Morecambe And District H.F Ramblers

Important update for members. Dear Member, May we start off by wishing you a “Belated Happy Easter” and with the approach of better weather and hopefully, an end in sight from the current pandemic a return to a more “normal” life! We trust that you are keeping well, and that you have taken the opportunity of the offer of the COVID vaccination. As you are aware the COVID regulations and ease of lockdown began on the 29th March 2021. With this in mind and the changes that are on the horizon, we have decided to put a summer/winter walks programme together with a view to starting the walking coaches from Wednesday 7th July and from Sunday 11th July. However, this is dependent on whether or not, BJ’s (Boris Johnson’s) roadmap goes according to plan! Hopefully, it will! Therefore, I would appreciate it if you could contact me by email (lesleyd288@outlook.com) or by telephoning (01524 792978) and leaving a message to let us know if A) How do you feel about coming back on the coaches again? And B) when do you think you’d like to start walking with the club again? As yet we are not certain when the Social Coach will restart as that is dependent on museums, visitor centres, etc., opening up and I daresay, COVID restrictions being in place in those places. In the meantime, we are re-starting the small group walks on a Tuesday pm with Christine Scott; Thursday with Glynis Johnson (max. 20 places available); alternate Sundays – A walks with David Bolster & B walks with Lesley Dodgson as walks co-ordinators. If you have an idea for a walk that you would like to lead then have a word with the respective walks co-ordinator. PLACES MUST BE BOOKED AS THERE ARE LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE. At the moment, if you go out walking and travel to do your walk, it must be emphasised that travelling to your walk must be done by yourself unless you are in a “bubble” or you are going with your partner. CAR SHARING IS STILL NOT ALLOWED AT THE THIS PRESENT TIME and we have been asked to minimise the distance travelled. Kind Regards, Lesley pp Morecambe & District HF Rambling Committee

What were about? We are a HF Holidays and Rambling Association affiliated club who’s aims are to provide for group rambling, to promote the healthy enjoyment of leisure, the love of open air, social and international friendships and to organise holiday-making and other activities within these objectives. (in other words meet people, get fit and have some fun while seeing some of our wonderful countryside all year round).

Walks There are three levels of walks on Sunday’s fortnightly. Walk ‘A’ around 11 miles for the fittest of the bunch. Walk ‘B’ around nine miles for those that like a steady workout. Walk ‘C’ around seven miles for the gentle strollers. Wednesdays are slightly different at 8, 6, and 4 miles. Please Note: Walks have a time limit of 5 hours in winter and 6 hours in summer.

Interested ? If your interested in joining our club or just want to try one of our walks please contact Jack our membership secretary on 01524 61598. Coaches Collected by coach from Lancaster and Morecambe area (Pick up points start at Heysham Towers and collect at several stops in Morecambe, Slyne Road Lancaster, Slyne, Bolton Le Sands and Carnforth). For more information contact Mike Sheriff on 01524 410438.

Next Mid-Week Social coach Unfortunately, due to the current restrictions in force as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it is impossible to formulate a Social Group programme at the time of going to press. The Social Group trips will begin again in the future but only when it is perfectly safe to do so. All we can do in the meantime is be patient, take care and stay safe.

Dear Members, We trust and hope that you are keeping well and are enjoying being back on either of the walking coaches! It has been good to be back walking and socialising with friends and of course, bringing a little more "normality" back into our lives! For the August walks, it was announced that if you were to cancel your place on the coach (either Sunday or Wednesday) then there would be no penalty or cancellation fee. However, we now feel that as we are gradually getting more used to be back on the coaches, that we revert back to normal, i.e. "Members who cancel after the Monday before the ramble pay half fare (Friday for the Weds coach). Members who cancel within 24 hours of a ramble or social trip pay full fare." As stated in the Constitution of the Club BUT the exception to this is "NO penalty for late cancellation if the reason is COVID or suspected Covid" and this is at the discretion of the coach secretaries. This will start to apply for bookings on the 15th and 19th September (Wednesday and Sunday coaches respectively). You MUST inform either Glynis (Sunday Coach Secretary) or Jim (Wednesday Coach Secretary) as otherwise it could cause problems and delays. We appreciate that it is still early days and that we are not totally out of the pandemic but we would like to see you getting back and continuing walking. Regards, Lesley (Secretary)