THE VIEW FROM HERE ( Walking Group - "The Stragglers"): by Sheila Ford

Planes, trains and automobiles, there have been songs written about them and films have been made depicting them. But, as far as I know, there are no songs about walking. If you know of one, let me know.

Now, as you know, walking was around long before the aforementioned mechanical methods of locomotion. There was the ape who swung down from the trees one day and by accident landed on his hind legs and thought "gee whiz, this isn't bad; I can still reach the fruit with my front paws and I can go farther than if I were swinging through the treetops". And off it went, out of the forest.

Even earlier, a crab-like creature crawled out of the sea, looked around, liked what it saw, cried "this is the life", and set off up the beach, never to look back. By a series of complicated evolutionary processes, we arrive at the U3A Walking Group - " The Stragglers".

Walking, good for the muscles and balm to the soul. I have only to close my eyes for a second to bring to mind wooded valleys with narrow paths winding through purple carpets of bluebells or white wild garlic; wooden bridges spanning trickling brooks, water clear as crystal; cresting a hill and below, the Severn, majestic, gleaming, its bridges resembling sugary concoctions on a cake; the first buds of Spring; wild flowers rippling in the Summer breeze; trees aflame in Autumn; the dark, stark beauty of woods in winter; crunchy snow underfoot (all too rare) and blue sky above; rain streaming down one's face (good for the complexion?); up to one's ankles in mud; coffee breaks perched on logs or crumbling stone walls; ancient churches, pretty cottages, ruined barns; the winding Wye in the wooded valley; walkers chatting away like a gaggle of geese!

Then there's the wildlife - no, not the walkers. The fur and feathered variety! Buzzards lazily spanning the sky; herons darting downstream; dogs that want to walk with you; horses muzzling at your pocket for apples or polo mints; heifers that chase you across fields! And, after the walk? Ancient hostelries, warmly welcoming in Winter, coolly dark in Summer.

For the best inns South Gwent? Consult the walkers - a small fee may be charged!

There may not be any songs but this is my "Hymn of Praise" to walking and to the Walkers, as fine a bunch of people as you'll ever meet. They enjoy their walking, love the beautiful countryside and appreciate the company of like - minded souls. The simple pleasures of life turn out to be the best. There's nothing to compare.