Editor’s note: they’re AWW members

Bits 'n' Pieces: Felida volkswalker receives award

By Columbian Staff -  Monday, July 12, 2010

City of Bath Trial Officer Ray Hayford presents Kim Baker with a trophy for being the 1,000th person to complete the Bath Heritage Walk in England.

Felida volkswalkers Kim and Dan Baker decided they’d do some walks while on a 20th-anniversary trip to Europe in May. Little did they know the fanfare they’d receive.

Kim, a 43-year-old financial planner, was the 1,000th person to finish the Bath Heritage Walk in England. She was presented with a large trophy from a trail officer to commemorate the event.

“He told us they had been waiting eight years for someone to win this award,” Baker said. “I thought that was so sweet. What are the odds of that happening?”

But the celebration didn’t end there. During the Fourth of July weekend, the Bakers received a surprise visit from a friend of the Bath trail officer. This friend, a volkswalker living in Germany, was visiting relatives in Washington and came to hand-deliver a laminated certificate to Baker for her achievement.

The Bath Heritage Walk experience certainly has made the Bakers’ vacation memorable.

“It’s just such a funny story,” Kim said. “We wanted to have some neat memories from our 20th-anniversary trip, but we never expected anything like this.”

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VANCOUVER USA VOLKSSPORTERS’ SEPTEMBER 14 MEETING

The Vancouver USA Volkssporters want to invite all All Weather Walkers to their September 14 meeting.  Lisa Goorjian, Trails Program Manager at Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation (or a member of her staff), will be their guest speaker and will give a rundown (walkdown?) on local trails and will let everyone know what’s in store for the future.  Please join the club to hear all the exciting news about new and updated trails for our walking pleasure.  The meeting starts at 7:15 p.m. at the Clark Regional Wastewater District Office, 8000 NE 52^nd Ct., off of 78^th St. between St. Johns and Andresen.  We look forward to seeing you there.  If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Vartanian at 360-546-3243 or nancy.v@comcast.net

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President’s Corner – Jan Breneman

PREZ SEZ

Financial Audit Committee. It’s that time of year for the annual financial audit of the club’s records. Only 2-4 people are needed. If you can lend a little time, please speak up. This usually lasts just 1-2 hours in an evening or afternoon.

Mt. St. Helens. Last month I reported here that we would not be offering the club’s $2 participation fee for the Mt. St. Helens walks. Since then, however, Vancouver USA Volkssporters has adopted the same policy, so now it’s back on again. But remember to tell the registration person you are a club member. A sign-up sheet for volunteers is started – please think about where and what days you can help out. Thanks!

Holiday Lights Walk. Due to the popular Christmas Boats walk now scheduled the same night, we have moved our Holiday Lights walk in Camas to Saturday, December 11. Please put it on your calendar. Joe Titone will have more information at our meeting on August 10.

2011 events. Time to get cracking on new event planning for 2011. We’ll begin discussions at our September 14 meeting. Some plans are already in process – but as always, fresh ideas are welcome. Bring your own bag of tricks for a great new season of successful walks!

SCOUTING A NEW ROUTE

Often a route is a reflection of the person who designs it. Are there certain things you like about a route you’ve walked? Chances are there are a lot of common denominators. What is interesting about an area? A new path your city built… a new housing development? If you consider scouting a new route, decide what you want to highlight. Look on a map and connect some interesting features of a route; i.e., parks, paths, views, historic sites or homes, etc.

Then drive the route and estimate mileage… from 3 to 6 miles. Look on your map again to add more streets or neighborhood blocks for distance – but make them good walking territories. Part of a walk added strictly for distance is often very obvious. But it’s sometimes necessary – weigh the pros and cons to minimize poor parts.

Most of us understand that sometimes you have to include some bad parts to reach good parts of a route. A vital downtown area can be thrilling (New York City, anyone?), but try to avoid the average busy, traffic-filled street if possible. Some walkers find the hustle and bustle of a busy city exciting. This is a judgment call.

