THIS MONTH'S WALKS AND EVENTS

MARCH AND EARLY APRIL 2019

DOGS MUST BE ON LEADS AT ALL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED BY THE WALK LEADER

From time to time we take photos to update our web site and also SRSB's web site. If anyone does not wish to appear on group photos please make it clear at the beginning of the walk.

WALKS - John is now collating names for the walk program 2019. If anyone would like to lead a walk for us, or perhaps you have not lead one before and would like to try please contact him on 0114 2334080 or 07816089059.

TUESDAY 5TH MARCH
MEET: Poundland, High Street at 9.35 to catch the 10.06 no 1/1a bus to Hucklow Rd/Firth Park, where the walk will start 10.40.
ROUTE: Firth Park, Wincobank Hill, Wolley Wood, Concorde Park, returning back to the start.
DISTANCE: 5 miles.
TERRAIN: Good paths one short incline.
LEADER: David (07554143262 on the day). Please contact Norman if you wish to join this walk 0114 2686339.

TUESDAY 13TH MARCH
MEET: Poundland, High Street at 9.30 to catch the 9.50 no 52/52a bus on Arundel Gate to Woodhouse Railway Station, where the walk will start 10.20.
ROUTE: Woodhouse station, Shirecliffe Valley, Shire Brook Valley, Beighton Marsh Nature Reserve, Woodhouse station.
DISTANCE: 6 miles.
TERRAIN: Mostly on good paths no stiles and minor ascents.
LEADER: Rob Haslam (07761922047on the day). Please contact Chris by Friday 8th March if you wish to join this walk on 01142366685, 07730472606 or hewitt.c4@sky.com

TUESDAY 19TH MARCH -
We are arranging a trip to Sherwood Forest to visit the RSPB's Sensing Nature, which they have developed as part of Sarah Bell's project. We will have 35 seats available on the coach which means we can accommodate up to a maximum of 17 VIPs and 18 guides. More information will be available in the March newsletter but in the meantime please contact Chris on 01142366685, 07730472606 or hewitt.c4@sky.com

THURSDAY 21ST MARCH - PEAK PARK RANGERS WALK
MEET: Queens Head Pub at 9.15 to take the 9.30 Beewise mini bus (tel: 07778691641) to Fairholmes, where the walk will start at 10.00.
ROUTE: To be decided on the day.
DISTANCE: 8 miles.
TERRAIN: Good paths with some steady climbs.
LEADER: Peak Park Rangers. All VIP's and guides please contact Carol so that she knows there are enough guides for VIP's and please say whether you intend to travel by mini bus or go direct by car. Carol Adams 07786546004, 0114 2753922 caz25adams17@gmail.com

SUNDAY 24TH MARCH - BAKEWELL - MONSAL TRAIL - ASHFORD IN THE WATER - BAKEWELL
MEET: Meet Sheffield Interchange at 9.20 to catch the 9.40 no 218 bus to Bakewell where the walk will start 10.31.
ROUTE: Bakewell Circular.
DISTANCE: 6 miles.
TERRAIN: Good tracks and grassy paths but may be muddy in places.
LEADER: Margaret Patrick (07946382896 on the day). Please contact Carol if you wish to join this walk Carol Adams 07786546004, 0114 2753922 caz25adams17@gmail.com Bus times back are 15.43, 16.40 and 17.43.

TUESDAY 2ND APRIL - GRENOSIDE WALK
MEET: Meet at Poundland High Street at 9.15 to catch the 9.45 no 86 bus on Arundel Gate to Cinder Hill Lane Grenoside where the walk will start 10.20.
ROUTE: Easy Walking around Ecclesfield on good tracks some stiles but no steep ascents.
DISTANCE: 4 1/2 miles.
TERRAIN: Good tracks and paths.
LEADER: David (07554143262 on the day) and Norman. Please contact Norman if you wish to join this walk 0114 2686339 Car drivers can park at the top of Whitley Lane near the Norfolk Arms Pub.

SENSING NATURE TRIP TO EDWINSTOW - TUESDAY 19TH MARCH
MEET: The coach will leave the Penny Black Public House on Pond Hill at 10 am. We will be met by Jack Baddems who is The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Officer. He will take us around the project. Jack estimates that the tour will take about two hours, so we will have another couple of hours to explore the paths around the forest before we leave at about 3pm to get back into Sheffield for 4pm.

Please wear sensible walking shoues or boots and have your waterproofs with you. Bring a packed lunch and a drink. There is no charge for this outing.

Below is a list of those who have asked me to reserve a place for them if you would like to come but are not on this list, please contact Chris as soon as possible. TeL 0114 2366685 hewitt.c4@sky.com . Since this project is about Sensing Nature for the Viaually Imaired, it would be good to have a few more VIP'S on the outing.

GUIDES: Angela Elliott, Chris Hewitt, David Cadet, Eileen Ingham, Gordon Worthigton, Jean Worthington, Joe Fagan, Margaret Patrick, Marie Gelder, Mary Collins, Mike Jackson, Norman Pearson, Olwen Greensides, Paul Foxton, Phillip Timms, Stan Wainwright, Teresa Nuittall.
VIPS: Amy Buck, Carol Adams, Gail Fagan, Kimberly Jones, Maring Wilson and Sue Hill.

Please contact Chris by Friday 8th February if you wish to join this walk. Tel 0114 2366685, hewitt.c4@sky.com .

Saturday 11th May
We will be walking the 'DUKES ROAD'. This is a 12.1/2 mile walk starting and finishing in Lower Bradfield. We will pass several reservoirs including Agden, Derwent Water, Strines, and Dale Dyke, woods, fields and open Moorland are a large part of the walk (nice views and scenery). The proposed walking time will be between 6 and 6 1/2 hours.

