INSIDE THE WORLD OF MEETUP

 Typically I had a good walk from Kegworth to East midlands parkway station before I even started. Also typically I was going through an area less than an hours car ride from home that I'd never walked through in my life.  I also wondered why they put a train station in the middle of nowhere. It was a poor turnout, less than 10 people for what was a good walk on flat terrain in sunny but not too hot weather.  We headed through the villages of Thrumpton, Barton (where we stopped at the church grounds for our break), Clifton Grove and Wilford. The area around Clifton woods and along the canal was outstanding. Overall it was one of the best walks we had done, having good people to talk to along the way always helps. Somehow managed do get into Nottingham city center with the maximum of country side on the way in.

Can't believe I have never been to Sherwood forest despite being less than a 90 minute car ride from home. It was a bit further than I thought and was close to 3 hours on public transport. We didn't go the route of the major oak tree but went through some well defined paths towards Rotary wood. After a couple of hours we got to our dinner stop at Rufford Abbey.  It was the best part of the walk around the ground and the lake with lots of people about. Personally I would have like to have spent more time around here. On the way back it was over farmland which was a bit less interesting. The main event going home was having to run through the city to just make the bus home.

  Another 3 months in lockdown without traveling more than 4 miles to and from work. Then meetup walks started back up with waiting lists of over 20 people. I then somehow managed to end up on 2 walks on the same day and had to choose between them. We started at Bramcote hills park, heading north to Trowell, then looping round back to the starting point.  The walk itself was good, the bad weather held off and it was good to catch up with some faces I'd not seen for ages. Hopefully this is the end of lockdowns and a step in the direction of normal life.