Once you have what looks like a 10km, wheel it for an accurate measurement. Write down the meters at all turns or potential turns. (AWW has its own wheel available on request.) This helps if you need to shorten or lengthen the route so you don’t have to constantly go out and measure again. Just do the math…

Add or subtract a block or two to make a reasonable 10k. AVA guidelines stipulate a 10k as being between 9.5 and 10.5 kilometers. As you outline a 10k, try to keep in mind how a 5k can fit in the ultimate plan.

FORMATTING WRITTEN ROUTE DIRECTIONS FROM A WALKER’S POINT OF VIEW

Many of us have done walks that we truly enjoyed, but had nary a clue about what it took to put together. Written directions don’t need to be complicated. Here are a few things that a walker might take for granted when reading walk directions, but they are important all the same, even if he or she may not know why.

1.    Be clear – it may help to describe a critical turn in detail. An extra word or line can’t hurt and could be the difference in preventing a lost walker.

2.    Use the full page… if the written directions do not take up an entire page, you could adjust paragraph spacing, and then take it further by enlarging the font to make it as easy as possible to read. Sometimes 5km directions and map can both fit on one page, which reduces paper and printing costs.

3.    Conversely, to keep that last lone line from wrapping to the next page, reduce margins, narrow the center column space, decrease the font, and/or shorten the line spacing.

4.    Numbering each line helps a walker keep his place – but use the automatic numbering on your software. That way, when you add lines or make other changes, the numbering will always fall into line properly.

5.    Use columns; this enables the page to be folded compactly, making it more convenient to carry and read on a long walk.  (Editor’s note:  if the directions are written across the whole width of the page, it’s very difficult to hold the paper steady during rain or windy conditions.)

6.    Remember, printing on a deskjet smears when wet – either from rain or sweat. Use a laser printer or commercial copy machine for permanent copies.

7.    As for the map, that’s a different article. But please, at least make sure it’s readable!  (Editor’s note:  We have great mapping software today.  Be careful not to obscure the street names with your arrows.)

RIGHTS OF WAY – THE NUTSHELL VERSION

In England and Wales you can walk along the following routes, so long as you stick to the line of the path:

·        Public rights of way – the public have a legal right to use these: footpaths (for walking), bridleways (for walking, cycling and horse riding), byways (although these are legally open to all traffic,  they are used primarily by people on foot, horseback and pedal cycle) and restricted byways (open to walkers, cyclists, horse riders and non-motorised vehicles).

·        Permissive paths – the landowner has given permission for the public to use them but may also withdraw that permission.

·        Multi-user routes such as cycle paths and ‘greenways,’ and most towpaths (often suitable for wheelchairs, in you don’t mind bicycles).

·        Most public roads, but take care.

·        Named and signed ‘promoted routes’ such as National Trails.

Most of these are shown on Ordnance Survey Explorer and Landranger maps.

You are also ‘free to road’ across:

·        Public parks and other open spaces managed for free public recreation.

·        Most land owned by the National Trust, Forestry Commission  and Woodland Trust as shown on Ordnance Survey Explorer maps.

·        Land where access is by right or agreement as shown on OS Explorer maps, including most commons, and land on DEFRA’s countryside walks register.

·        Permissive access land, but permission may be withdrawn.

·        Land with ‘de facto’ access such as most beaches and some areas of open country.

·        Mountain, moor, heath, down and commons shown on official access maps.

In Scotland you can walk on nearly all paths, tracks and roads, rights of way, core paths and promoted routes, and across nearly all land provided you do so responsibly, except for the cartilage of buildings and land used for railways, airfield, harbours, defence and similar uses.

Reprinted from the Walker’s Pocket Companion, Malcolm Tait, Pavilion Books, London UK, 2007, Page 16.

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Next Meeting: August 10 - ALL ARE WELCOME! details and map are now here

Sections that rarely change are also at this link: AWW Challenge information, AWW Challenge results, list of officers/valued associates, and Weekend Walking description.

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Computer Tips – Joe Titone

1.  From last month: Google http://www.google.com/ is not just for search.  …  I’ll describe one particularly useful one in my next newsletter.

I find Portland to be a poorly signaged city.  Most of the street signs have their names only on one side, and house/business numbers are non-existent in many parts of the city.  Google’s 800-466-4411 comes to the rescue.  Call that number, give the city, state and name of the business and Google connects you for free.  Alternately, it’ll give you the address and phone number.  Currently, it doesn’t work for private parties, but I’m sure that’s in the future.

