Charity Walk 2008

Will it? Won't it? If you were anything like us you were watching the weather forecasts all through the week previous to the Walk to try and find out whether the weather was going
to be kind. Or not. The only problem was that three different weather forecast sites   offered three different weather forecasts. So, it came down to deciding which offered the most sun....                                                          [Just click on each picture to see it full-size]

...fortunately, we must have chosen the right one, because we certainly seemed to get   the right weather. A little early morning freshness in the temperature merely served to provide an encouragement to get stuck in.

As always, the experienced gents from the Rotary Club stirred their bones at a  ridiculously early hour to be on-site at Heaton's Bridge from around 8am. Yes, we know that the Walk only starts at 10am but putting up the gazebo needs considerable thought. 'All the right pieces but not necessarily in the right order' doesn't work here. But things were well in hand when the first Walkers arrived at 8.29am for a 10.00am start. Now   that's enthusiasm.

Each year, it seems, the first walkers arrive at an earlier time than in previous years. Whoever it was who suggested that we should move the start time to 6am has been offered the chance to organise the next walk himself... Personally. On his own.

Come the real start time and Walkers were arriving by the bus load. Well, the stalwart supporters of the Barry Peers Mouth Cancer Appeal certainly did. For the fourth year running (I think!) the team arrived in their own private bus. Fortunately, the bus stop at the Heaton's Bridge Inn was empty at the time.

We sent our trusty Registrar on board to  check passports and visas - no, that should  have been Registration and Sponsorship forms!

Off to the side of the Registration Desks, our friends from the Southport Inner Wheel    Club were all set up offering to add a little je ne sais quoi to the appearance of, well, almost anyone with a pound to spare for the Inner Wheel's own charities. They were helped during the day by two young volunteers whose original intention had been to walk, BUT a recovering broken ankle put paid to that idea. Many Thanks!

Then, off down the canal bank. This is not a recommended method of walking....but,   then, on the other hand, it can't be bad....the only problem is that they are heading   towards Wigan, not Maghull. Meanwhile, down-route in Maghull, the finish has been set up, the stewards await.