't lose weight when we walk.

We're supposed to have a day off on Wednesday. It's our wedding anniversary (Thirty seven years, since you asked) but I'm sure something will need sorting.

 

I've just checked our donation web site, we're meant to be raising funds for the Royal British Legion, sadly appropriate with the sad news coming out of Afghanistan, and the grand total stands at 00.00. Perhaps you could be our first sponsor....or our second ....or third. The site is at www.bmycharity.com/awhiterosetominden 

 

Posted via email from A White Rose for Minden

Just over two days to go and we've still loads to do. A lazy weekend though and we're raring to go. No sign of the Waggon Wheels and we're a car short on Friday. Otherwise everything is fine. Really!

We’re back from our visit to our family and the walk training sessions for our granddaughter. She’s really getting the hang of this walking thing now and cranking up the distance. Several long walks of about ten metres were completed. We reckon it’s down to our training and the Waggon Wheels but don’t tell her mum.

 Incidentally there’s no sign of our truckload of Waggon Wheels. The walk could be doomed for lack of this essential snack. Still, we’ve got to be optimistic, there’s a couple of days left before the start.

 

Our final training outing was meant to be a brisk run, but turned out to be a steady stroll around a local country park followed by a leisurely lunch. Perhaps we’ve got it wrong and this is the sort of walking we should be doing.

‘But,’ I hear you ask, ‘Where’s the challenge in that?’

Well….. we don’t know yet,……. but we could look a bit harder before rejecting the idea completely.

 

Serious packing got underway this afternoon. If you see a bulging motor home around Yorkshire, that could be us. Chris did the final wash this afternoon but it will probably be followed by a final, final wash before we leave.

We’re still  looking for a support driver, across the Wolds, for Friday morning. So if you’ve got a couple of hours free, and a car , we’d love to hear from you. A similar problem exists just north of Osnabruck, Germany……no.....probably not!

 

We're doing something with Radio Leeds tomorrow . Another step on the way to stardom? We've no idea what's happening, we've just been given a place and time. Wear a white rose and carry a copy of the Yorkshire Post sort of thing. The Lord Mayor is reputed to be involved too. Hopefully you'll find out in the next, exciting instalment. Of course it could be a wind up. We know people who have strange senses of humour.

 

Oh well, back to the packing, I’m sure we can get more in yet.

 

If you have any comments on, or questions about the walk,  we'd love to hear from you at  whiterose@yorkshireridings.org

 

Posted via email from A White Rose for Minden

Days off visiting the family and giving our grand daughter, who's just 1 year old, some walking lessons. She's doing really well. Maybe we'll train her up to do the 300 years celebration walk.

We've managed to grab a few days to spend with our family. Taking the chance to rest our legs.

The drive down,from Yorkshire to Kent was almost exactly the same distance as the walk from York to Minden. Actually, the bit round the M25 over the Dartford crossing was done at about the speed we'll be walking!

With all the training over, except, perhaps, for a last run on Monday morning, it's really quite strange to be so inactive after weeks of training.

 

On one of the first training walks for the escort walkers, one of them, let's call him Don, as that happens to be his name, suggested a stop after about an hour and a half.. 

He explained that he is an elevenses person and always had a snack about that time to keep his energy levels up.

Don's choice of snack turned out to be a 'Waggon Wheel'.

At the next walk, the time was reached for Don's break and Chris produced, from her rucsac, sufficient 'Waggon Wheels' for everyone. This first stop of the day has now become known as the 'Waggon Wheel' stop and several of the walkers now produce them.

I sent this story to Burton's Bicuits who produce the aforesaid snack and we are now waiting, expectantly, for a large truckload of 'Waggon Wheels' to arrive. I'll keep you posted.

'Right little one, time for some more walking. What! You want a Waggon Wheel first!'

 

 

 

Posted via email from A White Rose for Minden