YOUR COMMENTS.

February 2004

Email from Jill Hamson, with Bril Comments.

I thought visitors to Brilwalks.com would like to read this email I received from Jill Hampson, who, besides being a keen walker and a ex-work colleague of Larry, Mick, Peter, Ray and myself, has recently discovered the “delights” of my site. 

……congratulations you on the website – it is stunning.  Probably I like it more than most, because I have been on many of the walks you are talking about, and it just transports me back to that time, but even so there are many more amusing hours to while away looking at all the other walks. ‘ Odds and Sods’ makes good reading also.

I didn’t start my walking career until 1992, when I bought my first boots from Lockwoods, and went up Kilimanjaro.  This year (2004)! I threw them away and bought a new pair!!

My second attempt at walking was with Ray and Mike Taylor (the husband of Karen another ex-work colleague) doing the Black Mountain Roundabout, probably about 1993 (looking at your site on the Black Mountains bought it all back to me).  I soon realised I was not going to keep up with them, felt so guilty I dropped out half way.  This is when I decided to form the Kilimanjaro reunion and did the Black Mountains every year until 1998 staying at the Bear in Crickhowell.  The Kili people were more my sort of pace, and before I gave up in 1998 I did complete two thirds of the walk (22 miles) came down at the pub you mentioned at Cwmdu.  It was very tough.

The people who arrange the Walk now do a ten mile one in October, called the Talbybont Trial.  There is a 20 mile one, that we did in 1993, Larry was there, but now they do this 10 mile as well.  I am taking the Kilimanjaro people there this Oct. for their reunion and we will stay at the Bear again, and do ‘Hey Bluff’ on the Sunday.  

 Sometime during 1994 Peter Thompson suggested I might like the White Peak better, as the hills were not as high as the mountains of Wale and gave me my first leaflet on this.   He was right.  But it was still tough, I did it from 1994 (the photo – thank-you and the words – Jill is on the group photo on the White Peak Walk Page.) until 1998, and in 1999 I did the Chatsworth Challenge to end the Challenges!  You were also on it.  Fortunately for all these walks I was able to enlist the help of my cousins from Derbyshire, as again I would not have been able to keep up the pace with the ‘boys’.

 Looking back – I don’t know how I did it!! (I’m beginning to know what you mean)

 But I did laugh at your hilarious tale of poor Alan, we did meet him (and overtook) him, as he was trying to lift his leg over a style – looked in a terrible state!  (there’s a picture of Alan trying to lift his leg over a style on the White Peak Walk Page – Incidently I have recently had an Email from Alan who is intending to do the White Peak Walk this year with his daughter, Emma, and one of her friends.  Maybe he will let us know how they get on!)

Cancer Research Walks

I went on many of these walks also.  The first one, The Centenary Way,  I dropped out at Harbury, but the second I completed the 26 miles from Coombe Abbey through kenilworth and back to Warwick.  The walks then seemed to get shorter! and I did a few more before leaving WCC.

 Anyway all ‘that’ wetted my appetite, so now I have more time, I have been lucky in that I have been able to join a Walking Group in the next village, Oxhill.  They started as a set of like minded ‘friends’.  Fortunately I was a friend of one of them and was asked to join. It has now grown and we are about 20 people.  We walk the second Sunday of the month, and take it turns to organise the walks, some are even ‘Weekend Aways’.   Thankfully only 10 miles – and a pub stop in the middle, really very pleasant – and I am so grateful I have found them.  I have now organised four walks myself – me that could never read a map!  Amazing what you can do!  So I’ve done one in Derbyshire, one around Shenington/Edgehill, the ‘Weekend Away in Norfolk’ (two walks)  – and I am in the middle of organising a Cannock Chase one for September!  We do have to recce them first though – before we try them out – so I quite enjoy taking the dog on these.  Now Molly, as Mabel passed on. (Mabel accompanied Jill on many of the walks)

 Having your web site will give me a few ideas for the future.

 I read your bit on Walking Poles, I got mine when I saw Peter Thompson use his (quite awhile back).  It has saved my knees tremendously, as like us all I was getting quite a bit of pain, but what with taking Glucosomine, going to a physio who gave me a set of exercises and using the poles – I am now pain free.  So I can recommend them.  And had to laugh at the comment ‘where’s the snow’ as I get it all the time.

 Well Barry I have not read all your web site yet – but getting through it – every time I get a spare minute I am in there, it makes fascinating reading, so well done for getting it made and so humorous too.

I have told my cousins about the website, so they will be dipping in shortly.  I will tell my walking group as well and anyone else I think would enjoy it.

 I’ve taken up golf, it being slightly like walking, and playing at different golf clubs is certainly a way to see more of the countryside.  (Yes, but it destroys a good walk)

 Also skiing – another way to get up high in the mountains to see the spectacular views – All comes from walking! 

Thanks again Barry – and keep on with the good work.

Jill

-o-O-o-

November 2003