Further details will be in the April and May Newsletters. Sponsor forms have been printed and will be handed out shortly.
LEADER: David (07554143262 on the day). Please contact Norman if you wish to join this walk 0114 2686339

Walking Holiday September 9th- 14th September in Llandudno...
Firstly thanks to those who have sent their Ł50 deposits in. Those members who still need to pay please can you let Stan Wainwright have your Ł50 by 30th Jan, either by a cheque payable to SVIWG, cash or directly through the bank.
We have had a couple of cancellations for the walking break so if you were thinking you might like to join us but thought it was too late, then please get in touch & we can see what accommodation will be available. Further information please contact Hilary on 0114 2306604 hilarymyers16@gmail.com or speak to Sue Hill or Christine Hewitt.

GROUP NEWS
We raised a fantastic sum of Ł130 on the Wednesday 12th December Christmas lunch raffle well done.

TABLES WANTED
A member has asked me if anyone has a nest of tables they no longer need, if so please let Gail know who will pass your details on to the person making the enquiry. email gail.fagan@guidemail.co.uk 0114 2667764.

NEW UPDATE FOR IPHONE...

The GPS satalight navigation Lazarillo have invested quite a bit recently and improved it. You can now actually get turn by turn instructions whilst navigating towards the destination. You need to use the search function or try going to your list of favourite locations.
Select somewhere by double tapping with one finger
then swipe to find start tracking,
double tap to turn that toggle
then at the bottom left double tap on walking mode
a menu will pop-up on which you need to double tap on Google maps or just Lazarillo because it has now built in navigation and this is better because you do not get two voices talking at the same time!
You then make sure you have your ear pods in your ear- well, one of them anyhow - and pop your phone in your pocket and set off!
With BlindSquare it is much easier to cut out unwanted announcements of shops, pubs, small restaurants. Lazarillo is completely free and as I said, it now enables you to get turn by turn directions. None of the GPS apps are absolutely accurate but they really do help quite a bit. So, I would encourage you to download this app and experiment!

------------------------------------

MEMBERS LEAVING ANY WALKS EARLY PLEASE LET THE LEADER OR BACK MARKER KNOW

HOLIDAYS FOR VIP's AND SIGHTED GUIDES... Traveleyes is a holiday company who specialise in holidays for Blind people and Sighted guides. They do short City breaks and World Wide Travel. Sighted guides can get a discount of up to 50 percent. For further information call 0113 8874275 or visit their web site traveleyes-international.com

______________

MAIN WALKS CONTACTS: Christine Hewitt (Chair) - 0114 2366685 hewitt.c4@sky.com and John Bater (Walks Organiser) - 0114 233 4080 or 07816089059

Please note that anyone intends to come on any off the walks, you must contact John Bater above (except for Wednesday walks when you should contact Christine Hewitt on 0114 2366685 or hewitt.c4@sky.com . Walks are suitable for dogs (on leads) unless otherwise stated.

IMPORTANT!! It is advisable to bring a waterproof jacket and wear walking boots (if you have them) when you come out with the group.

DOGS ON WALKS...
This is by way of a reminder to everyone about how we should be taking care of dogs on walks. There was an incident on a walk recently where a Guide dog went missing and it took some time and a lot of retracing of steps to find her again. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE LOSING GUIDE DOGS!!!! So - let us just remind ourselves of the rules governing dogs on walks. Firstly, it is up to the leader to say when dogs can be let off the lead. In making their decision leaders will be bearing in mind that dogs should not be off the lead near roads, anywhere where there are livestock, either in the field we are in or adjacent fields. Nor should dogs be off the lead if we are walking on a narrow path where dogs running up and down the line of walkers runs the risk of knocking people over, especially if they pick up a stick in their mouths as some of them are prone to do. Once the leader has said that dogs may be let off the lead it is up to the guide dog owner to release their own dog but they must make sure that a sighted guide takes responsibility for keeping an eye on the dog. If the sighted guide is you - then YOU DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE DOG. Ask the guide dog owner to call the dog back the minute you spot a possible problem and let's be sensible about playing with the dogs. This can just get them over excited and distracts their attention from their owner as well as the potential danger of dogs chasing up and down the line of walkers. Please do not throw sticks, dogs get splinters in their mouths which can be quite dangerous. Finally - remember that dogs must be on leads for coffee and lunch stops. Christine

Please send articles for Newsletter to gail.fagan@guidemail.co.uk Tel; 0114 2667764.

!!! REMINDER!!! PLEASE NOTE FOR ALL WEDNESDAY WALKS

VIPs and Guides need to Contact Christine Hewitt 0114 236 6685 or hewitt.c4@sky.com by tea time on the Friday before the walk AT THE LATEST if they intend to walk. This gives her time to ensure that there are enough guides available for the VIPs. Leave a message if she isn’t in. For ALL other walks you need to contact John Bater.

Go back to top
Go back to Main Menu

OTHER EVENTS

CALVERT TRUST Activity Centre in the Lake District - for people with disabilities have contacted me to enquire if any of our members would be interested. They offer a wide range of activities and include training i.e. canoeing, sailing, cycling, climbing plus indoor activities. Accommodation provided with full board or self-catering. Anyone interested to please contact me for further information. Thanks, Eric. CONTACT - Eric Andrews: Tel. 0114 229 9504 or email:ericandrews2009@guidemail.co.uk

Go back to top
Go back to Main Menu