southcotswoldramblers.org.uk Kissing Gate Opening Walk Wednesday 17 March 2010

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		If you look closely you can just see a piece of ribbon as our chairman poses for the press .
		Is this my best side? .
		Watched by an enthusiastic throng of members he opens the gate .
		Mike and Heather demonstrate the purpose of the kissing gate ..
		Others enjoy the experience of not having to climb over a stile .
		Press conference .
		Then the walk gets under way, John checks that our label is firmly fixed on this stile .
		Another of our gates - hope our other John doesn't scratch it with his stick .
		John C leads us on to the next gate .
		Label already in place .
		While Mike demonstrates the need for even more gates . .
		We continue across water meadows .
		An easy stile - the option of climbing over the gate not available .
		Our route takes us past Leonard Stanley Church .
		And up Gypsy Lane, giving way to a tractor .
		The climb getting steeper .
		And the path narrower .
		But we soon turn off through a new kissing gate .
		Some new steps to help us over the fence - put in by the County Council at our request after the walk over .
		There follows a gentle decent across fields .
		Pausing to admire another of our gates .
		As we make our way into Middleyard .
		Stopping for lunch on the Cotswold Way .
		Before following it .
Towards Stanley Mill .
At Ryeford we take to the Canal .
Past the old boat house .
And Bridgend .
Accompanied briefly by this ugly duckling .
A view of St Cyr's Church .
The Ocean with a Cross Country train in the background .
Looking back along the canal towards Selsley Hill .
Mrs Swan sitting on her nest .
While up above Mr Heron takes to the sky .
Now nearing the end of the walk we climb up over a bridge .
Pass Newtown Lock .
And Blunder Lock back to the cars .
Photos and captions thanks mostly to Richard

As you can see, we thoroughly enjoy getting to know the South Cotswolds. We try to keep fit and succeed in having a good old chat. If you are interested in coming with us, see our Led Walks Programme and ring the leader if you have any questions about a particular walk. After two or three walks we hope you will then want to join the group as part of the Ramblers.