I can’t believe that is eight months since I wrote these words
“Hi, it’s Norma the Secretary of WARM. What an amazing day we all had on Saturday 18th September. Finally, after an 18-month hiatus, a walk went ahead. “
That is the 2021-22 season over and we can look back on some fabulous walks and despite Covid19 our group continues to thrive. New walk leaders have emerged, and we have walked in all four corners of Murcia, some have been old favourites but there have been new additions too. Although our official season is over, there is just time to squeeze in a moonlight walk on the night of 12th July, at Fuente Caputa.
When I am thinking about what to write in this monthly column different things inspire me at different times of year. I was away on a rail trip last month and Martin O’Hanlon kindly wrote the article.
As a thank you to him some of my inspiration for the article this month comes from his amazing photos from a recent walk at Barranco de Hondares. Although the weather has been unusual the consequence of all that rain can be seen in the amazing photos. Kevin and Tina led a band of very happy walkers who delighted in the unusual surroundings.
Our last walk of the season was at Calasparra, led by Rick, and it included a pit stop to have an Extraordinary General Meeting outside in the amphitheatre. I won’t bore you with the details but we have fallen foul of some Spanish bureaucracy rules and need to ratify decisions to keep our paperwork as an Association in order. It was a walk of two halves, the first a nice gentle stroll through the rice fields and along the Rio Segura, followed by a stiff climb up to the castle and up and down and up again to the tunnels used for moving the ore. A surprise gift of world-famous Calasparra rice from Rick. Very thoughtful and appreciated by all who went the distance. The wildflowers looked stunning, another consequence of all that rain.
The other event to talk about was held on 26th April and our volunteer walk leaders had some first aid training. We are fortunate to have as one of our members a retired UK GP, John, who was able to provide some expert advice. It was very well appreciated and will allow us also to update the advice we offer leaders. Without our volunteer leaders there would be no walks, so it was good to be able to arrange something for them.
So, we now have a break from walking until the temperatures drop and we will probable start again at the end of September. There is still work to do behind the scenes, our walk organiser will be looking for people to offer walks in the 2022-23 season, and we have our AGM to organise, which this year will also be a social event.
Email us for details of our walks