A Walk in Sunny Devon! After weeks of cold winds and rain, the sun rose in a clear blue sky on the morning of the Torbay U3A Granny Trek yesterday. No breath of wind stirred the trees and as we sped along the M5 motorway towards the meeting point in Devon, the temperature was rising steadily. We arrived early at The Jolly Sailor pub in East Ogden, which gave Julia time to wander round this prettiest of Devon villages, while I took Rudi and Fritz along a narrow lane to “stretch their legs” and “perform their necessaries” before we were joined by the walking group. Soon a number of vehicles began to arrive and smiling and friendly people emerged, donning boots and packs, typical of U3A walkers everywhere. It certainly is a great organisation. I had been in touch with Dave Walton, their leader, spasmodically since first contacting him last August, so it was good to meet at last. He’d done a great job of publicizing our cause and we were a party of seventeen, plus our canine friends, of course. As always, Fritz and Rudi were on their best behaviour and stole everyone’s heart. The walk was perfect in the beautiful Devon countryside and as we chatted to various members, we experienced again the camaraderie of a U3A group. Having lunch in The Jolly Sailor at the end of the morning added immensely to the enjoyment and by the time we gathered for a photo we were bound by a warm friendship. Just one year ago to the day I had walked with four delightful ladies in Walton-le-Willows in Suffolk, who had agreed to support the Granny Trek. My mind is full of memories as I recall the big adventure last year. We met so many kind people, just like those in Devon. Lionel, Gwen, Rosie – just a few names from the early days who had gone out of their way to arrange a circular walk and approach people in their area to support a stranger with a distant cause. But families with terminally ill children are the same the world over and their plight touches the hearts of all, no matter where they live. |