4th April
Our annual attempt to raise money for our summer activities has come around, as the year number is even it means a walk to Wales and back again. We decided that we would use the old Severn Crossing as the new one does not have a pedestrian route and the Severn is a difficult river to swim across.
The Cubs that walked were Megan, Charlie, Aimee, Robert, Matt, Cameron, Jamie, Ryan S and Conner. They managed to drag along their families so we had a group of about 20 walking.
We arranged to meet at the Severn View services, at 10:45 ready to start at 11:00. The services only expect people to stay for a limited time in their car park and it would take away from the profits of the venture to pay to park for longer. Luckily the Travelodge Hotel has a large car-park that they were generous to let us use, so a big thank-you to them.
The company arrived just as a heavy rain shower passed over the area, would the sun-god's reputation, so severely dented recently with the girls One Tower Trek. However it must be said that the sun came out and shone really nicely. The only problem was with the wind, it has been suggested by someone braver that the author that this could be down to Julie - the wind god. The wind was fierce but blew at a right angle to our direction so apart from blowing hair, for those that had any, all over the place so it did not bother us on the way over.
The walk seemed a bit shorter that remembered from previous walks and soon, about an hour and a quarter we were in Wales eating our lunch, warmed by the sun and out of the wind. All to soon the walk back was started, It is a little know fact that the Welsh side of the bridge is lower than the English side so the bridge rears up in front of you as you stride out onto it. The wind had moved round slightly and was now at our backs this helped to keep people moving. The various levels of fitness became apparent when the group that set out straggled over the bridge, the lightest being blown along the fastest.
The wind was not everybody's friend though, Cameron was pushed over by a particularly hard gust which shook everybody up a bit, luckily he was not hurt. The last few hundred yards were protected from the wind and were pleasant. While the last few walkers made it back to the cars the Leaders were busy signing certificates for all those that had been and done, including a few parents and siblings.
We will soon know how much money we have raised, Jamie was confident that he had about £70 pledged to him, we will see. It does seem a shame that the few that turned up and worked will give the benefit of their labours to the whole pack, but we know who to thank when we spend the money.
Thanks to the, almost, redeemed sun-god, the newly appointed wind-god the Cubs and their families that turned up and got windblown and possibly a little sunburnt(?) as well.