Twice, we were within feet of a restaurant, but could not find it because it had neither a sign nor a number.  Google connected me and the restaurant was able to tell me exactly where it was.

2.  Save money and get some quiet.  Most pcs have various power saving modes.  One especially useful one is Standby mode which, when invoked, appears to turn off your computer.  Actually it puts the computer to sleep.  If you hit (e.g) the <Ctrl> key, the computer comes back to life almost instantly.

 

You can access it through Control Panel >> Power Options or Start  >>  Shut down  >> Stand by.

 

Be aware that your pc may appear to turn itself back on at random.  This may happen (e.g.) if your virus checker starts a background scan.

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2010 Club Event/Weekend/Wednesday Walk Calendar:

Events:
September 4-6, 2010 - Mt. St. Helens events: Coldwater Lake (5/10km), Silver Lake/Seaquest State Park (5/10km), Hummocks Trail (5/20km), and Spirit Lake (6/12km).
December 11, 2010 - Holiday Lights in Camas
 
Group Walks:  Wednesday Walks - http://home.comcast.net/~titone7604/Wed/wed.htm

Weekend Walking: http://home.comcast.net/~titone7604/weekend/weekend.htm

NORTHWEST REGION'S CALENDAR OF EVENTS –

 

Aug 3 Sw Anchorage Volkssport Club Reg Conf-Anchorage                                       907-338-4025 also 6 walks and a bike

Aug 11 GW Vancouver USA Moulton Falls, WA 360-991-8806

Aug 14 Wk Rose City Roamers Oregon City – Canemah Park                                                   503-285-2915

Aug 15 Wk Silverton Walkabouts Aurora, OR 503-873-8786

Aug 18 GW Vancouver USA Portland – 4Ts 360-991-8806

Aug 19 Wk Capitol Volkssport Olympia – Burfoot Park 360-491-7266

Aug 21 Wk Ponderosa Pathfinders Bend, OR 360-281-8429

Aug 22 Wk Evergreen Wanderers DuPont-Ft Nisqually 253-964-1560

Aug 24 Wk Tualatin Valley Volks Hillsboro, OR 503-324-6191

Aug 25 Wk Vancouver USA Portland – Gabriel Park 360-991-8806

 

Sep 4-6 Wk Vancouver USA/All Weather Walkers Toutle – Silver Lake/Seaquest Park WA 360-573-6048  

Sep 4-6 Wk Vancouver USA/All Weather Walkers Toutle – Coldwater Lake, WA Sep 4-6 Wk Vancouver USA/All Weather Walkers Toutle - Hummocks Trail, WA Sep 4-6 Wk Vancouver USA/All Weather Walkers Toutle – Spirit Lake, WA

Sep 10 Wk NW Tulip Trekkers Coupeville, WA 360-679-3638

(5 walks)

Sep 11 Wk Lilac City Volkssport Assn Colbert, WA 509-710-8641

Sep 11 Wk Albany Fitwalkers Albany, OR 541-231-3677

Sep 16 Wk Daffodil Valley Volkssport Assn Yelm. WA – Sizzling 3d Thursday Summer Walks 253-845-6592

Sep 18 Wk Valley Volks Canby, OR - Dahlia Walk 503-636-1025

Sep 18 Wk NW Striders Bellevue, WA – Blueberry Farm 425-747-5997

Sep 19 Wk Ponderosa Pathfinders Sisters, OR 360-281-8429

Sep 25 Wk Eugene-Springfield Mossback Marcola, OR 541-747-6470

Sep 25 Wk Interlaken Trailblazers Newcastle, WA 425-788-2182

Sep 26 Wk Rose City Roamers Portland - Sunday Parkway 360-921-1909

 

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Just move your mouse around _ it is amazing 

Here is a great picture of Mt. St. Helens in 360 degree's... The mountains you see in the back ground are Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams, & if you rotate further you can see Mt. Hood in the distance...  

http://www.fullscreen360.com/st-helens.htm

 

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