Though even in a year free of Covid regulations we don’t have a monthly full club meeting in December, we most certainly do usually have our final walk of the year during the month. So working under strict Rule of 6 & Risk Assessment regulations 18 of us were blessed with one of December 2020’s sunniest days as we took to Bushey Park on the hour of 10.
The Royal Park is a space certainly large enough to accommodate the several 100 other walkers and cyclists who also took advantage of the gloriously unseasonal conditions. Your photographer was part of the group of 6 led by Stephen Rouse and we quickly lost the masses as we headed east towards Hampton Wick. Our route is well known and much appreciated by Moleside walkers – not a single incline, absolutely no stiles and water alongside us almost the entire way.
Our group of 6 was not intended to catch up with our first group and we made the halfway mark beside Kingston Bridge in under an hour.
We were at Hampton Court in time to hear the Palace clock striking midday and, sadly with
no traditional post walk lunch possible in these challenging times, we were all agreed that we are most certainly missing all the opportunities to get together that our Walking programme offered us before we had to start locking down and social distancing at the end of March. Thanks to Alan Willis who navigated Group 1 today and to Steve Mustoe who led Group 3. It is great to know that Steve is already drawing up our 2021 walking programme. We’re certainly looking forward to it.