The Bourne Walk, and what Peterborough Ramblers is all about

Commentary By Tony  Pictures by Simon, Mandy and Tony.

The Bourne Walk on 26 June2025 was something of a special occasion for me as it was my first walk in about a year following a few back problems.   The committee kindly agreed that I could ask along a friend who was an experienced walker but not a member of our group, so that if I found I couldn’t complete the walk I wouldn’t disrupt the afternoon’s activities for everyone else; my friend Mandy and I could make the journey back in our own time.

As it happened, I did make it, and indeed even managed a few pictures “en route” (as we photographers like to say).  But much more to the point I must mention the extraordinary way in which I was greeted by fellow Ramblers who hadn’t seen me for quite a while.

That welcome speaks volumes for Peterborough Ramblers, and emphasises the fact that this club is not just about walking, although that is the reason we get together, it is about friendship and shared experiences.   I’ve always felt that since I joined some years ago, but never more than last Thursday as I was spotted making my way carefully from the parked car to the gathering group.

That welcome added to my determination to be able to complete the walk; I feel I owe everyone who was on the walk.  I am in your debt.

Although re-payment may be delayed.

And so we gathered in Beech Avenue, Bourne and progressed in a manner befitting to experienced walkers.  Except I have to say it is quite extraordinary how quickly one can lose the knack of this notion of one foot in front of another!

I mean it sounds pretty simple in theory, and I have been practising it quite a bit in and around my house during the centuries when I have not been walking with the ensemble (at least for many a long month).

So thus it was that we ventured deeper and deeper into the solid undergrowth the likes of which I had not seen in my many moths of recouperation wherein the essence of the changing landscapes through the season was as nought to me, staring as I was, vaguely out of the window wondering what it was that I used to do in the ancient days.

But – and this is the really jolly thing in all this – it comes back to one fairly quickly, this notion of one foot in front of the other!

And indeed I also recalled the concept of walking in a line – again something lost to me during the many months of isolation and removal from the real world.

But there it all was stretched out in front of me unchanged from the eons before when once I was a part of this wonderful

ensemble.  But I must admit it took me a while to get the hang of things.   Worse – the art of walking and taking photographs (or “snaps” as we professionals call them) seemed to escape me completely.

And then we came upon the surprise – the carvings.   Well, what can I say?  I don’t know.  So I won’t.

But by the time we arrived thereupon I was so over the moon (as us astronauts say) I couldn’t take in any more and thus forgot to ask

what it was that I was looking at.

But I would conclude with one simple note.   The warmth of welcome I got on returning to the group really was amazing and overwhelming.  It gave me the confidence that I could do a 5.4 mile walk and that my past injuries were, well, a thing of the past.

May I thank everyone for the kind welcome that I received back, and say to anyone who is not a member of this group, and who wonders what it would be like to be a part of Peterborough Ramblers, the answer is “with friends”.

Thank you everyone.  I was completely overwhelmed and of course utterly delighted to be back with you.  I’m writing this on the day after the walk, and everything still feels ok, so I am hopeful of being with you all again next week.